Parking garage sealant for higher durability
Parking garages typically consist of concrete structures with concrete floors, incorporating control and isolation joints that necessitate a specialized parking garage sealant. These sealants play a crucial role in bolstering the longevity of the concrete structures, thereby enhancing the overall durability of the garage.
Given that parking garages are exposed to temperature variations, occasional fuel and chemical spills, heavy mechanical loads, and vehicular traffic, it is imperative that the parking structure sealant remains unaffected by these factors.
Desirable properties of parking structure sealant
Parking garage sealant systems are designed to seal joints in new concrete and repair damaged or cracked concrete or asphalt. Both applications require specific properties, including the following:
- Flexibility: The parking garage caulking and sealing must retain flexibility even when subjected to temperature fluctuations to accommodate the movement of concrete fields and joints without cracking or tearing.
- Chemical resistance: The sealant should withstand fuels, oil, and other chemical spills, as well as coolant fluids, road salt, and fuel spills, while maintaining its strength and sealing properties.
- Heavy load bearing capacity: The sealant should not be affected by the weight of parked vehicles, and a stronger sealant may be necessary for areas with heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks.
- Abrasion resistance: Given the continuous traffic in parking garages, the sealant must exhibit high abrasion resistance to endure the constant vehicle movement.
3 Types of parking garage sealant systems
To cater to the diverse requirements of parking garages, several types of sealants are suitable. The following are three common parking structure sealant systems:
1. Polysulfide: These tough sealants offer high resistance to chemicals, particularly fuels and motor oil, and are commonly used at gas stations. Epoxy can be added to the formula for an even stronger and tougher system when needed.
2. Polyurethane: Known for its flexibility, polyurethane sealants are widely used in parking structure sealant systems, although they may lack superior chemical resistance.
3. Modified silane polymer: These sealants offer chemical resistance similar to conventional silicone sealant systems, along with additional resistance to abrasion and mechanical stress, while also being flexible like polyurethane.
Factors affecting the choice of parking structure sealant
The selection of parking garage sealant depends not only on the product type and its physical characteristics, but also on practical considerations. When choosing a parking garage sealant, it's important to consider application and curing time, as well as overall durability.
Application method and time: Whether the parking garage caulking sealant is applied to new concrete or used for repair, it's crucial to consider the time it takes and the application method. Complex application methods and long application times usually result in more downtime.
Curing time: Especially for concrete repairs, it may be beneficial to apply and cure the parking lot sealant as quickly as possible to open the area for traffic right after application.
Need for maintenance: For new concrete, it's advisable to choose a parking structure sealant that lasts long without requiring maintenance. Although the application and curing times of these products may be slightly longer, the garage is unlikely to experience downtime soon after construction. Minimal maintenance is also important for port sealants.
When choosing a parking garage sealant, application and curing time as well as overall durability should be considered.
Find the right sealant
Are you seeking the perfect parking garage sealant for your project? Our experts are delighted to assist you in selecting the best possible system and offering solutions. For more information, feel free to contact us!
Post time: Dec-20-2023