Slab regrets?

[USAFpj]

When it comes to the GJ, there's a lot of detailed information on coatings and sealants in that forum, but my questions are:

Does anyone regret not putting any type of sealer/coating on their working garage slab, and

Does anyone regret the fact that they did put a sealer or coating?

I'm looking at a minimal $1,500 for a sealer, which I think is wise, but another part of me says to put that cash towards the lift and don't worry about the slab. This is for a working garage and storage as well..

 

[rooster shooter]

If it comes down to floor finish vs. lift or storage, I'd go with the latter.

 

[dankrism]

I am interested in the same answer. I just had about 60 yards of concrete poured last week in the barn and on the apron. The concrete guy has said he already applied a sealer and I did see one of his guys spraying on some kind of product the same day they poured the concrete.
Now I assumed this product was some sort of curing sealer so I am confused if I need to do any further sealer application.
Like you I would rather spend the money elsewhere.The products I have seen on the GJ are like $75 a gallon or more! Is there a more reasonable alternative??

 

[lakeroadster]

How big is your shop and what are you planning to use?

Out of the 5 shops I have built / had built through my life I've only sealed one... that was back in the early 1980's, and it all pealed off.

I've been doing some research recently on sealer for my new barn. It's a working shop, not a man cave. Less is more and I don't want to spend much money.

I found this yesterday: Eagle Natural Seal and is $80 bucks for 5 gallons from Home Depot. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Eagle-5-...llant-Sealer-and-Salt-Repellant-EM5/203075976

Check it out.. reviews seem pretty good.

"Eagle Natural Seal is a penetrating silicone sealer for your concrete. Eagle Natural Seal protects concrete from salts, freeze/thaw, chemicals and other elements b and combination of deep penetrating Silane and surface protecting Siloxane barriers. Your concrete will bead water and look dry even when wet."

 

[USAFpj]

Lake, I'm currently looking at TLPPC. In saying that, I believe that to have a good product, you're going to have to pay good money. TLPPC looks solid to me, and the price isn't crazy for the quality.

The only issue is that time tells the real story..

 

[lakeroadster]

I believe that to have a good product, you're going to have to pay good money...

Opinions vary... price alone is a poor indicator of quality.

Research, research, research... as my old boss used to say.

From what I can see the Eagle Natural Seal is very similar, chemically, to the specialized coatings, such as Legacy Industrial's Silax-Seal: http://www.legacyindustrial.net/products/concrete-sealers/silaxseal.html

The reviews from the folks who have actually used the product is the real world proof of product.. sort of.

If you read the online reviews, most of the complaints are coming from folks that don;t apply the product correctly... then ***** that it isn't performing as promised.

 

[pepi]

I think it is a waste of time, I work on stuff, all kinds of projects. Do not want to be bothered with spills or scratches, jacks, jack stands or what gets dropped hurting the finish on some floor.

It is a shop not a dance studio, well mine is anyway, a coating is a coating, and will always wear off, just the way it is. Sales people will bring the hype cause that's a way of earning a living, that is fine.

It was suggested that I seal my slab when I constructed the new garage. Thought ok sounds good yada yada, turns out a bad idea. I use many cleaners lacquer thinner, brake cleaner to name a few, even spill gas filling some of the lawn machines. The coating, epoxy becomes sticky, would have been better to have left well enough alone. Will not throw money or time out the window to re-coat. Figure given enough time it will get removed around the work areas, sort of take care of itself.

I have read where some of the coatings become sticky when you park a just driven car on the coated floor. Do I have regrets.... nope water under the bridge, did learn and will try to educate others using a real life example.

Take the 1500 and buy some useful tools, the return is so much better.


Greg

 

[USAFpj]

Yeah lake, you're definitely correct and like minded. Please don't read into my statement that you have to pay big money in all things to get quality these days.

That statement is more of a nod to the gents on this forum who go out of their way to provide a plethora of products for us to place on our slabs, and provide confusing information to the masses who need for the info to be broken down in layman's terms.

I'm with you, though. A lot of choices, and reviews keep me staring at a computer screen for months before I make a decision. Analysis Paralysis!

 

[lakeroadster]

I think it is a waste of time, I work on stuff, all kinds of projects. Do not want to be bothered with spills or scratches, jacks, jack stands or what gets dropped hurting the finish on some floor....

Yeah.. except for the damned concrete dust... that's my *****.

The sealers.. you can't even tell they are there. It's not a product on the surface.. it soaks into the concrete.

 

[pepi]

Must say I never have had an experience with concrete dust, that's a new one. 30 years in the house garage and coming up to 10 in the new build. Lucky me

 

[USAFpj]

And that's why I dig the TLPPC as a sealant. Keep that dust down with a bit of protection as well.

 

[USAFpj]

Pepi, did you have your slabs power troweled? That may have made a pretty tight surface that doesn't lend itself to a lot of dust?

 

[lakeroadster]

Must say I never have had an experience with concrete dust, that's a new one. 30 years in the house garage and coming up to 10 in the new build. Lucky me

no dust... get outta here. So did you pour the concrete yourself?

Many concrete guys apply a curing sealant... you may have it.. and not even know it.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Our SPGX is a great, economy (about 35 cents/sq ft) super resistant coating in clear for a floor. Easy to apply literally zero prep.

https://store.armorpoxy.com/mm5/mer...=A&Product_Code=SPGX-GAL&Category_Code=AULTRA

 

[pepi]

no dust... get outta here. So did you pour the concrete yourself?

Many concrete guys apply a curing sealant... you may have it.. and not even know it.

I do not have an answer for that, you could be correct with what you say. The slabs do have a different texture compared to the drive way.

As I think about it, I could be seeing dust when bowing off the drive way,. Never thought much about it before wrote it off as pollen... I need to look closer and watch we have and are getting pollen because it is spring for now.

 

[James-W]

Personally, I think a concrete floor all soaked with oil and other type of stains looks terrible. In my opinion, a good sealer is worth every penny that it costs. It makes the floor look nicer, which to my way of thinking is a plus, but more importantly, any spills wipe up easily. To each their own of course, but my vote is for a high quality sealed concrete floor when working on vehicles.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I struggled with the same decision and didn't want to have to worry about chips, scrapes or just poor adhesion. I've worked in shops with coated floors and they are easy to clean but needed refinishing every few years.

I opted for a fairly smooth power trowel and put a densifier on and since done a lot of dirty work and welding to mention dragging heavy objects around without a mark. For thr worst spills I cleaned up with a little varsol, otherwise some laundry detergent (powder) left to soak for an hour and a quick pass with a stiff broom and it looks like brand new after a rinse.

The product I used was called Lithoseal and I know the sponsors here have a similar product, it just didn't pay to ship their product to my location.

Just my .02 but like all things, to each his own.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

You gents would benefit from HD40 or for a bit more our Nohr-S Polyurea.
I have had every floor including a dirt/oil stained mess and it's nice rolling on clean resin!