How to Watching concrete dry

A local contractor put a nice looking concrete slab roof over my dirty kitchen about 7 days ago. He seemed to do a good job and yesterday he took down the forms and scaffolding.

Last night it rained a bit and some of the water went right through the 4 inch concrete slab and dripped onto the floor. Sh*t!

Will the water stop coming through as the concrete cures some more or is there something else I need to be doing?

 

You need a waterproofer/sealer on the top. Concrete is hard but not solid, it is porous and contracts when drying (becomes more porous and one of the reasons it cracks). I haven't looked at what is available here so have no idea about brands available. There are also several different roofing techniques that would solve the problem with longer term results.

 

You will need to apply a concrete sealant; they come in liquid form and you can roll it on. I've seen them before at Citi Hardware and the hardware store at Robinson's but don't remember the brands off the top of my head. The different manufacturers will have their own application methods and time frame to apply after the concrete was placed. When we placed the concrete roof at our house we mixed the bags of Sahara in with the concrete and never had a leak, even before the mud bed and tile was installed. We actually mixed in the Sahara for the columns, beams and the plastering to be on the safe side.

Shawn

 

I have heard of "Sahara" but I don't know if it is something that is applied now, or should have been applied earlier or mixed with the concrete or what. I shall ask Mr Google but expert/expat advice is always welcome.

EDIT: Thanks Shawn. Saw your post after making this one.

 

So the next question is: Does anyone know a local worker who has experience applying a concrete sealer so I can be confident the job is done right? I am in Sibulan.

 

Often the consistency of water, read the directions on the can, buy a paint roller or paintbrush even and do it yourself. One of the simplest jobs there is to do, only thing to watch is making sure your coverage is correct, easy peasy.

 

I appreciate the advice. Is it simpler than bending over to tie my shoes. Just another one of the tasks I do not do well any more. Walking I can do. 10 miles a day if you want. Bending over, not so much. Shame about that but it is what it is. Perhaps I shall have to get a stool and sit on it while I paint sealer on the concrete. Then I could even use the other hand for a beer.

Or I could hire someone younger. Anyone

 

I am beyond doing any bending like that also. A paint brush roller has threads on the end for a handle, buy the handle extension and roll on while standing completely upright - or as you said, hire a young person - don't forget to supervise though.

 

On the subject of concrete they must use some very slow drying type around here as the hole at the entrance to behind Robinsons from the v hire parking was repaired almost 2 weeks ago and today the protective barrier is still in place cutting it down to 1 lane.
It must be dry though as i saw a big crack in it today,