What Can I Use on an Old Garage Floor to Seal Concrete?
Concrete, a porous material, must be sealed for durability and longevity. Vehicles leak fluids, rainwater and melting snow mixed with road salt; these liquids puddle on the concrete surface, and hot rubber tires leave black marks and streaks. If the floor has been painted previously, the old, loose paint must be removed first. If the floor has never been sealed, the floor must be scrubbed clean before applying any kind of sealer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Preparation
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No sealer adheres to a substandard floor surface. All loose paint and dirt must be removed from the floor. Manufacturers have created a commercial concrete cleaner that is specially prepared to remove common garage floor grease and oil and to minimize suds. Extremely soiled garage floors must be treated with a hydrochloric acid wash and rinsed well.
Products
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For a garage that receives little vehicle use, such as a workshop or storage room, water-based epoxy enamel paints are suitable for old floors. A floor that receives car traffic is best sealed with a clear latex sealant, specially manufactured for garage floors, that is impervious to vehicle fluids, road salt and water. The garage floor may be painted with a specially formulated garage floor enamel paint, if you wish.
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Process
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After the floor is thoroughly cleaned and dry, the clear garage floor sealant is installed along the perimeter of the floor and then in the center. The sealant seals the pores of the concrete and provides a slightly tacky surface for the floor paint to adhere.
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References
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