Hey everyone! Welcome back to the blog. Today, I've been tackling a big project: cleaning and sealing my porch. I managed to clear everything off of it, and now I'm diving into the heavy-duty part of the job.
First up, I'm using a power washer and a broom to get all the dirt and grime off. I couldn't seal the porch last fall because it was too cold, and as you can imagine, a lot of dirt has accumulated since then. I’ve already blown out most of the debris from the grooves with a blower, but now it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty with a brush.
For this task, I'm using a heavy bristle broom instead of a steel brush, which should be perfect for loosening up the dirt without damaging the concrete. I’m not using any cleaners this time because it's not too dirty; just water, some elbow grease, and the power washer to rinse it all off. I’m using a 65-degree fan setting on the power washer to avoid putting too much pressure on the concrete.
Once everything is clean, I plan to let it dry overnight. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice, so I’ll be able to seal it then. With the porch clean and sealed, I can finally bring out some items from the garage and set them up on the porch, which will free up space to do the same cleaning process inside the garage.
Now that the porch is drying, I’ll get everything ready for sealing tomorrow. I've got a roller to ensure an even application and avoid puddles. I'm using a cheap sprayer that I can throw away when done. The sealer I chose is called "Penter Hard Densifier," which penetrates the concrete and creates a durable barrier.
After trimming out the edges, I sprayed the first coat. It’s been about 20 minutes, and it’s starting to dry nicely. The initial lines where I trimmed should disappear once everything is fully dry. I still need to finish three more sections, but the end is in sight.
To avoid getting sealer on the metal parts, I made a simple contraption using a piece of aluminum trim coil attached to a handle. This allowed me to spray up close without worrying about overspray on the metal.
With the sealer applied, I’ll let it sit and check back in the afternoon to ensure everything is dry and even. Meanwhile, I’m moving on to fill the stress cuts with self-leveling joint filler. I used duct tape along each side to keep the filler from spreading onto the concrete, making the process quicker and cleaner.
The filler I'm using is called "Flex Pro," which is great for small cracks. After filling a section, I let it sit for a couple of minutes before removing the tape, which leaves a nice, clean line.
By the end of the day, I had finished five sections with five more to go. I'll complete those tomorrow and then move the garage items out to clean and seal the garage floor.
I’m always looking for tips to make these projects easier. If anyone has suggestions, especially about using closed-cell foam strips or partially filling cracks with sand before sealing, please let me know. Your feedback is invaluable.
Thanks for following along, and for all the tips and comments. I’ll update you on the electrical work next week once my electrician is back to make a few adjustments. See you in the next post!
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