New floor... prepping questions - Please Help!

[jrcastro]

Hi Guys,

Just had a new house build with a 2 car garage & cement has been poured 45 days ago. I want to put an epoxy floor (armorseal 1000 hs) or something in this nature.

Background:
Garage floor cement is dark gray almost black and it has a sheen to it, it seems that it has been sealed by the builder after pouring or when it was poured it might of had the sealer already.

Questions:
1. Do some cement come with a premixed sealer already?
2. Should I use floor grinder, shot blaster or acid wash to properly prep the floor?

Thanks in advance

 

[PontiacFan]

Water test.
If it seeps in, ..., might be okay to go.
If it beads up & stays on top, ..., work to be done.
More than just that tho. Search & read up.

 

[AlphaGarage]

There are additives that are mix in with concrete that can seal concrete, not common, but they do exist ("Barrier 1" for one).

If the floor fails the water drop test, best to remove the sealer before applying any coatings. Assuming it's a topical sealer use a floor grinder for the task.

 

[jrcastro]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Water test failed.
Very obvious that floor is sealed as water stays stagnant on top of floor.

I've seen some products that remove paint and sealers, will this work?
Or muriatic acid wash?

I'm trying to avoid having to a rent a grinder.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Odds are acid will not work, and you'll just need to try other chemicals to see if they do the trick.

On the other hand grinding will work.

 

[rugerlady]

Diamond Grinding is the best method to remove any sealant. I doubt that muriatc acid will work. If you want to try it, apply some acid to the surface, if you get foaming, that means it is getting through to the concrete. Good Luck.