Clear concrete protectant and sealer (only)

[ET75]

Hey guys, hoping to find some answers about sealing concrete here.

My garage is about 2 months old and I like the look and integrity of a concrete floor, but don't really want to paint or stain, but instead I would like to seal and protect it with a clear top coat only.

Lowes has a product called Seal Krete Clear-Seal (Gloss) so I bought four gallons of it for my 24 x 42 floor.

It's a urethane fortified acrylic product: resists moisture, stains, UV, chlorine, salts, and hot tire pickup (on the can anyway). Has anyone used this product, and if so, is it decent or should I stay away?

Also do I need to do any surface prep other than spray the floor down with water and let it dry? There's only a fine dust (cement perhaps) from construction and no oil stains (yet) on the pad...

Any suggestions on this product and/or how to clean the floor before I apply would be outstanding thanks

 

[mustanginky]

i would think you would at least acid etch it, what do the instructions say regarding prep work?

 

[ET75]

It actually does say to "Etch smooth-finished concrete (such as basement or garage floors using an etching solution like seal krete clean-n-etch. Note; if etching with muriatic acid the area must be neutralized before proceeding."

I don't know what this means or how to do it. Is it really necessary to do all this prep?

 

[bobscogin]

Is it really necessary to do all this prep?

I seriously doubt that the manufacturer would make you go through unnecessary steps in the preparation if they weren't essential to a successful application.

Bob

 

[Shea]

ET, do a water test on different areas of your garage. Particularly any spots that look shiny or glossy. As long as the water doesn't bead right up and sit there for a while without eventually being absorbed, then you shouldn't have to etch. Sealers like this don't need the same type of prep like epoxy. If the water does bead up and doesn't want to eventually soak in, then you will want to etch.

As long as you don't have any stains, just use a mild solution of tide or TSP as a cleaner. Scrub the floor, rinse real good and let it dry good before you apply the sealer. That is usually all that is required.

 

[ET75]

Thanks Shea, that's what my research tells me too. Only etching is needed for epoxy application or really smooth concrete. Mine is not as smooth as I'd like it to be (reason for the fine concrete dust), only b/c right after the pour, it poured down heavy rain for hours... The guys stayed until 11pm that night to try and smooth it out the best they could. Not a bad job either considering all the rain that day/night.

 

[TxJohn]

ET75, did you use the Seal Krete Clear-Seal? How did it work out for you?

 

[ontcanuck]

For years I used lindseed oil on my customers garage floors,

 

[ambenz]

I use the stuff on my driveway every 3 or 4 years to avoid road salt sprawl.
Keeps your concrete nice.
My garage was done when it was built and I haven't touched it in over 10 years.
I would even bother etching it if it's new, just clean.

 

[4everRS]

I use the stuff on my driveway every 3 or 4 years to avoid road salt sprawl.
Keeps your concrete nice.
My garage was done when it was built and I haven't touched it in over 10 years.
I would even bother etching it if it's new, just clean.

Any pictures of the floor?

 

[JMURiz]

Pictures would be nice, does it reduce the 'grip' on a brush finish driveway?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

JMuriz:
These sealers are very thin. A few mils thick after two coats.
They won't take the roughness out of your drive but will produce a nice sheen and maybe a little less "grip".

 

[ebr]

before you coat the floor with anything I would test for moisture in the floor first. Take a ziplock bag and cut it in half. Then with duck tape tape it to the floor with all the edges down. Wait a day or so and see if there is any water buildup under the ziplock. If there is then you have moisture in the concrete and anything you put on it will lift up, it's just a matter of time. After going through the process with polished floors, I learned much on the epoxy or coating systems. Good luck!

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Acrylic sealers will allow a certain degree of moisture to release without issue.



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