Concrete experts - slab power trowel finish?

[jav]

I'm in the planning process for building a new garage and thought I had decided on a power troweled concrete slab finish (almost polished). But- I also wanted to seal the wet slab to minimize staining and to aid in the curing process by eliminating premature drying.


I was trying to research if chemically sealing a wet slab pour and, then power troweling, were compatible. I couldn't find much but what I did find is that power troweling can close off the top pours of the slab and prevent proper evaporation and is generally regarded as a bad thing?

Now I'm confused- I thought it was best to allow concrete to cure via the chemical reaction-(in some cases even completely submerged under water) for producing the strongest concrete with the least surface issues? I understand some of these power troweling reports are geared towards slabs passing entrained humidity and initial cure strength tests in commercial buildings but what are the implications for a garage slab?

Is it advisable or not to chemically seal or densify a freshly poured slab? Is it advisable or not to chemically seal it IF power troweling is planned? My goal is to end up with a slab that is almost polished, non dusting, hard to stain and easy to wipe clean.

 

[Radix2]

The warnings about a hard troweled surface apply to exterior applications in freeze zones - may lead to spalling. It is exactly what you need for the finish you want inside a garage.

 

[Jess]

I did all the prep for my floor, and hired out the placing and finish. They had a 5 man crew and got the placing done in about 4 hrs. One man stayed and completed the power trowelling about 5 hours later. The next day, for a week after, I sprayed the slab with water to keep it wet. It shrunk a bit around the edges but no cracks anywhere after 5 years. I didn't have them apply anything because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the floor but find that spills clean up with a bit of simple green and there is no issue with welding or grinding damaging a finish.

 

[jav]

Thanks- so is the consensus that no chemical sealer is needed? That seems to contradict what some others suggest that the chemical sealer helps to contain moisture and aid in proper curing. Does the power troweling somehow negate the need for the sealer and the are the two processes not compatible?

 

[Jess]

My understanding of the sealer is that it would need to be removed if you want to do any other finish to the floor. On my pour, the building was up, so did not have the sun or other influences drying out the slab. My contractor does mostly large commercial projects and he did not suggest that they should put a curing sealer down. Trowelling gives a smooth tight surface that is easy to clean. I don't think there is any compatibility issue for curing sealers but I am not a pro either.