TIL about Greek concrete sealants from a vacation balcony

I was in Greece last summer and saw a balcony with a super smooth finish! The finisher there said they mix in a local sealant to fight salt air. I always have issues with concrete near the coast, so this really helped me. Now I'm testing similar products on my jobs. Have you guys learned any tricks from working or traveling abroad? Share your stories!

4 comments

4 Comments

jenny_robinson3mo ago

That "super smooth finish" line is killing me. I tried to copy something I saw in Portugal once, where they used broken tiles set in outdoor concrete. My version looked like a kindergartener's art project, with lumpy mortar and tile shards sticking up at unsafe angles. Had to bust it all out with a sledgehammer after it cured. My takeaway was that some tricks are better left to the locals who actually know what they're doing.

victorh813mo agoMost Upvoted

Ever wonder if some methods just don't travel well, like @jenny_robinson found?

the_pat3mo ago

Lol, it's not that deep, everyone screws up sometimes.

sage3082mo ago

Jenny's story about the tile disaster is spot on. It's not just about copying a look, it's about the whole system. That Portuguese method probably used a specific mortar mix and tile type that works with their climate. Trying to slap it onto a different substrate in a different place is asking for trouble. You see it all the time with people trying European lime plaster in super humid areas without the right prep.