The floor of your garage is exposed to intense corrosion and deterioration due to road salt, oils and other auto fluids. Sealing your garage floor reduces dust and makes cleaning and sweeping easier. A clear acrylic concrete sealer protects the concrete from damage and stains. Also the same sealers can be used on concrete walks and driveways or as a primer under acrylic or polyurethane floor paints. You should take care when and where you apply a sealer because they cannot be applied over paint or other coatings.
In order to do the sealing yourself you need several materials and tools: protective clothing, neoprene rubber gloves, goggles, a stiff brush and a bucket, a paintbrush, a cartridge-style respirator with organic-vapor and small- particle filters, paint roller with extension handle and tray, medium nap roller cover, a concrete degreaser and of course some concrete sealer. Usually 1/2 gallon of sealer is used for approximately 100 square feet.
Before sealing you have to clean the floor because it has to be free of dirt, grease and oil. To do this you should use a stiff scrub brush to apply the cleaner and concrete degreaser according to the instructions. Allow the solution to lay on the floor for 15 to 20 minutes more for stubborn stains after scrubbing. After his you should rinse thoroughly with clear water. You may need several applications. Many concrete sealers contain hazardous chemicals that may be harmful to skin and eyes and the vapors are not safe to breathe but the vast majority are acrylic. The best way to avoid damages to your skin, eyes and lungs is to wear the protective equipment made of neoprene rubber gloves, goggles and a respirator with both organic-vapor and solid-particle filter cartridges. During the process of sealing the floor you should continuously ventilate the garage by opening all doors and windows and also using a fan would be a great idea.
After cleaning and drying the concrete, the sealer has to be applied. The sealer should be tested in an inconspicuous area before applying. Some uneven density in the concrete may result in light/dark appearance that may be objectionable. By using the medium-nap paint roller with extension handle is the easiest way to apply the sealer. Start in a rear corner continuing to work your way out of the garage. Before doing anything else you should allow the sealer to dry as indicated on the sealer bottle, usually for a few hours. For a driveway the procedure is essentially the same but it would be quicker to use a garden sprayer to apply the sealer to a large driveway. You should act with caution not to over spray on other material due to the high risk of staining.
A good garage floor sealer protects it from road salt, dirt, grime and dust. It also makes it easier to sweep and prevent stains. If you want to paint the floor then it acts as an excellent primer as well. There are some supplies that you will need if tackling this job yourself. You will need a garden hose with a nozzle, a large paint tray, a good paintbrush, a stiff bristled brush and a bucket, a concrete degreaser and cleaner, a long handled paint roller and painters tape.
Your first step in applying the garage floor sealer is to scrub the floor with a commercial concrete cleaner and a degreaser. Then hose it down so there is no cleaner remaining. If there are any areas that are stained then you will need to allow the cleaner to soak for as long as thirty minutes. For areas that have tougher to remove stains, you will need to repeat these steps.
Once it has dried, put the garage floor sealer in your large paint tray. Cut in along the perimeter by brush and then the remainder of the floor is rolled with a paint roller and a medium nap roller is best for this job. Work your way backwards out the garage so you are not trapped in a corner. Do not leave any puddles; however make sure you apply the sealer quite generously. This type of product will stain so make sure you apply it carefully and avoid getting it on other areas.
As the garage floor sealer is drying, it is a good idea to clean your tools with warm soapy water so they do not harden. You do not need to apply a second coat. A floor without a proper sealant will deteriorate quite rapidly because things like road salt and grease and oil can cause damage within a couple of years. Waterproofing is another good piece of preventive maintenance.
A garage floor sealer cannot be applied over top of any other type of coating. If you want to paint the floor then do so after the application of the protective coating because it acts as a primer. Some people like to use a simple grey paint but others prefer brighter colors. One thing to note is that you must make sure product used is suitable to be painted over. Once all the coats are applied, you will have a well-protected floor.
The best garage floor sealer is an acrylic based substance however, there are others that may contain chemicals, which, could be harmful if they have been exposed to your skin or even vapors that are hazardous to inhale. It is best to wear protective clothing such as Kevlar gloves, eye protection and a face mask. Read the label directions carefully. Wait twenty-four hours after applying before painting. Most hardware or home centers offer different types of products to give you what you are looking for at different price levels. Anyone who has a garage or concrete floored workshop should protect it properly.
Both Jerald Shapiro & Tom Houser are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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