Concrete floor sealant (Recommendation needed)

[ITHINKICAN]

I've used the search function but was unsuccessful. Anyone have familiarity (good, bad or indifferent) with concrete floor sealers? Is there one that stands out and is considered the best? Any recommendations? Are there any that are a complete waste of money?

We are thinking we'd want to go with an ultra shine approach. But we'd be open to recommendations. Please attach a photo or two if you have something you'd recommend.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[zene55]

I just stained our concrete floors at our Barndominium. I am planning on sealing it next week. I was going to get a semigloss sealant from home depot.

 

[ustmd]

Are you going to stain the floors or just seal?

We stained than sealed the floors in the house. I made the mistake of not acid etching the floors and the stain did not penatrate well (that is what I get for not following directions). The floor was good for a short while, but then the stain start scratching and lifting.

For a floor sealant, I would go to a jaintor supply house and get a good poly sealer.

Also, you may need to wait 30-90 days after they poured your concrete...the concrete needs that amount of time to cure.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

I just stained our concrete floors at our Barndominium. I am planning on sealing it next week. I was going to get a semigloss sealant from home depot.

Are you pleased with how it looks so far? Do you mind sharing the name of the stain? Or photos maybe? Do you know which sealer you're gonna get? And thank you!!

Are you going to stain the floors or just seal?

We stained than sealed the floors in the house. I made the mistake of not acid etching the floors and the stain did not penatrate well (that is what I get for not following directions). The floor was good for a short while, but then the stain start scratching and lifting.

For a floor sealant, I would go to a jaintor supply house and get a good poly sealer.

Also, you may need to wait 30-90 days after they poured your concrete...the concrete needs that amount of time to cure.

Do you recommend the sealer? Do you recall the name?

I was thinking just seal it with a high gloss appearance - but you are right - this would be a good time to add some beauty (Thank you for bringing that to my attention).

Acid etching? I will have to google search it - not familiar.

30-90 days? I thought I saw a thread recently where he added some type of stain or sealer same day the concrete was poured? It would be easier to wait until the building is up - less wind and less dust - but for some reason I thought it was better to seal it asap.

Let me know. Thank you!!

 

[WBWI]

here is info on the mfg my driveway installer used. There is probably some rep in TX that carries their product.TK Products– Who We Are

 

[herd]

Are you pleased with how it looks so far? Do you mind sharing the name of the stain? Or photos maybe? Do you know which sealer you're gonna get? And thank you!!



Do you recommend the sealer? Do you recall the name?

I was thinking just seal it with a high gloss appearance - but you are right - this would be a good time to add some beauty (Thank you for bringing that to my attention).

Acid etching? I will have to google search it - not familiar.

30-90 days? I thought I saw a thread recently where he added some type of stain or sealer same day the concrete was poured? It would be easier to wait until the building is up - less wind and less dust - but for some reason I thought it was better to seal it asap.

Let me know. Thank you!!

No, do not seal it asap. For best long term results, new concrete needs to cure for 90 days. There are some formula floor sealants that only require 30 days but I don't trust that time frame although technically, I believe concrete is like 98% cured after 28 days.

Definitely acid watch, it's really a simple process and very cheap. Just go to any hardware store and get a gallon of Muriatic Acid. Mix 1 part acid to 20 parts water in a 5 gal bucket, spread out on floor, leave a few minutes and then thoroughly flush with a water hose. Use a squeeze to make sure the acid is thoroughly removed. The acid is basically removing a very thin layer of the surface so be sure to follow the mixing directions. Too little of the acid in the water is better than too much!

wait a coupla days for floor to dry and you're ready to coat. Just remember that it's winter and it takes concrete later in the day to warm up and most of these floor sealants/coatings have temperature restrictions for best adhesion.

Also, if you have fiber in the concrete, be careful not to ''over etch'' as that would expose the fiber and make for a fuzzy surface.


I agree that it's a perfect time to add color and the Quikcrete or Rustoleum products at Lowe's are great, expensive but great. You can add chips and even topcoat with polyureathane for a lasting, durable floor. I like Quikcrete cause it's a one-part formula. However, I did buy two gallons of Rustoleum 2-part epoxy at Lowe's this week that was deeply discounted.

There are also ''self-etching' two-part epoxy coatings as well, but super expensive.

 

[Zick]

No, do not seal it asap. For best long term results, new concrete needs to cure for 90 days. There are some formula floor sealants that only require 30 days but I don't trust that time frame although technically, I believe concrete is like 98% cured after 28 days.

Definitely acid watch, it's really a simple process and very cheap. Just go to any hardware store and get a gallon of Muriatic Acid. Mix 1 part acid to 20 parts water in a 5 gal bucket, spread out on floor, leave a few minutes and then thoroughly flush with a water hose. Use a squeeze to make sure the acid is thoroughly removed. The acid is basically removing a very thin layer of the surface so be sure to follow the mixing directions. Too little of the acid in the water is better than too much!

wait a coupla days for floor to dry and you're ready to coat. Just remember that it's winter and it takes concrete later in the day to warm up and most of these floor sealants/coatings have temperature restrictions for best adhesion.

Also, if you have fiber in the concrete, be careful not to ''over etch'' as that would expose the fiber and make for a fuzzy surface.


I agree that it's a perfect time to add color and the Quikcrete or Rustoleum products at Lowe's are great, expensive but great. You can add chips and even topcoat with polyureathane for a lasting, durable floor. I like Quikcrete cause it's a one-part formula. However, I did buy two gallons of Rustoleum 2-part epoxy at Lowe's this week that was deeply discounted.

There are also ''self-etching' two-part epoxy coatings as well, but super expensive.

Good sum up.
I went with the Menards (I believe it was RustOleum) and put the epoxy coating on our brand new garage floor. It was probably 30-60 days after pouring.
Did the acid wash but used Rustoleums product. Wasn't too bad of a process except for the fumes which dam near killed me cause we had to keep the doors mostly shut due to the cold temps outside. We were right at the products low temp limit to apply it.
We had fibermesh sticking up after the pour but just walked around with a large propane burners and it took the hairs off real quick.

We just past our first year and on the second winter and so far it is holding up very well.

Only problem I had with it right after doing it was that I went a little thin in some areas and they don't look glossy like the rest of it. So far hasn't caused any issues though.

 

[ustmd]

Listen to what herd said.

I believe the general rule of thumb is 90 days before you do any type of floor covering (staining, tile, or even carpet) on concrete.

I can;t remember the stain or sealer--I got them at Home Depot or Lowes. This was back in 2001. We were very happy with the look of the floor. We did multiple colors--I got a bunch of pump sprayers for the stain and went to town. It ended up looking like soap stone on the floor--until the stain started coming up because I didn't etch the floor first.

I don't know if you saw the other thread that is discussing similiar topics:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/190932-tractor-tire-marks-how-clean.html

 

[Maxfli]

Unless I missed it you don't really say where you are doing it. I am no expert but I do have one experience with my basement floor that turned out nice. My view most of what is being talked about here is a topical coating to the contrete. What I did was an acid stain tot he concrete. First I masked out a tile pattern using 1/4" tape on the floor(used a laser to give me nice straight lines). I then diluted the lightest color stain 2 parts water to one part stain and sprayed it on the bare concrete (you can always go darker with a second coat). As I understand it the "acid" nature of stain now starts a chemical reaction with the "basic" nature of the concrete. Its not so much that you are color coating the top of the concrete but you have a chemical reactio that is changing the top 1/8th inch of the concrete. After several hours you wash it down with a mixture of baking soda and water that stops the chemical reaction. After it 48 hours to dry I put a poly sealer on. I did 1300 square feet for 3 or $400. Works in a basement but the poly part would not hold up in my garage. ConcreteDepot.net is were I got the stain/sealer (Have not seen it at HD or lowes) . Also check GarageJournal.com as they have a great flooing sction on that forum. It looks better now 5 years later as I have probably put 3 more coats of poly on it. For a basement it is almost indestrucable and we have hot water heat in the floors so it is comfortable.

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[SPYDERLK]

I've used the search function but was unsuccessful. Anyone have familiarity (good, bad or indifferent) with concrete floor sealers? Is there one that stands out and is considered the best? Any recommendations? Are there any that are a complete waste of money?

We are thinking we'd want to go with an ultra shine approach. But we'd be open to recommendations. Please attach a photo or two if you have something you'd recommend.

Thank you for your assistance.

Hi shine is usually slippery when wet. I used X1, X3 fom this company for my shop floor. Be sure that, if contracted, your concrete was not sealed as it was laid. Any such will interfere with use of this product. It gives a nice natural surface that water beads on .. but non slip when wet.

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