Need solid color floor but having second thoughts on H&C stain and sealer

[BuickFarmer]

So I've cleaned and etched the floor to my garage and will be using Legacy Industrial 6600 to seal the actual garage area. I have been researching products to use in the office area where there will be no vehicle traffic, only foot traffic. I want the floor to be a solid light color with a matt sheen, NOT a wet look or high gloss. I have been considering using H&C ColorTop solid stain in Bombay color https://www.sherwin-williams.com/ho...olortop-waterbased-solid-color-concrete-stain and possibly H&C ClairShield https://www.hcconcrete.com/product/clarishield-water-based-natural-look/ over the top of that. I have a 36"X48" Buick logo stencil that will be painted onto the first coat and covered with a "clear coat" or "seal". So here are my questions and concerns:

Does anyone have experience with the H&C products listed above?

If I can't find a better solid stain or some product to give me the color I want, is there a better top clear coat such as a polyurethane (in matt or satin) that would work to apply over the H&C solid stain and the painted logo.

Or if I go with the H&C water based solid ColorTop stain, a latex paint for the Buick logo and the H&C water based ClariShield will this be satisfactory for the projected use.

Note: There is strong sunlight exposure within that room so any product must be UV resistant.
Note2: The Sherwin Williams 30% off sale for the H&C products ends Monday !!!

 

[Shea]

So I've cleaned and etched the floor to my garage and will be using Legacy Industrial 6600 to seal the actual garage area. I have been researching products to use in the office area where there will be no vehicle traffic, only foot traffic. I want the floor to be a solid light color with a matt sheen, NOT a wet look or high gloss. I have been considering using H&C ColorTop solid stain in Bombay color https://www.sherwin-williams.com/ho...olortop-waterbased-solid-color-concrete-stain and possibly H&C ClairShield https://www.hcconcrete.com/product/clarishield-water-based-natural-look/ over the top of that. I have a 36"X48" Buick logo stencil that will be painted onto the first coat and covered with a "clear coat" or "seal". So here are my questions and concerns:

Does anyone have experience with the H&C products listed above?

If I can't find a better solid stain or some product to give me the color I want, is there a better top clear coat such as a polyurethane (in matt or satin) that would work to apply over the H&C solid stain and the painted logo.

Or if I go with the H&C water based solid ColorTop stain, a latex paint for the Buick logo and the H&C water based ClariShield will this be satisfactory for the projected use.

Note: There is strong sunlight exposure within that room so any product must be UV resistant.
Note2: The Sherwin Williams 30% off sale for the H&C products ends Monday !!!

Just as an FYI, the H&C Color Top is what we refer to as a fake stain. There are other companies that market these as well. They are essentially heavily tinted water-based acrylic sealers. Color Top is virtually the same as CariShield, only tinted. Actual stains and dyes impart a permanent color to the concrete. These do not. If they peel up at all, they will expose the bare concrete below. They work fine for foot traffic as long as they bond to the concrete well. Getting a solid color look out of a real stain is difficult. Acetone and other solvent-based dyes come the closest.

A water-based polyurethane clear coat would provide better protection than ClariShield. Legacy Industrial has a low-sheen version. You most likely would need to let the Color Top dry completely and then lightly scuff it up before applying the polyurethane. If you contact Scotty, he tell you for sure.

 

[BuickFarmer]

Just as an FYI, the H&C Color Top is what we refer to as a fake stain. There are other companies that market these as well. They are essentially heavily tinted water-based acrylic sealers. Color Top is virtually the same as CariShield, only tinted. Actual stains and dyes impart a permanent color to the concrete. These do not. If they peel up at all, they will expose the bare concrete below. They work fine for foot traffic as long as they bond to the concrete well. Getting a solid color look out of a real stain is difficult. Acetone and other solvent-based dyes come the closest.

A water-based polyurethane clear coat would provide better protection than ClariShield. Legacy Industrial has a low-sheen version. You most likely would need to let the Color Top dry completely and then lightly scuff it up before applying the polyurethane. If you contact Scotty, he tell you for sure.

Thanks for that Shea. I've read your many articles including the Beware of Using Fake Concrete Stains so understand what you are saying. It appears that "Getting a solid color look out of a real stain is difficult" is the problem I am having trouble overcoming.

Perhaps I should look into paint and a clear coat and which would be the worse of the two evils. Or perhaps a light color mottled true concrete stain. But wait, I've been looking for that for months..

 

[BuickFarmer]

@Shea I thought I had found the answer to my needs of a tannish color floor coating. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G8H953Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But alas, it is an EPOXY which from everything I've read will yellow in time due to all the sunlight coming through the south facing windows of the BS&S garage. Is there any remedy for this, such as possibly a clear coat? Probably not eh? BTW, I just watched your video

and learned a great deal.

EDIT) any experience or thoughts on this epoxy. https://coloredepoxies.com/products/colored-epoxy-resin-kit-new-images?variant=12644003184725

Says to use their clear coat to prevent UV yellowing, which I question.... I take it they're referring to this https://coloredepoxies.com/products/mcu-super-uv-clear-coat?variant=38222018188

@Shea All of this is looking complicated and expensive. I have spent days researching all these products and from the get go never wanted to get into the epoxy scenario. All your articles have certainly helped but right now I am suffering from info overload.

 

[Shea]

@Shea I thought I had found the answer to my needs of a tannish color floor coating. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G8H953Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But alas, it is an EPOXY which from everything I've read will yellow in time due to all the sunlight coming through the south facing windows of the BS&S garage. Is there any remedy for this, such as possibly a clear coat? Probably not eh? BTW, I just watched your video

and learned a great deal.

EDIT) any experience or thoughts on this epoxy. https://coloredepoxies.com/products/colored-epoxy-resin-kit-new-images?variant=12644003184725

Says to use their clear coat to prevent UV yellowing, which I question.... I take it they're referring to this https://coloredepoxies.com/products/mcu-super-uv-clear-coat?variant=38222018188

@Shea All of this is looking complicated and expensive. I have spent days researching all these products and from the get go never wanted to get into the epoxy scenario. All your articles have certainly helped but right now I am suffering from info overload.

One product you might want to take a look at is DuraGrade Concrete by Rust Bullet. It's a single-part moisture-cured polyurethane that is U.V. stable and won't yellow. It is available in a variety of colors including the light blue you were originally contemplating. I didn't mention it before since it has a gloss finish and you were specifying a matte or satin look.

Rust Bullet’s No Etch Duragrade Concrete Floor Coating is on Target

DuraGrade Concrete coating is one of the few coatings that requires no acid etching or grinding to apply. Discover our test results and review of this high performance garage floor coating.

allgaragefloors.com

Also, @LegacyIndustrial has an additive called "Color Bomb" that can be used with their HD6600-MMA acrylic. It does the same thing as Color Top to create a solid color. The MMA acrylic is far more durable than the water-based that Sherwin-Williams uses. They also have a matte additive to tone down the gloss. You might want to contact Scotty to discuss it.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

10-4 on the color-bomb!

Color Bomb Pigment | Legacy Industrial

www.legacyindustrial.co

 

[BuickFarmer]

Also, @LegacyIndustrial has an additive called "Color Bomb" that can be used with their HD6600-MMA acrylic. It does the same thing as Color Top to create a solid color. The MMA acrylic is far more durable than the water-based that Sherwin-Williams uses. They also have a matte additive to tone down the gloss. You might want to contact Scotty to discuss it.

10-4 on the color-bomb!

Are y'all serious!!! If this ain't a case of goin around your elbow to get to yo ***, I ain't ever. I could swear I recalled reading that the 6600 couldn't be tinted. This is great!!!! Scotty if you recall I just ordered 4 gal of the 6600 for use over the 6525 I've had a few years for use in the shop area. So I will probably order 3 more gallons plus the Color Bomb in Frontier Tan which is sooo close to the H&C color we were going with. Y'all certainly just made my day. Scotty, I'll be emailing you some additional questions.
Thanks guys!!!!!

BTW here's a shot of the shop area that has been acid etched and drying now for 7 days, will be applying the 6525 tomorrow.