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Penetrating Sealer for a Hardened Floor

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Greetings, all. This is my first post to the forum, but I have been onboard reading and gathering much useful information for some time now.

I am in the process of building my dream garage, oh, and dream house, on a dream piece of land I purchased 15 years ago. The entire bottom level of the 40 X 40 “house” is garage/workshop (the living quarters are above) for restoring old cars, rebuilding an antique aircraft, maintaining and repairing equipment, and various other projects….). It has a 12 ft ceiling, as it will have a lift in the centre bay. I am also starting to break ground on a 28 X 34 ft addition (2-plus bay garage with hobby workshop in the loft) which will be where the daily drivers are parked, as the 40 X 40 is strictly a working shop. As everyone here knows, you can’t have enough garage space!

My question is regarding a penetrating sealer for my garage floors – existing and about to be built. As I said, the 40 X 40 is a working garage which will be subject to automotive lubricants, brake fluid, solvents and much abuse from rolling shop equipment, welding, grinding and dropping of tools and parts. You know, a regular, working-guy’s shop. The parking garage will be subject to the same automotive fluids plus lots of salt-laden snow and water – from both vehicles and dripping surfboards and wet-suits.

I am not, nor ever will be, interested in a guchi-looking, glossy, metal-flake speckled show-room floor. The purpose of the sealer is strictly for protection of the concrete and ease of clean-up. When my 40 X 40 floor was poured, I had the contractor power-trowel it with a dry-shake surface hardener – Euclid’s Surflex: http://euclidchemical.com/fileshare/ProductFiles/TechData/Surflex.pdf
The result was a remarkably smooth and (hopefully) tough concrete surface that I am very happy with. I’ll likely do the same with the floor of the 28 X 34 addition.

My specific question is this. Can I use, and if so, should I use a penetrating sealer to further protect my floor, given that a surface hardener has already been applied when the floor was poured?

Here’s a photo of my place, for your interest:
 

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LegacyIndustrial

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So, are you telling me that I can't use a penetrating sealer in this application?

A densifier is a penetrating sealer. You have one already.
Our product works with the penetrating sealer to offer a topside barrier without any prep or fuss.

This is the only true "no prep" product out there.
 

Radix2

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the thumb!, MI
how sealed does you floor appear to be now ?

- if you pour some water on it - how well does it soak in ?
 
OP
C

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I'll have to give it a water test and see. I'll let you know.

Scotty, I really want to stay away from any coatings, which is what your HD40 sounds like. That's why I was asking about a sealer. Although you make it sound like my floor is already sealed with the dry shake hardener I power troweled into the concrete.
 
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LegacyIndustrial

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You could try treating with another densifier or a product like our SilaxSeal.
These leave no trace on the surface.

HD40 leaves a slight film and it makes a big difference vs. the penetrating type sealers.
 
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jav

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Massachusetts
CF-

I'm about pour a slab and I was hoping you could comment a bit more on the dry shake product you used? I read the link and it says burnishing is not recommended and it recommends a chemical sealer after the dry shake is applied. Did you do that? did you use a color or natural? How does is look and have you driven on it?

thx
 
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C

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You could try treating with another densifier or a product like our SilaxSeal.
These leave no trace on the surface.

HD40 leaves a slight film and it makes a big difference vs. the penetrating type sealers.

How do you mean HD40 makes a big difference vs penetrating sealers? Do you mean a big difference in appearance or performance?
 
OP
C

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Jav,

I was very happy with the results I got with power trowling the Surflex. I did not try hand trowling, as recommended in the link. The result was a very smooth marbled concrete look, which I like. In fact, for about a week after it was first poured applied, the floor surface looked amazingly like sheet ice!

I wanted to use the natural-coloured Surflex, but this was not in stock at my supplier, nor was light grey, so I went with French Grey and though a bit darker than I would have liked, it looks great.

I have had several vehicles parked on it for nearly a year (but have been careful to position drip trays to catch oil drips) and have seen no issues.

I have considered using the UltraSil Li+ that Euclid recommends, but don't know how well it stands up to more than "mild" chemicals.
 

Jazz1

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Thunder Bay On.
When my garage floor was poured 20 years I was told there was a sealer in concrete at time of pour. Contractor also levelled floor but I went along with his recommendation not to smooth floor to dance hall finish. Anything spilled on concrete makes for immediate slip hazard. I would never put any coating on floor in working garage.
I put floor dry on spills.
 

LegacyIndustrial

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How do you mean HD40 makes a big difference vs penetrating sealers? Do you mean a big difference in appearance or performance?

It puts a topical blockade to the stain-makers vs. relying on a product that is within. Yes, it also produces a nice sheen on the floor.

Our customers for this product include concrete polishers, maintenance companies, institutional users, and Mr & Mrs. Smith.

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum!
 
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