What’s a suitable sealant for the garden slabs in the picture
sealant
What is the best type of sealant I should get to fill the cracks between the slabs in the picture below?
I think these are concrete slabs that I have in my garden, and not sandstone, but I'm not sure.
Best Answer
It appears that there is grout in place now with some caulking where it's cracked out. I'm going to guess that these bricks are set in a sand base? If so, then you'll never get the blocks stable enough to keep the grout from cracking.
Have you considered just removing the grout and applying some "paver sand" into the gaps? That's a lot more forgiving than grout and a lot less trouble to maintain.
Otherwise, you'll probably want to go ahead and re-grout this after removing the old and cracked parts. It will need to be updated regularly but I think the result will be better than just applying caulk or silicone sealer.
You'll find out when all those pieces fall out while you're puling the old caulk out.
Judging by the crack, the wall behind there is shot, so there'll be nothing to attach a new tile to. This is a can of worms you'd better be ready to tackle if you do anything.
Once concrete is fully cured, you're not going to damage it with paint or other sealer. On the first floor of a building chances are good that it is a solid concrete floor rather than a thin coat of something. As far as the "type of concrete", that shouldn't matter much when you choose a coating.
What does matter is the prep work that you do. When you decide on a coating, read what the manufacturer recommends. In most cases it will call for a strong cleaner/degreaser and some type of concrete "etching". Etching might sound like it could damage the floor, but we are talking a very mild etching that happens on an almost microscopic level. Don't let the term scare you.
The amount of prep you do is directly related to how long the coating will last. Skimp on the prep, and it will start to peel and flake off prematurely. It's not going to hurt the concrete, but it could make the floor look very ugly.
Best Answer
It appears that there is grout in place now with some caulking where it's cracked out. I'm going to guess that these bricks are set in a sand base? If so, then you'll never get the blocks stable enough to keep the grout from cracking.
Have you considered just removing the grout and applying some "paver sand" into the gaps? That's a lot more forgiving than grout and a lot less trouble to maintain.
Otherwise, you'll probably want to go ahead and re-grout this after removing the old and cracked parts. It will need to be updated regularly but I think the result will be better than just applying caulk or silicone sealer.