cement waterfall
 

just made new waterfall made it with portland cement should this be coated
with anything before running. or sealed with a sealer of some kind?

cement waterfall
 

You can use coatings made for concrete swimming pools. I do know that
even though it looks and feels dry concrete takes a long time to cure.
I am not sure what effect it would have on PH but the new concrete
will leach lime into the water for some time unless sealed. If you
decide to try it without sealing it and find out you should have. You
may have to acid wash it first so the sealer can bond. You may be able
to use a simple latex sealer also. I would ask a local redi-mix or
concrete fabricator. They are usually more than glad to share their
experience.

"Gunnar" wrote in message
news:5C1Qa.3405$zd4.1087@lakeread02...
just made new waterfall made it with portland cement should this be
coated
with anything before running. or sealed with a sealer of some kind?

cement waterfall
 

Try to keep the concrete damp for at least a week, better a month, then
allow it to dry for a few days. The moisture helps the concrete to cure,
which makes it stronger and more watertight. The watertightness limits the
migration of the calcium hydroxide solution, which is a byproduct of the
hydration reaction. Once the concrete is allowed to dry, then the calcium
hydroxide near the surface will react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
to make a calcium carbonate layer the is on and slightly into the surface of
the concrete. This makes the concrete even more watertight, limiting the
flow of the very high pH calcium hydroxide into the pond water.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Gunnar" wrote in message
news:5C1Qa.3405$zd4.1087@lakeread02...
just made new waterfall made it with portland cement should this be coated
with anything before running. or sealed with a sealer of some kind?

cement waterfall
 

Unless it's over 5" thick it will pass water. You need to coat with either
cement + acrylic admixture or something like Thoroseal. Each is sold at Home
Depot.

Sam

"Gunnar" wrote in message
news:5C1Qa.3405$zd4.1087@lakeread02...
just made new waterfall made it with portland cement should this be coated
with anything before running. or sealed with a sealer of some kind?