Finish new concrete floor

[AA7483]

I just had my floor poured in my new pole barn. I was 100 percent planning on epoxy until how saw how good it looked after power trowelling. I'm leaning more toward just a sealer now and maybe a stain. Open to suggestions. How long should I wait. How and if I should fill the control joints with anything and how I should cure it. Thanks!

 

[ConCretin]

If you are going to seal or coat the floor, it would be best to use some kind of wet cure. Chemical curing compounds are simple to use but can interfere with epoxy or sealers, which don’t go on for at least a month.

The goal is to keep the slab moist to prevent premature evaporation of mix water particularly at the surface where you want strong durable concrete. It’s important to start as soon as possible after placing.

You can keep the floor wet by constant spraying or wet the floor and cover it with something to prevent drying. There are a number of products for this such as ConKure fabric or you can use poly. The only problem with poly is that it can leave a pattern you will see.

 

[AA7483]

I got out there early this morning and hosed it down for the first time. I'll do it as often as my schedule allows.

 

[AA7483]

I'm clueless on what type of sealer to use. Stain options etc. What the process is. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[RPH]

I used acid stain, vendors here can provide acid and water based stains. The biggest question that has to be answered is, what are you doing with the garage? Mine is a working garage, I went with 4 colors of acid stain sprayed in random. It blends well. Then I Ghostshield products to protect the cement from the work being done. Most fluids won’t touch it if cleaned up in time. I used 4500 densifier and the 8505 sealer. Vendors here carry the product.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

I used acid stain, vendors here can provide acid and water based stains. The biggest question that has to be answered is, what are you doing with the garage? Mine is a working garage, I went with 4 colors of acid stain sprayed in random. It blends well. Then I Ghostshield products to protect the cement from the work being done. Most fluids won’t touch it if cleaned up in time. I used 4500 densifier and the 8505 sealer. Vendors here carry the product.

can you post a picture or two?

 

[AA7483]

General use. Welding woodworking sheet metal etc. I'd like the floor to have a good shine.Its got a nice look already from the power trowel. I'd like to enhance it rather than cover with epoxy

 

[AA7483]

I'd also like to to avoid grinding or etching.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Our SPGX one-part Polyurea can be easily applied to a standard, absorbent floor by just power washing and letting it dry first.

 

[mankatomasonry]

The epoxy would likely last longer. There are a lot of variables though.

 

[rburke65]

Some last long time.....if ya don't screw it up. Then a real mess and the money you are out. I still vote for a sealer. I know.....just my opinion.....

 

[AA7483]

How does etching leave the floor looking? I'd prefe not to grind. The floor is so nice right now from the power trowel I'd hate to ruin that.

 

[Carzy]

I see you prefer not to grind. How does it look now?

 

[AA7483]

Floor looks great now, nice and flat from the power trowel.

 

[rtz]

A walmart here is scraping off the "tile" and grinding the floor smooth and putting some sort of clear coating or sealer over the slab. Shiniest concrete floor I have ever seen:

 

[AA7483]

That looks nice!