Sealing dusty concrete

[regsmyth]

It rained when the floor slab was poured, and the surface has been very dusty ever since. Most of it will be tiled.
I've not used concrete sealer before, but, I have half a tin of Exterior Stabilising Solution. Might they be the same sort of thing? Any ideas whether there could be any problems?

 

[swidders]

Why not use diluted pva?

 

[regsmyth]

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33645&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

I realise if you dilute PVA it'll soak more into the surface, but I'm still not convinced it ensures a permanent bond between the tiles and the concrete, because it is effectively just a thin plastic film on the surface of the concrete.
Whereas stabiliser soaks right in and dries, so the surface irregularities are maintained which should lead to a much better key between the tile glue and the concrete. Well that's my thoughts anyway.

I'd probably wire brush the surface before applying it, to remove as much of the dusty stuff as possible.

I just wanted to know if anyone has used "concrete sealer" and found it to be very similar to solvent based stabilising solution.

 

[r896neo]

The stuff i have used once or twice is more like varnish than sandtex

 

[regsmyth]

rneo, stabilising solution IS like a runny varnish (did i say it was like Sandtex?), so it sounds similar to what you used. That's a "yes" then?