Slab is poured - next steps, sealing, etc?

[Innovate1]

Slab is being poured today. They said we could start work inside in a few days. But thinking I should seal the slab before it gets stained with various construction stuff.

How long do I need to wait to seal and any prep needed?

Thought about moving the materials for interior walls and such inside. Would protect from rain but have some tarps so thinking it might be better to leave outside out of the way. Building is 30 x 40 so could put some things inside away from the walls and still have room for finishing up the inside. Put it in or leave it out?

Inside sheeting? Thinking T111 or sheeting I can hang stuff from - maybe OSB or plywood. For the ceiling do the same thing or drywall? I will be insulating - probably blown in for walls and ceiling.

So many choices...

 

[Mouse4x4]

I'd go with triply for the over head you can do the entire curling for less then 350 bucks and then blow in insulation and be done with over head

 

[ConCretin]

Good luck with the placement. You've done your homework so hopefully all will go well. I'm glad you got the midrange. Between that and the weather, you've given yourself a great chance for success.

First off, make sure they cut those control joints the second they can so so without raveling the edges - no later than tomorrow morning.

Normally the next task would be to cure the slab to maintain the moisture in the concrete long enough for it to reach full strength. Since you slab is covered to protect it from sun and wind and the temps are cool, it's not as critical as it might otherwise be.

I'd probably just buy a good cure and seal product and spray it on tomorrow morning. It will help cure and concrete and seal it against stains during construction. Just be aware that if you want to install a higher quality sealer or epoxy later on, you'll have to remove the remnants of this product before applying a new product.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Slab is being poured today. They said we could start work inside in a few days. But thinking I should seal the slab before it gets stained with various construction stuff.

How long do I need to wait to seal and any prep needed?

Thought about moving the materials for interior walls and such inside. Would protect from rain but have some tarps so thinking it might be better to leave outside out of the way. Building is 30 x 40 so could put some things inside away from the walls and still have room for finishing up the inside. Put it in or leave it out?

Inside sheeting? Thinking T111 or sheeting I can hang stuff from - maybe OSB or plywood. For the ceiling do the same thing or drywall? I will be insulating - probably blown in for walls and ceiling.

So many choices...

It depends on how you seal it and what you use. Personally I would wait 28 days. Presuming you would like to protect it from oil, Ghostshield 4500 followed by Ghostshield 8510 would be a good way to go.

 

[Innovate1]

What's triply? Never heard of it...

LLWilysfan, Yes, got the midrange, was able to look at the foam board before the concrete - The base support of the foam looked good. The had originally said they would cut tomorrow morning but I asked and they are cutting it this afternoon. The front will get some sun through the big OHD openings. I can hang a tarp over the openings to shade it. It's sunny today so the surface there is going to dry out some. Also kind of windy today. Same for the next few days - near 60 and sunny and 15 mph wind. I thought about misting the surface tonight when I get home at the front near the ohds.

Spray the coating? I don't have a way to do that. Was thinking it would be rolled on. What's involved in removing the coating for reseal? I could check with the contractor but I doubt they do coatings.

 

[matt_i]

I sealed (curing sealer) the concrete about 2 hours after the concrete guys were gone for the day...(I could walk on it with sock feet without scuffing or damage or dirt). The product was not one I could find at a box store, I had to source it thru a distributor in the metro area.

But that's not typical and probably interferes with the epoxy you might add later.

Otherwise, I'd wet cure it for two weeks minimum, not that you can't work out there but working in a puddle is a drag.

agree with cutting the control joints the next morning after the pour.

The longer you can you can maintain a stonehearted view on excluding every material possession from the interior of the building, the faster the interior finishing can go. When the interior starts accumulating "stuff" the game of Garage Tetris begins and its nothing but a neverending incremental delay until you finally finish or give up and just move in.

 

[Innovate1]

Don't think we are going to do epoxy. It looks great but this is a working shop not a show piece. We want it to look good but I think regular sealer will be fine.

 

[ConCretin]

Spray the coating? I don't have a way to do that. Was thinking it would be rolled on. What's involved in removing the coating for reseal? I could check with the contractor but I doubt they do coatings.

So, there are really three types of products. None are really a coating per se.

Dissipating curing products are often water based and form a film on the surface to hold in moisture and then dissipate with exposure to light and traffic after the concrete is cured.

Cure and seal products are non-disipating and form a more durable film that provide some ongoing protection against spills, etc

While the first two are applied immediately after placement, the third is a penetrating sealer that interacts with the concrete chemically to provide a much higher level of protection. These products are usually applied after 28 days.

If you opt for the third version, you are probably better off with a moist cure to prevent your curing product from interfering with your sealer. Just wet down the lab and cover it with poly.
The first two can be applied by roller or a simple pump sprayer available at any hardware store.

You'll never go wrong curing a slab but if it's protected from sun, wind and hot temps, its probably going to be fine either way.

 

[Innovate1]

We would like to begin working inside as soon as possible to start finishing it out so something to provide some protection against stains and spills would be good. Don't expect anything as bad as oil and such but sawdust, dirt (will try to minimize but some is inevitable). I suppose I could throw down some plastic which would help keep the moisture in and protect the slab at the same time. It will certianly get a few holes in it with use.

If I go with a cure and seal product that would seem to also help with curing and protection and probably be a little less hassle than the poly. Can I just put a regular sealer over it after the 28 days or what is the process? Any suggested specific products?

 

[dcg9381]

I just poured a slab. I'm waiting 30 days, minimum. Maybe more depending on your weather. I think what you go with will depend on how you plan to finish it long term..

 

[RPH]

We would like to begin working inside as soon as possible to start finishing it out so something to provide some protection against stains and spills would be good. Don't expect anything as bad as oil and such but sawdust, dirt (will try to minimize but some is inevitable). I suppose I could throw down some plastic which would help keep the moisture in and protect the slab at the same time. It will certianly get a few holes in it with use.

If I go with a cure and seal product that would seem to also help with curing and protection and probably be a little less hassle than the poly. Can I just put a regular sealer over it after the 28 days or what is the process? Any suggested specific products?

Ghostshield products as recommended. Work great in a working shop.
So long as it isn’t liquid that your using in there while waiting the thirty day cure you have no issues.
The sawdust, dirt are easy to clean. And clean is what you will do no matter what product you choose. And clean, clean........

 

[Earp69]

I'd go with triply for the over head you can do the entire curling for less then 350 bucks and then blow in insulation and be done with over head

I'm interested in this stuff but and worried about sagging over time, what's your thoughts and how did you fasten it to your trusses?