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Looking for recommendations for sealer / densifier

onlyn8v

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Nov 27, 2010
Messages
85
Location
Terryville NY
Brand new 24x30 space, poured 30 days ago.

My garage is a hobbyist garage, frequent work will be done there
Im looking for something that I can easily wipe off spills and it will preserve the concrete.

Thanks!
 
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Chilliwack Murray

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Dec 10, 2012
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Location
Chilliwack BC
I had a pretty smooth finish and used densifier only. I didn't want any coating that will need repair or replacing as I do everything from welding and cutting to heavy equipment repair and spill lots of oil etc. It makes it real hard and nothing really soaks in.

Nothing in the past few years has ever stained the concrete - not brake dust with oil, hydraulic fluid, dirty nasty diesel engine oil or grease. The only mark I have is from rusty battery acid runoff from a forklift. Everything else comes of easy.

When it gets bad I spray it with water, sprinkle some Tide on it, work it in a little with a broom and leave it for an hour. After that give it a quick scrub with a stiff broom and hose it away and it looks like new.

To each his own, and there certainly are a lot of real nice looking garages here but I built mine to work in and get dirty - sometimes real dirty. I didn't want to be worried about putting marks on the floor finish. Worst case, if I really mess up the concrete, I'll rent a grinder and polish it smooth again.
 
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onlyn8v

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Nov 27, 2010
Messages
85
Location
Terryville NY
That is pretty much what Im looking for. Just want to make it durable and as impervious to staining as possible.
 

RPH

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Dec 17, 2006
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4,190
Location
Michigan Thumb
I used Ghostshield 4500 densifier and 7 days later the Ghostshield 8505 sealer. Mine is a working barn. From tractors to bicycles everything gets worked on. I have yet to find anything that wants to stick to it including ice. It also provides salt protection from the road salt that is used.
 

Garage Flooring

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Grand Junction, CO
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onlyn8v

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Nov 27, 2010
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85
Location
Terryville NY
Thanks, I was looking for something that was a one product solution. Alos, I dont really have access to a buffer
 

RPH

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Dec 17, 2006
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4,190
Location
Michigan Thumb
With Ghostshield all you need is clean concrete, a sprayer, and the time needed.
No buffing involved.
 

tff

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Joined
Dec 25, 2017
Messages
423
Location
Greer, SC
For Ghostshield 8510... is one or two coats recommended? Seen comments online that one coat may be OK, but 2 coats recommended?
(Is one coat of 8510 better than two coats of 8505)?
 

Garage Flooring

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Grand Junction, CO
For Ghostshield 8510... is one or two coats recommended? Seen comments online that one coat may be OK, but 2 coats recommended?
(Is one coat of 8510 better than two coats of 8505)?

One coat of 8510 will give you more actives than two of 8505.

We suggest

1. Densify
2. Wait 7 days
3. Single flood coat of 8510 @300 Sq. Ft. / Gallon Sprayed
 

tff

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Joined
Dec 25, 2017
Messages
423
Location
Greer, SC
One coat of 8510 will give you more actives than two of 8505.

We suggest

1. Densify
2. Wait 7 days
3. Single flood coat of 8510 @300 Sq. Ft. / Gallon Sprayed

Thanks. One follow-on. I want to fill the crack-control saw cuts that were made in the concrete slab so that they don't collect dirt over time. I was checking out ProSelect Self-leveling sealant polyurethane at Home Depot. However its instructions state not to use silicone-based paints/sealer nor those with high solvent content.
I was also looking at Sakrete Concrete Crack Filler.
What is recommended to fill such gaps? And before/after densifier or 8510?
(I should add that I'm hoping for a method to fill and be done with, rather than something i need to 'spread' and trim or sand.)
Thanks.
 
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Garage Flooring

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Grand Junction, CO
Both are suitable. I would do the sakrete before or the Preselect after. If doing after keep as much 8510 out of joints as possible. IMHO I'd look for whatever is going to match my concrete best
 
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soj

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Dec 3, 2007
Messages
729
Location
North Georgia
A question for the vendors: If I do Ghostshield 4500/8510 now (new slab) could it be recoated later with any type of surface film coating, epoxy or otherwise? I assume the normal surface prep (grinding or etching) would apply before any new finish.
 

Garage Flooring

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Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
A question for the vendors: If I do Ghostshield 4500/8510 now (new slab) could it be recoated later with any type of surface film coating, epoxy or otherwise? I assume the normal surface prep (grinding or etching) would apply before any new finish.

Etching would not work. Grinding should work but you need to take the extra step of an adhesion test because the sealer tends to penetrate pretty well. IMHO if you would prefer a coating just go that route
 

soj

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Dec 3, 2007
Messages
729
Location
North Georgia
Etching would not work. Grinding should work but you need to take the extra step of an adhesion test because the sealer tends to penetrate pretty well. IMHO if you would prefer a coating just go that route
Thanks for the quick response. Only reason to consider one now and the other later is the slab and building have eaten all the money. But it sounds like a bad idea.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

tff

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Joined
Dec 25, 2017
Messages
423
Location
Greer, SC
Today I put the Ghostshield 4500 densifier down in my garage. A week ago I cleaned the slab using a floor maintainer with a nylon brush & ZEP concrete cleaner. I used a brush to get close to the walls and a 3/8" nap roller for the rest of the surface. I smoothed out puddles with the roller and used a foam squeegee to eliminate any puddles. Worked out great. Will wait a week to seal with 8510. See pictures below. Left photo has sections partially wet. Mostly dry in right photo.
 

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tff

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Dec 25, 2017
Messages
423
Location
Greer, SC
Today I sealed with 8510. Good experience. I used a brush for the brick along the border and a roller for the slab. I essentially tried to put two coats on but the second coat was very light, as the slab just didn't absorb much more than one coat. I ended up using just shy of 2 gallons for 550 sq ft.
First photo is an in-process shot. Second photo is the completed project, with the sealer still wet. The slab is lightening-up as the sealer is drying. (Looking forward to moving my vehicles & tools in!
 

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fluid15

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Joined
Mar 19, 2015
Messages
8
Today I sealed with 8510. Good experience. I used a brush for the brick along the border and a roller for the slab. I essentially tried to put two coats on but the second coat was very light, as the slab just didn't absorb much more than one coat. I ended up using just shy of 2 gallons for 550 sq ft.
First photo is an in-process shot. Second photo is the completed project, with the sealer still wet. The slab is lightening-up as the sealer is drying. (Looking forward to moving my vehicles & tools in!

For the roller-use, I don't see a typical painting tray - did you simply pour and spread?
 

fluid15

Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2015
Messages
8
No. Zero aesthetic impact

Justin, is densifier needed as pre-treat for Sealing? I don't plan on doing anything more than routine maintenance in my garage and was thinking a Sealer like 8510 would be fine. If a slight sheen is desired, what are the options?
 

Vicdog

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Joined
Nov 23, 2018
Messages
45
Location
Georgetown, Tx
Today I sealed with 8510. Good experience. I used a brush for the brick along the border and a roller for the slab. I essentially tried to put two coats on but the second coat was very light, as the slab just didn't absorb much more than one coat. I ended up using just shy of 2 gallons for 550 sq ft.
First photo is an in-process shot. Second photo is the completed project, with the sealer still wet. The slab is lightening-up as the sealer is drying. (Looking forward to moving my vehicles & tools in!

Looks great. Thanks for posting. Will you please show some pics dry?
 

fluid15

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Joined
Mar 19, 2015
Messages
8
Good eye! Yes, I did use a normal painting tray (it's just not in the photo).

The more I read about this, the more I'm sold on the idea. I decided to have color additive to my concrete instead of staining or choosing a epoxy color, so I just need to seal it and be done.
 
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