To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Low budget floor protection

H

hd54kh

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
131
Location
Mooresville N.C.
Hi all, I had a slab poured in November, this spring I want to coat it with some kind of protection.

Current garage is used heavily from routine auto maintenance to engine/****** pulls to small and large paint jobs. I built it 25 years ago and my concrete supplier (now closed up) sold me some kind of sealant in a 5 gal orange can. I don't remember what it was. That was the only coating it ever saw. Still to today I can clean up oil, solvent, paint and whatever else it sees with out it soaking in, some staining from oil drips left too long kind of show up but still overall clean. I can hose it out just a spot or two will absorb some moisture.

New shop, fresh 4000# concrete 4" slab powered troweled with 2 sawcuts. I had to park a car in it until I get back to the area in the spring. The car leaks nothing so I am not too worried about anything but dust when I return.

I have nothing in a budget for a floor coating but I need to do something.
I like the bare concrete look so any clear coat is fine. Are there any product recommendations that might work for me? I heard Sherwinn Williams has a product and Legacy Floors has a product like HD40.

Thanks for any help
Terry
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
J

Joe Reed

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
916
Location
Cordova TN
I'm sure everyone here is going to tell you to NOT do what I did, but I was in the same position as you - $0 budget - when I bought my house 11 years ago. Things like quality epoxy, tile etc. were out of the question, but I didn't want bare concrete.

I used the stuff they sell at Lowes and Home Depot for coating exposed aggregate concrete driveways and sidewalks....Eagle brand, as I recall. My theory was that, since it was designed for driveways it should work fine in a garage. You don't see any tire lift on the driveways...and it seems to last a pretty long time even though it's exposed to sun and weather 24/7.

I rolled on 2 gallons of the clear (it's also available with a gray or brown tint) for about $50 or so for my 2 car garage. Like your shop experience, most stuff just wipes up easily. Oil will stain it if not wiped up immediately. Things like gasoline and brake cleaner will soften it making it sticky, but it'll harden again in a few minutes. I do know that a gasoline spill left on it will pretty much remove it...found out when my MGB had a leaky tank.

After 7 years I decided to recoat the floor to make it look better. After all, it's an easy half day job and it's cheap. This time I used the gray tinted stuff just to darken the floor a bit. It still looks good and cleans up like teflon - well worth the minimal investment.

It's also nice that you can park on it the next day! At a previous house I did the DIY epoxy and couldn't park on it for a week.

Let the flaming begin :p
 
J

Joe Reed

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
916
Location
Cordova TN
B

BeachBoy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
540
Cheapest would likely be a densifier (v-seal 101 or similar) or a densifier with siliconate (HD39). The HD39 runs $72 for about 300sqft and only one coat needed.
 
OP
H

hd54kh

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
131
Location
Mooresville N.C.
Hi all, I started to do a little reading on the mentioned products along with a few others when I searched.

I know most of the big box store off the shelf products will not endure my use. The two products that stand out so far is the Eagle brand mentioned by Joe and the Legacy Floors HD39 or HD40. I tend to spill and drag enough heavy items on the concrete that a pretty coating will be temporary anyway. I have lived with the concrete natural color and a few stains that got away from me here and there for over twenty five years.

One thing I never did and not sure if I will in the future is either touch up or re-surface with the same product or coat with something else. Anyone have experience touching up the Eagle or HD39?

Terry
 
J

jeffgbook

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2015
Messages
83
Location
Orange,TX
Joe Reed said:
If you read the reviews on that, a number of them complain of tire lift. On a patio it'll probably last a long time....but I don't think you'll be as happy with it in a garage...
Click to expand...

^^This^^ I think that's what I used. Can't remember, but I think I got it at HD. And yes somthing as light as a 4 wheeler will peel it up if it sits long enough.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
H

hd54kh

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
131
Location
Mooresville N.C.
I have read the bad results of products as the Rustoleum kits and similar. So far I made it part way through the Eagle sealer reviews but nothing definitive yet on a garage floor. The cut sheet for the HD30 or HD40 state doe snot state the chemical resistance but no tire lift off. I wish I knew the product I originally used as it sounds similar. Brake fluid, Brake Kleen and gas does soften it but it does re-harden. I tend to clean up most spills as they occur.


Terry
 
S

Shea

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 19, 2012
Messages
2,867
Location
California
The two products that stand out so far is the Eagle brand mentioned by Joe and the Legacy Floors HD39 or HD40.
Click to expand...

The Legacy product is far superior to the Eagle Brand penetrating sealer. Eagle uses a siloxane silane blend that never works well together. The "theory" is that you will get the best benefits of each ingredient while in the real world you get the weaknesses of both. Concrete needs to be saturated with multiple coats of silane in order to penetrate and seal effectively while siloxane is a type of silicone. Silicone lays on top of the surface and wears away quickly. It looks nice for demonstrations and to sell product, but it does not last.
 
OP
H

hd54kh

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
131
Location
Mooresville N.C.
Hi Shea, thanks for this info, your reputation here precedes you, and your probably one of the best knowledge based pros here.

I need a basic coating, I can live with what I experience with which does not make it correct but it worked. This will be my last garage so re-surfacaing down the road might come into play.

Just a couple of questions. It is a brand new pour in October, powered troweled smooth. I will not be able to seal it until May. First question is what prep would the slab need prior to sealing? Second is can it be touched up when I drag something across it or leave a spill?

Also what is the difference between the HD39 and HD40?

Thanks - Terry
 
B

BeachBoy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
540
Paging legacy industrial! He's on this forum!

I am putting HD39 in my garage in early Feb. Will let you know my results.

According to my search on HD39 there is not much prep especially on a new pour. Just make sure its dry and above 45F
 
L

LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
7,994
Location
deerfield, IL
HD39: Densifier with a sililconate waterproofing agent. All the benefits of a densifier (dustproofing, hardens the surface, reduces effloresence, etc...) plus the added benefit of repelling water based spills. Low cost and low effort to apply. Apply indoors or out, no visible change to the surface, smooth or not so smooth concrete is fine.

HD40: Stainguard with a densifier base. Cross between a densifier and a sealer. Creates a very slight film on the surface which is best used over smooth concrete, polished concrete and/or terrazzo. This product needs to be burnished into the surface for best results. Once applied and burnished it really slows the stain making process from water based and oil based products. It also increases sheen.

These products are treatments, making your existing concrete surfaces more protected and useful. There is nothing to peel or lift for either.
 
A

alberto

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
756
LegacyIndustrial said:
HD39: Densifier with a sililconate waterproofing agent. All the benefits of a densifier (dustproofing, hardens the surface, reduces effloresence, etc...) plus the added benefit of repelling water based spills. Low cost and low effort to apply. Apply indoors or out, no visible change to the surface, smooth or not so smooth concrete is fine.

HD40: Stainguard with a densifier base. Cross between a densifier and a sealer. Creates a very slight film on the surface which is best used over smooth concrete, polished concrete and/or terrazzo. This product needs to be burnished into the surface for best results. Once applied and burnished it really slows the stain making process from water based and oil based products. It also increases sheen.

These products are treatments, making your existing concrete surfaces more protected and useful. There is nothing to peel or lift for either.
Click to expand...

Does the use of either product preclude the use of epoxy or other surface finish?

How about tiling at a later date, would there be an issue with adhesion to the concrete?
 
OP
H

hd54kh

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
131
Location
Mooresville N.C.
I'm leaning more towards the HD39, Beachboy that would be great if you can give some feedback after your install. I have the luxury of time in my favor.

Terry
 
B

BeachBoy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
540
My order still say processing on their website.. and it was placed Jan 20... no tracking yet!

I'm starting to get worried that i won,t have the material in time before the movers fill it out with stuff!

edit: UPS just delivered something from National Polymers, I guess that's the HD39 (private label for Legacy Industrial) that was drop shipped.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom