HotrodHR
Well-known member
Need some recommendations... two, maybe three projects. Sorry for the length
First the concrete is 8 years old and has never been sealed or treated. I'm located in north Alabama and red clay/dirt is everywhere. Dust from nearby home construction left the surface with an orange tint, plus of course to mold and algae as well.
Cleaner Review: Finally found a cleaner that along with pressure washing has brought the concrete back to an acceptable appearance. I've tried muriatic acid, CLR, bleach, etc. and nothing seemed to work. About to give up on removing the red clay stains and came across a product at the big box stores called Goof Off Rust Aid in gallon jugs. To my surprise this stuff works! Spray on with a garden pump sprayer undiluted on the surface let is sit and the red dirt disappears. Rinse off with hose or pressure wash. Heavily stained areas required a second application. Not sure what is in this stuff besides oxalic acid but it works.
So here are my questions... Does it make sense to densify and or seal this 8 year old driveway and will it help keep the grime from building up? The driveway is 118 feet long by 16 to 21 feet wide. What's a decent reasonably priced product to use, and should I use a densifier/sealer combo product?
Project two... 20' x 29' covered concrete porch, same as above, now cleaned. It's a light brushed finish we smoother spots here and there. Still has some reddish orange stains and the concrete has bluish slate coloration in some areas, and a couple of hairline spider cracks. I'm thinking this might be a good candidate for staining and sealing. Someday we may enclose the space but not anytime soon. At that point my wife would want porcelain tile...
Any thoughts on staining?
Finally, my wife's three car garage... 18.5' x 32'. I'd like to possibly densify no seal to keep dust down or coat with something. This space is used for parking cars only. My shop floor is covered with Epoxy Coat (which I covered in a project thread here on GJ). Any thoughts on this?
BTW, trying to upload pics...
First the concrete is 8 years old and has never been sealed or treated. I'm located in north Alabama and red clay/dirt is everywhere. Dust from nearby home construction left the surface with an orange tint, plus of course to mold and algae as well.
Cleaner Review: Finally found a cleaner that along with pressure washing has brought the concrete back to an acceptable appearance. I've tried muriatic acid, CLR, bleach, etc. and nothing seemed to work. About to give up on removing the red clay stains and came across a product at the big box stores called Goof Off Rust Aid in gallon jugs. To my surprise this stuff works! Spray on with a garden pump sprayer undiluted on the surface let is sit and the red dirt disappears. Rinse off with hose or pressure wash. Heavily stained areas required a second application. Not sure what is in this stuff besides oxalic acid but it works.
So here are my questions... Does it make sense to densify and or seal this 8 year old driveway and will it help keep the grime from building up? The driveway is 118 feet long by 16 to 21 feet wide. What's a decent reasonably priced product to use, and should I use a densifier/sealer combo product?
Project two... 20' x 29' covered concrete porch, same as above, now cleaned. It's a light brushed finish we smoother spots here and there. Still has some reddish orange stains and the concrete has bluish slate coloration in some areas, and a couple of hairline spider cracks. I'm thinking this might be a good candidate for staining and sealing. Someday we may enclose the space but not anytime soon. At that point my wife would want porcelain tile...
Any thoughts on staining?
Finally, my wife's three car garage... 18.5' x 32'. I'd like to possibly densify no seal to keep dust down or coat with something. This space is used for parking cars only. My shop floor is covered with Epoxy Coat (which I covered in a project thread here on GJ). Any thoughts on this?
BTW, trying to upload pics...
