Sealing (Ballistix/GhostShield) under tiles?

[fr0sty]

I have a new garage with bare concrete and was planning to put some RaceDeck freeflow tiles over it. I was thinking that it may be better to seal/protect the concrete first with something (either GhostShield or Ballistix) as there will be salt getting onto it. Any thoughts to this? Worth it or not?

Also, if it is worth it, which one would be better? Seems like Ballistix gloss would be the "slickest" and easiest to wash? Similar to how glossy wall paints are easier to clean than matte ones?

Finally, it seems like for either of these, no floor prep is really needed outside of cleaning it and then alcohol, but is that truly the case? The floor isn't super rough, but would it be worth the extra effort and cost to smoothen/polish it?

 

[Shea]

I have a new garage with bare concrete and was planning to put some RaceDeck freeflow tiles over it. I was thinking that it may be better to seal/protect the concrete first with something (either GhostShield or Ballistix) as there will be salt getting onto it. Any thoughts to this? Worth it or not?

Also, if it is worth it, which one would be better? Seems like Ballistix gloss would be the "slickest" and easiest to wash? Similar to how glossy wall paints are easier to clean than matte ones?

Finally, it seems like for either of these, no floor prep is really needed outside of cleaning it and then alcohol, but is that truly the case? The floor isn't super rough, but would it be worth the extra effort and cost to smoothen/polish it?

The only recommendation would be to apply a penetrating sealer to the concrete beforehand to protect it from the salt. A coating such as Ballistix is overkill. No need to spend that kind of money and the application time involved to just cover it up with tile. Plus, the tiles are free floating and the slight movements of it over time will wear through a coating. A densifier with an added sealer would work well and is inexpensive.

Why Concrete Densifiers are used as Garage Floor Sealers

Concrete densifier sealers can do double duty as garage floor sealers. Learn which densifier sealer is best, how they work, and how easy application is.

allgaragefloors.com

 

[Armorpoxy]

Shea is 100% correct, using a less expensive penetrating sealer like Ghostshield 8500 would be perfect, require almost no prep, and not expensive. Ballistix would be overkill for under tiles.

 

[fr0sty]

Awesome, thanks for the recommendations, I'll probably go with the Lithi-Tek 4500 and Ghostshield 8510. I probably could get away with GS 8500, but would rather just spend a bit extra now for protection against future oil leaks, etc.

My garage is 232 sq ft, so 1 gallon of Lithi-Tek 4500 mixed with 3 gallons of water? wait 7 days and then 1 gallon of GS 8510 straight up?

Also, I'd like to apply it soon before winter comes and it says application temps 45-90. Can I use a heater in the garage to keep it warmer?

 

[Armorpoxy]

A small heater will work wonders. Please note that supplies of Ghostshield are very spotty from the factory so give yourself adequate time in case of a backorder as we don't stock it this time of year but the factory ships normally direct same day if they have it in stock.