Concrete sealer question

[427FAB]

I just had the pad poured for my new shop.I spefically told them to do a broom finish and leave it, cause i was going to do an epoxy floor.They did a broom finish but sealed it.I kind of like it so I am gonna live with it.Can I put another sealer on top of it eventually or something a little better over it?

 

[spotco2]

I would find out exactly what sealer they used and check the recoating directions for it. If you want to use a different brand of sealer, contact them and ask about the compatibility of the two mfg's or their advice what you need to do before applying their product.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Agreed with Spotco. Another, coating placed on top may or may not work. In addition, many contractors use a "cure n seal" type sealer which is typically a lower grade sealer than others in the marketplace.

 

[Wangstang]

Before you stick with the sealer, find a spot to test the sealers resistance to gasoline, brake fluid, used engine oil and transmission fluid. Most sealers will not stand up to gas exposure.

Wes

 

[427FAB]

Im gonna call him and ask what they used.Now if I want to go epoxy I will have to grind all that stuff off.Correct? Something I did not want to do !!!

 

[Shea]

You are correct.

 

[blackhawkdriver]

To the OP, I'm in the same boat man. Just bought a new house told them to leave the garage alone, after closing floor is sealed. Now I'm not sure what to do. I really want tile in my Garage but I didn't want to grind down the floor. I don't mean to hijack your thread but since we have the same probem.... Does anyone think Muriatic Acid would work instead of grinding, at least so I could lay tile.

 

[dcs Inc]

Contact a commercial tile outlet and ask them. The acid wont touch sealers, paints, glues.....

 

[Cullen666]

Well buddy you are saying correct about it i also have used the concrete sealer in my home because it has durable and it is possible only when totally aluminium pipes have layer under ground in the home or offices,because it is need for every home am i right dude???

 

[ctgoodman]

most concrete contractors around here use an acrylic sealer. To do an epoxy over that you'd probably need to remove the sealer. I'd imagine you would have to grind it off.

 

[ElectroLight]

Well buddy you are saying correct about it i also have used the concrete sealer in my home because it has durable and it is possible only when totally aluminium pipes have layer under ground in the home or offices,because it is need for every home am i right dude???

Ha?

 

[Wangstang]

Just an FYI, if the contractor applied Cure N Seal from BASF or some other similar product, thank them. It helps slow the curing process down by locking moisture into the concrete, allowing the concrete to cure in a more controlled manner.

The top layer of concrete on an unsealed pour will tend to be a bit weaker/more brittle due to the direct exposure to the elements.

All of the pro grade epoxy companies are going to tell you to do a light grind before applying their product as you'll either need to remove an existing sealer or scuff off the top layer of an unsealed pour.

I spoke with BASF directly about this in some detail. Here are some excerpts from my email conversations:

…As with any type of coating system, the concrete slab will need to be free of any other sealants or coatings, as these materials are designed to adhere to unadulterated concrete. The slab will need to be mechanically profiled, using a shot-blaster or grinder.

Ideally, you will need to achieve a Concrete Surface Profile of 4….


....unfortunately any type of coating system (epoxy or otherwise) requires a mechanical prep of the slab. If there is no mechanical profile, the coating will not bond properly to the concrete.

This would be the case if there were no curing/sealing compounds applied and becomes even more critical now that something else has been introduced...

…shot blasting the concrete will always yield the best results, although grinding mat be necessary near the walls or columns. There are a variety of shot blasters available, but the most common is manufactured by Blastrac and the model is 110B....

Chris Minkiewicz
BASF Performance Flooring

Hope that helps.

Wes

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Wes, you are correct. Cure n Seals, densifiers, etc... all simulate a layer of visqueen over your floor slowing down the dehydration process during cure.