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should i seal or use epoxy
- Thread starter DLank68
- Start date
cc_rider
Well-known member
DLank68 said:or both? I just got my floor poured last sat, and i was wondering if I should use a sealer then epoxy, or just epoxy?
what do you all recomend, also whats a good sealer and epoxy to use? can i get this at lowes or home depot?
Oh man, you're gonna open up a can o' worms. Regardless of what you decide to use, I'm pretty sure the slab needs to cure for several weeks if not months before you treat it. Concrete actually takes FOREVER to cure properly; just because you can walk on it and it looks dry does not mean it's finished curing. In fact some folks keep the surface covered, or misted with water, to reduce the difference in moisture content between the surface and the interior. That difference can cause cracks, as the interior shrinks slightly as it cures. I've seen newly poured highway bridges covered with old carpet remnants for that very purpose, to slow down the curing process.
Surface treatment-wise, there's a whole host of products out there. Check out some of the reviews here; there's tons of info and helpful folks. I found this site while doing a search on garage floor treatments, and now I'm hooked!
Good Luck!
c.
mike944
Well-known member
You can't use epoxy over sealer, so it's an either-or proposition.
You can get floor "epoxy" at home depot, or lowes, but the general opinion around here is the single-part, consumer-grade epoxys aren't very durable. A good epoxy is somewhat more expensive, but the price range is from slightly-more expensive, to WAY-more expensive.
There's about a million threads on the epoxy subject around here, as to which ones people have used with good luck, and not-so-good luck.
Just one thing, above all else. Proper preparation is absolutely critical, even on new concrete!
You can get floor "epoxy" at home depot, or lowes, but the general opinion around here is the single-part, consumer-grade epoxys aren't very durable. A good epoxy is somewhat more expensive, but the price range is from slightly-more expensive, to WAY-more expensive.
There's about a million threads on the epoxy subject around here, as to which ones people have used with good luck, and not-so-good luck.
Just one thing, above all else. Proper preparation is absolutely critical, even on new concrete!
Der Bugmeister
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2005
- Messages
- 445
I was just at Home Depot yesterday looking at the same thing. The two lines they carry here are Behr and Rustoleum, and they're priced pretty much the same. The Rustoleum was $95 and Behr $100 per kit.
Rustoleum says coverage per kit (gallon) is 125 - 200 sq ft, while Behr says it gets 200 - 250 sq ft. A lot will depend on how smooth your concrete is.
There are a couple threads of bad experiences with Behr, but I couldn't find any bad comments about Rustoleum...in fact, I started a thread in the flooring section last night soliciting opinions on the Rustoleum product.
Rustoleum says coverage per kit (gallon) is 125 - 200 sq ft, while Behr says it gets 200 - 250 sq ft. A lot will depend on how smooth your concrete is.
There are a couple threads of bad experiences with Behr, but I couldn't find any bad comments about Rustoleum...in fact, I started a thread in the flooring section last night soliciting opinions on the Rustoleum product.
GearHead_1
Well-known member
I hate to say this because I always feel like I'm going to offend someone who has a different experience than I have. I've used Rustoleum's industrial grade epoxy and UCoatIt's Epoxy. In my experience the Rustoleum doesn't hold a candle to UCoatIt. Then again it cost about 1/3 the price of UCoatIt. I used the Rustoleum in the storage room of my basement and UCoatIt in the Garage. Both were installed on new unblemished concrete within about 1 month of one another. It doesn't take a great deal of effort to discern which of these is a better product when used side by side. It's not that Rustoleumis necessarily a bad product but the clear top coat I used with UCoatIt's product makes a world of difference in appearance and in ones ability to clean the floor after installation. Knowing what I know now I wouldn't purchase the Rustoleum again. No offense intended to any that like Rustoleum's product.
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