Sealing w/out Mechanical Stripping

[jgonz123]

I just moved into a 46 yr old home with a garage concrete floor that was obviously beautiful when it was installed. It is still very smooth with areas of water repelling characteristics -- must be wearing off. The floor is 28x33 and doesn't have a single relief joint NOR any cracks, except for a few small spider ones. My FIL said it must've been power machined or something when installed. In some parts, a dust mop glides right over it -- others not so much.

I've scrubbed everywhere and power washed, used degreaser everywhere and acid etched it. But it is still showing signs it's hydrophobic. Therefore I returned my Rustoleum Epoxy Coat -- after reading the directions and various places online. The remaining seal coat plus the machined-smoothness were red flags.

I don't want to Soda Blast it nor Machine sand/grind it down -- just to put epoxy back on it. I also don't want to put racetrack, tile, or carpet down.

Question: What are my other options, without much further effort to prep? Was I too quick to return the epoxy? Can I put a sealer over it, hoping it will seal the worn areas? Concrete densifier?

I'm looking for a DIY for low/mid-range cost (relative to the myriad of options) to help keep the floor sealed and protected -- so I can push-broom it nicely. Coloring is not necessary, but bonus. Keeping one vehicle inside, mostly storage and workshop use for the other 2 car areas.

 

[Shea]

Did you acid etch or just use the etching cleaner that Rust-Oleum sells? The reason for the question is that the Rust-Oleum citrus etching cleaner will not do much for power troweled concrete that may have a slight polish to it from years of traffic.

One option you might want to consider is a good acrylic sealer. It will do what you are looking for as long as you aren't too tough with the caustic fluids on it.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

As Shea mentioned, if your appetite for prep is low, a quality sealer may be a good alternative for you.

 

[jgonz123]

Did you acid etch or just use the etching cleaner that Rust-Oleum sells? The reason for the question is that the Rust-Oleum citrus etching cleaner will not do much for power troweled concrete that may have a slight polish to it from years of traffic.

Used the one next to the Rust-Oleum box at the box-store. Pretty sure it was citrus based, too.

Would using an Acid stain (likely) be enough to be able to apply the Epoxy based -- even though it's power troweled (smooth)? I could probably handle doing that, just didn't want to pay even more for someone to come out and blast or grind the thing down.

I browsed the acrylic info. It sounds like a good alternative. Since I'm not too picky about the way it looks, it sounds like I can put down some box-store concrete stain (for an imperfect marbled look) and then a water based acrylic sealer?

Thanks for giving me hope.

 

[Shea]

I browsed the acrylic info. It sounds like a good alternative. Since I'm not too picky about the way it looks, it sounds like I can put down some box-store concrete stain (for an imperfect marbled look) and then a water based acrylic sealer?

Yes, using an acid stain on concrete followed up by an acrylic sealer is a common practice.

 

[jgonz123]

Thanks Shea. And I found the answer you wrote to my other question (and more) at http://allgaragefloors.com/concrete-floor-sealers/ sealers section. Excellent summary info all over that site, must say...

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[jgonz123]

So.... no local places carry an Acid stains for concrete.

Any help here? Good quality brand / fair priced website?

Shea recommends using HD-6600. Would that fit the profile of "too lazy to prep any further" for my garage floor situation? I'm curious b/c it is a hybrid containing epoxy, so does it require the same prep for 2-step epoxy systems?

* Floor looks power/machine troweled, very smooth w/out relief cuts.
* Many areas still appear slightly sealed (minor hydrophobic) probably many years ago.
* I've done lots of degreaser scrubbing, power washed it, used some pour-n-restore on the deeply-set-in oil/grease stains (they only lightened in color, didn't removed), and applied a citrus based etcher. No acid etching.

 

[jgonz123]

I guess it's because I live in the wonderful green state of CA that they must not be carried on shelves. Since Legacy Ind. doesn't ship any products to specific counties in southern CA, which I'm not in since I live in central CA, but I assume that means their "substitute" products are my options. I liked the idea of no further prep for differing levels of absorption, ie. "character" of a marbled look..

Box stores carry acrylic stain, but will that even work on this type of floor?