is sealer the right choice for budget?

[bmwpowere36m3]

My dad built a shop last summer to store his RV and workspace for cars, equipment, etc...

He's been asking me about what to put on the floor (concrete) as his prior experience has been with epoxy at his garage/business and at home (attached garage).

I think it boils down to cost, he doesn't want to spend the money... The shop is 800 sq ft and he just needs something to provide a barrier from salts and liquids.

He mentioned sealer and threw out a number like $50/gal or something... I'll ask what he wants to spend. However what are the pros and cons of going to a sealer? I know he mentioned color not being important. Are their levels of gloss with sealers? Are they equally resistance to water, oil and other chemicals? Do they need to be reapplied over time? Are they "slippery"?

Thanks

*edit* I'm considering building a similarly sized shop and was thinking sealer from a cost perspective. Color is not important, as long as it will protect the floor from staining, efflorescence, not slippery, and doesn't require too much maintenance.

 

[Garage Flooring]

My dad built a shop last summer to store his RV and workspace for cars, equipment, etc...

He's been asking me about what to put on the floor (concrete) as his prior experience has been with epoxy at his garage/business and at home (attached garage).

I think it boils down to cost, he doesn't want to spend the money... The shop is 800 sq ft and he just needs something to provide a barrier from salts and liquids.

He mentioned sealer and threw out a number like $50/gal or something... I'll ask what he wants to spend. However what are the pros and cons of going to a sealer? I know he mentioned color not being important. Are their levels of gloss with sealers? Are they equally resistance to water, oil and other chemicals? Do they need to be reapplied over time? Are they "slippery"?

Thanks

*edit* I'm considering building a similarly sized shop and was thinking sealer from a cost perspective. Color is not important, as long as it will protect the floor from staining, efflorescence, not slippery, and doesn't require too much maintenance.

A GOOD sealer is not cheap. I would do something like a single flood coat of Ghostshield 8510 if you just want to seal the floor. A sealer will help keep oil, etc from penetrating the concrete but provides no shine or decorative value. You would spend $255 on sealer. I would suggest a densifier first which will run another $80. The upside to sealers is since there is no build, they are not damaged by welding etc.

For a frame of reference, you could do a simple, odor free garage floor epoxy in that space for $645.00 -- a little more if you add glass bead for slip resistance and additional strength.

Coatings provide a better layer of protection against most fluids and provide a decorative finish. Coatings can be damaged by abrasion, welding and certain chemicals.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

A GOOD sealer is not cheap. I would do something like a single flood coat of Ghostshield 8510 if you just want to seal the floor. A sealer will help keep oil, etc from penetrating the concrete but provides no shine or decorative value. You would spend $255 on sealer. I would suggest a densifier first which will run another $80. The upside to sealers is since there is no build, they are not damaged by welding etc.

For a frame of reference, you could do a simple, odor free garage floor epoxy in that space for $645.00 -- a little more if you add glass bead for slip resistance and additional strength.

Coatings provide a better layer of protection against most fluids and provide a decorative finish. Coatings can be damaged by abrasion, welding and certain chemicals.

Thank you for the info.

I know decorative finish is the least of his concerns... he wants something that will tolerate the shop spill (water, oils, brake fluid, gasoline, diesel, coolant) and can be cleaned up. Are there fluids, for example, Ghostshield will NOT tolerate?

Is the sealed surface slippery when wet?

Durability is tricky... but how does is compare to other systems? Besides mechanical abrasion/damage, does is require re-coating?

 

[Garage Flooring]

Thank you for the info.

I know decorative finish is the least of his concerns... he wants something that will tolerate the shop spill (water, oils, brake fluid, gasoline, diesel, coolant) and can be cleaned up. Are there fluids, for example, Ghostshield will NOT tolerate?

Is the sealed surface slippery when wet?

Durability is tricky... but how does is compare to other systems? Besides mechanical abrasion/damage, does is require re-coating?

Several people here will attest to 8505 or 8510. 8510 is significantly higher solids. Again highly suggest the densifier first. The densifier will perform permanent work to the concrete but sealers have a lifespan. The latest data shows that decreased performance will start 5-10 years in.

It does very well with automotive fluids, oils and food fats / greases. It is not a permanent chemical barrier. I would imagine long term, uncleaned exposure to brake fluid would cause an issue.

Technical document: http://assets.ctfassets.net/muyees5...fbe92d760798107844a7884e1a1/8510_TDS_2017.pdf

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Is there any way to achieve a gloss finish using those sealers? I also remember his floors being power-troweled... any precautions or additional prep?

 

[Garage Flooring]

Is there any way to achieve a gloss finish using those sealers? I also remember his floors being power-troweled... any precautions or additional prep?

No gloss with ours (yet)

For gloss I would do two coats of clear polyurea

 

[Garage Flooring]

Before

After

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

My dad built a shop last summer to store his RV and workspace for cars, equipment, etc...

He's been asking me about what to put on the floor (concrete) as his prior experience has been with epoxy at his garage/business and at home (attached garage).

I think it boils down to cost, he doesn't want to spend the money... The shop is 800 sq ft and he just needs something to provide a barrier from salts and liquids.

He mentioned sealer and threw out a number like $50/gal or something... I'll ask what he wants to spend. However what are the pros and cons of going to a sealer? I know he mentioned color not being important. Are their levels of gloss with sealers? Are they equally resistance to water, oil and other chemicals? Do they need to be reapplied over time? Are they "slippery"?

Thanks

*edit* I'm considering building a similarly sized shop and was thinking sealer from a cost perspective. Color is not important, as long as it will protect the floor from staining, efflorescence, not slippery, and doesn't require too much maintenance.

Check out HD6525 and HD6600MMA Sealers!
Easy and budget friendly!

 

[Garage Flooring]

Check out HD6525 and HD6600MMA Sealers!
Easy and budget friendly!

A great solution too

 

[Radix2]

Check out HD6525 and HD6600MMA Sealers!
Easy and budget friendly!

what about your SEC sealer - pretty close in cost, but a lot more protection?

is the MMA basically a step up from acrylics but similar in permeability - its not too clear on how stain proof it is from the datasheet.

 

[48RON54]

Before

After

Man, that is gorgeous in that space! I had a bit of jealousy sneak in looking at the bottom pic!

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

what about your SEC sealer - pretty close in cost, but a lot more protection?



is the MMA basically a step up from acrylics but similar in permeability - its not too clear on how stain proof it is from the datasheet.

Yes, the MMA products are permeable.
They could not be used on exterior surfaces if they were not.

Yes for a few bucks more the SEC Sealer offers much more protection from Stain-makers. Two coats and done. Excellent topper to a DeltaDye Stain too!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

*Update*

Purchased the 4500 and 8510 with the intent to do two garages. I'm going to follow up with the vendor, but so far not impressed with the oil resistance of the 4500/8510 combo.

4500/8510 purchased in July 2019 and left in basement unopened.

We did Dad's garage first, a 750 sqft, 6", 4000psi, power-troweled floor roughly 5 years old. It had your typical dirt and grime, some latex overspray and a few oil stains. We cleaned it the best we could first with ZEP powdered floor cleaner and a floor buffer with red pad. Addressed the oil stains with brake cleaner/lacquer thinner and finally acid-etched the floor. It was left to dry for a few days.

Next the application of 4500 (diluted 4:1), sprayed lightly, it only took 2 gallons. After 15 minutes, we moped up any remaining liquid on surface. Gave the floor 8 days and followed up with 8510. This time we sprayed it heavily, ~ 2.5 gal and after hours the floor was still wet. The next day there were only a few puddles that we mopped up.

Now a month later, the slab is definitely hydrophobic. However drips of used motor oil, ATF left for no more than 30 minutes have left stains in the concrete. So I dunno... I really feel like I followed the process and prepped best we could.

I planned on using it for my garage in next month, but now second guessing my choice. Dad's advice, don't chance it, spend the money on epoxy (like we had in our prior shops and garage) and you'll be happy.