A further thought, if it looks good now, after all those years, I would 
be very tempted to not do anything, they say "leave a sleeping dog 
lie".  Sometimes using the wrong material can be harmful.  In repairing 
masonry (brick) using matching mortar materials is important, which 
means many times taking a sample to a laboratory for analysis, or 
researching the age of the construction, and what materials were in use 
at that time. The concrete or masonry may want to breathe and not be 
sealed, and if anything, a breathing sealer may be OK, but if  wanting  
better info, hiring an expert would be worth the money. Contact the 
American Concrete Institute (worldwide), local civil/structural 
engineers, building suppliers, construction testing laboratories, etc. 
for contact info. Ensure that the expert has no conflicts of interest 
like selling something other than expertise.

AGSCalabrese wrote:
> A contractor told me today that concrete has a service life of 80 years.
> He said 40 years getting stronger and then 40 years of decline.
> This seems odd to me.   I am looking at my dwelling that was built in
> 1908.  The concrete foundation does not look like it is deteriorating.
> I recently cut a hole into the foundation and it was a b**ch.  
> ( difficult )
>
> What sayest the august members of the PIClist ?
>
> If true, can anything be done to extend the life of concrete ?
>
> Best
> Gus
>   
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