Does Flex Seal Work on Concrete Cracks? (Best Solution)

Concrete cracks are common issues found in construction and it happens for a number of reasons. Once the concrete has started to crack, you have to seal it immediately to prevent further crackdowns. A cracked concrete will lead to structural instability. But how to fix a crack in a concrete surface?

Flex seal is an excellent polymer that helps in sealing a lot of surfaces that have cracks. Fortunately, they also work well on concrete surfaces.

In this article, we will be discussing the application of flex seal on concrete surfaces with cracks and the potential sealing ability of flex seal. 

Does Flex Seal Work on Concrete Cracks?

Flex seal does work on concrete cracks and it can perfectly seal hairline cracks and small openings on the surface level. But it cannot fill up a crevice on the concrete or it cannot seal up a heavily damaged concrete. If you find a small crack or an initiation of a crack on the concrete, you can use the Flex seal liquid or Flex Seal Paste to seal it up. 

Let us now understand how to use Flex seal product for sealing up the concrete crack so that it can last longer without any damage.

Procedure to seal concrete cracks with Flex Seal

The best flex seal products to seal concrete cracks is the Flex Seal Liquid and Flex Seal Paste. It can offer you with perfect seal and can fill in the cracks pretty neatly.

Procedure to seal the cracks using Flex seal liquid:

• Identify the crack in the concrete and investigate whether the size of the crack is small or large. Larger cracks need a different repair while smaller hairline cracks can be perfectly sealed up by Flex seal liquid. 
• Once you identify the crack area, remove any particles of dust or debris around it. If you have multiple cracks, clean the entire area and remove any potential dust on the surface. 
• After cleaning the surface, take Flex seal liquid and using a roller start applying a coat. Do not dilute the Flex seal with water or any other substance. Just apply the liquid directly on the concrete surface.
• The first coat you apply must be thin and make sure to go a few rounds over the cracked surface to let the flex seal sink in. 
• Once you have thoroughly done a first coat, you have to let the flex seal dry for at least 24 hours.
• Then, apply another coat slightly thicker than the first coat and let it dry for another 48 hours. 
• Now you have perfectly sealed the concrete cracks and you don’t have to worry about any further cracks or damages. 

Procedure to use Flex Seal Paste for sealing concrete cracks:

• As for the use of Flex seal paste, the crack must be localized and even if its slightly large, the paste can cover it up pretty neatly
• Clean the surface of the crack and remove any kind of debris stuck inside the crack hole (if the hole is slightly large enough)
• Now, take a generous amount of flex seal paste and apply it to the crack so that the holes are completely filled up with the paste
• Note that Flex seal paste will instantly cure to the exposure of air. Therefore, you have to seal up the crack pretty quickly. Due to its instant curing nature, we recommend using flex paste for a small area.
• After applying the paste let it dry for 30 minutes and if you want to apply another coat or complete the sealing, you can do it now.
• Once you completely seal the crack, let it dry for another 24 hours to completely cure and bond with the concrete.
• You have now perfectly sealed up the crack in concrete using the Flex Seal paste

This is the best way to use Flex seal for fixing a concrete crack. You can also use Flex seal spray if the crack is localized but using Flex seal liquid gives a better sealing than it. When you have to seal a small portion immediately to avoid leaks, then you may use Flex seal spray to get instant results. 

How Long does Flex Seal Last on Concrete?

Flex seal will last for at least two years and if you had applied it properly, it can last more. Depending on the environment it is exposed to, the life of flex seal on concrete may vary. 

We know that Flex seal does bond with concrete in the best manner. But the seal cannot last longer if it is under constant pressure or exposed to high temperatures. 

So, if you have concrete cracks that are not subjected to pressure or temperature, the Flex seal will last much longer and you don’t need to perform a recoat of it. 

But, if you have used it to seal cracks formed due to pressure or temperature, you might have to do a recoat after two years to maintain the seal. 

Usually, cracks on concrete can be caused due to poor mixture of cement and other additives. This will cause weakness in the concrete and gradually it will start to crack even without any pressure. Such cracks can be filled with Flex seal and you don’t have to worry about it. 

But sometimes, concrete cracks can happen due to excess load or pressure. Such cracks can also be sealed up by Flex seal, but you must re-apply a coat every two years to ensure its integrity. 

Similarly, when the concrete is present in an area exposed to the sun, the heat may slowly damage the flex seal and it may start to crack after a few years. In such a scenario, you have to apply a coat periodically to prevent damage. 

Therefore, depending on the environment in the concrete is present and the root cause of the crack, the last flex seal can be decided. In general, Flex Seal does last longer than you expect but doing a recoat every two years will ensure better integrity. 

Conclusion

Using Flex seal to repair cracks is a great choice and it has the potential to seal the areas pretty strongly. You can trust the seal to last longer provided that you perform proper coating of the Flex seal. Make sure to follow the procedure mentioned above and seal your concrete cracks in the best manner.