Garage Floor Stain + Seal

[HillStreet]

Hello All,

My garage floor is 26 x 30, 4 years old and in solid condition (no cracks or spalling). Floor does not seep water but a few spots will get darker gray after heavy rains, I built the house and drainage is known to be good. A commercial concrete company compacted and poured the floor, and power troweled it smooth (burned it black).

I wish to stain it a gray or reddish color and am looking for options. I will not use epoxy because of salt runoff from vehicles and I read reviews that hot tires "lift" the epoxy.

Sherwin Williams has an oil based stain that sounds good. I have also heard of an "acid stain" that actually penetrates the concrete but I don't know much about that yet.

Of course I will prep with a grit machine pad, industrial cleaner/degreaser and acid etch. Just don't want to get into a situation that peels and lifts. I don't mind normal maintenance such as scuff and recoat every few years but don't want to have to strip and redo the entire job again.

Garage gets normal use with vehicle parking and occasional oil changes but no heavy repair.

Thanks

 

[ray66v]

If you use a good quality epoxy, (not the crap from HD), you will not have any trouble with hot tire pick up, salt, oil, gasoline, battery acid, and even brake fluid.

This is Epoxy Coat High Solids Epoxy on my floor. Epoxy Paint For Garage Floors Note: No clear coat was used.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Hello All,

My garage floor is 26 x 30, 4 years old and in solid condition (no cracks or spalling). Floor does not seep water but a few spots will get darker gray after heavy rains, I built the house and drainage is known to be good. A commercial concrete company compacted and poured the floor, and power troweled it smooth (burned it black).

I wish to stain it a gray or reddish color and am looking for options. I will not use epoxy because of salt runoff from vehicles and I read reviews that hot tires "lift" the epoxy.

Sherwin Williams has an oil based stain that sounds good. I have also heard of an "acid stain" that actually penetrates the concrete but I don't know much about that yet.

Of course I will prep with a grit machine pad, industrial cleaner/degreaser and acid etch. Just don't want to get into a situation that peels and lifts. I don't mind normal maintenance such as scuff and recoat every few years but don't want to have to strip and redo the entire job again.

Garage gets normal use with vehicle parking and occasional oil changes but no heavy repair.

Thanks

We literally just finished our garage floor, 3 bays. Used the H & C brand from Sherwin Williams. Acid etch first, roll out two coats of the oil based color and then topcoat with the clear. Looks amazing.

 

[HillStreet]

If you use a good quality epoxy, (not the crap from HD), you will not have any trouble with hot tire pick up, salt, oil, gasoline, battery acid, and even brake fluid.

This is Epoxy Coat High Solids Epoxy on my floor. Epoxy Paint For Garage Floors Note: No clear coat was used.

View attachment 380989

Thanks Ray,

I really like the photo, looks like a great product. I looked at their web site and sent an email asking about the wear with respect to salt and snow melt.

Is your surface slippery at all, especially when wet? How long has it been since yours was applied?

One main concern I have with any product is how To update it when it wears--- I'd prefer just to clean and top coat rather than strip and do it all over again.

 

[HillStreet]

We literally just finished our garage floor, 3 bays. Used the H & C brand from Sherwin Williams. Acid etch first, roll out two coats of the oil based color and then topcoat with the clear. Looks amazing.

Thanks Stepp,

I have the Sherwin Williams product brochure on my desk now. The literature does recommend the oil based product. Did it roll on easy enough, kinda like paint? I plan the same process of acid etch before application.

On another note: I lived in Charlottesville in 2007 and spent quite a bit of time in Wythe county/wytheville are. One of the nicest areas, was looking to buy a house but my roots in New England won out.

 

[ray66v]

Thanks Ray,

I really like the photo, looks like a great product. I looked at their web site and sent an email asking about the wear with respect to salt and snow melt.

Is your surface slippery at all, especially when wet? How long has it been since yours was applied?

One main concern I have with any product is how To update it when it wears--- I'd prefer just to clean and top coat rather than strip and do it all over again.

With respect to salt, and snow melt, as well as all the other things I previously listed, it is totally impervious to them. Stopping salt damage is specifically why I did it. 7 years of Ohio road salt has had no effect on it, or my concrete, since coating it with this product.

I used the anti-slip sand that is supplied with the kit, as well as the color flakes. Both prevent you from slipping on it. Without them, it is still not slippery when it's dry, but like any painted floor, would be very slippery wet.

They have video's you can watch on their web site, on how to apply it.

Epoxy Coat says you are not going to wear through it in 20 years. But, if in say 10 years, you want to re-coat it, because of normal wear and tear, or to change the color, you simply clean it, scuff it with a drywall pole sander, and re-coat right over the top of it.

Mine has some dulling where the tires run, due to the sand the county puts on our roads in the winter. The rest is as good as new.

I would suggest you buy the spiked sandals they sell, (you can also get them at Harbor Freight). They allow you to walk right in the wet areas, to apply sand, and flakes, rather than trying to throw them out there.

The best way to prep concrete for paint, is to lightly surface grind it, which can be labor intensive. I ground mine with a rental hand grinder, and vacuum. But, I am told you can now rent walk behind grinders in most cities, they make short work of it.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Thanks Stepp,

I have the Sherwin Williams product brochure on my desk now. The literature does recommend the oil based product. Did it roll on easy enough, kinda like paint? I plan the same process of acid etch before application.

On another note: I lived in Charlottesville in 2007 and spent quite a bit of time in Wythe county/wytheville are. One of the nicest areas, was looking to buy a house but my roots in New England won out.

Yes, the product is as easy as paint. Just follow the directions. Nothing wrong with southern Maine. Spent some time working in Kittery two years ago. Loved it.