Putting cedar shutters on the new to me house. What's the best sealer for cedar?

Also I pulled the carpet up in the kids' rooms. We want to do sealed concrete floors for them. Just the gray color it is now but with a shiny sealer.
However, at the moment the edges have orange carpet glue from where the boards were for the carpet. What's the best way to clean and prep the concrete to be sealed?

Also while I'm at it, gonna paint the exterior of the house which is brick. Any recommendations on exterior brick paint? Do I need to prime separately or will a 2 in 1 paint work?

I'd use plastic shutters. My cedar one didn't last.

I just tore some plastic ones off because the looked like poop.

The best thing to use on the cedar is a stain, it protects better than a sealer IMO. You can use a semi-transparent stain so it keeps the natural color. I highly recommend treating them yearly.

Most commercial cleaners are more than sufficient for cleaning your concrete. Before putting the sealer on the concrete, do a water test on the concrete to see how porous it is. The sealer needs to be able to penetrate the concrete. If it isn't porous, you will need to do acid etching before sealing it.



Make sure that your brick and grout is pretty sound before painting the brick. If it is crumbling or flaking, it can peel the paint. Don't use any kind of acid to clean the brick, but make sure you clean it with a soap/water mix before priming. Let it dry completely before priming also.

Sherwin Williams makes a paint specifically for masonry that works very well. I wouldn't use a 2 in 1 on the brick.

Appreciate it. Do you think a grinder is necessary for the concrete?
I know you haven't seen it but for normal stuff like old orange carpet glue and a few old paint spots.

for the cedar use flood CWF clear, be sure it is the oil based and not the water.

lowes/home depot/wal mart all carry it I think.

used it exclusively in colorado at 8000' alt. and it was lasting 5 yrs or more on redwood.

should be good for 3-5 yrs here easy.

as for concrete, you can buy a gal. of goof off (read the can very well, may not be good indoors, flammable) and it will clean it quick. second option is use some 40 or 80 grit on a 4" disc grinder/sanding wheel or get one of the paint remover wheels, either should peel it up so just a little goof off is needed.

to seal, use some clear epoxy garage floor sealant. should be bulletproof in a kids room.

I wouldn't paint the brick. Have you looked into other options? Maybe a 'German Smear' type job?
http://diyhomedecorblogs.com/limewash-vs...orn-paint-look/
http://www.thechathamcollective.com/blog/2016/1/5/how-to-white-wash-a-brick-fireplace

Whitewashing looks good if you have red brick. We do not.