Penetrating Garage Floor Sealer

Do you have an aging garage floor? Has it ever seen better days? It’s important to constantly fix, maintain, and improve it. Most concrete floors concede due to the exposure to many elements such as solar radiation. If you laid the concrete floor yourself, then you don’t want to lose the natural look you have maintained over time. The good news is that the Penetrating Sealer is an easy, quick, and affordable solution.

Penetrating sealers breach deep into the layer of the concrete and chemically fuse underneath the surface from within the porous medium. The sealer doesn’t leave behind a noticeable layer coating nor changes the surface appearance. The protection is invisible and will allow moisture to escape. The sealer prevents cracking, spalling, staining, water intrusion, dusting, road salts, pitting, oil stains, mold and mildew, and efflorescence.

Benefits of Penetrating Concrete Sealer

Are you wondering why you need a concrete sealer? Your garage floor is an investment and should be taken care of. Using penetrating sealers help protect your concrete and other extra benefits such as;

1. Prevents Mold and Mildew growth

Since concrete is porous, it absorbs moisture. Mould thrives in humid areas; hence if the concrete is not dry, mold will form on it. Mould build-up causes a greenish discoloration on the surface of the concrete. Sealing your concrete will not only deter water intrusion, but also prevent mold growth, and keep it appealing look for decades. However, you can also get rid of mold on the concrete floor with bleach and vinegar.

See also Does Bleach Kill Mold on Concrete?

2. Extends Life of the Concrete

Generally, concrete can last up to 25-30 years, but if Cracking, discoloration, and scaling occur, you should replace it. When concrete is exposed severely to elements such as sun, water intrusion, oil spills, and stains, it loses its strength and appearance. However, sealing your concrete will not only prevent damage but increase its longevity.

3. Prevent Stains

The concrete floor is made up of crushed stone, cement, water, and air, all of which have bound to form the floor. The main impediment of this flooring mixture is the large number of tiny air bubbles that naturally form. These air bubbles in the concrete flooring are what let liquid like oil and other vehicle leakages seep into the flooring material. Once they seep, its what makes the concrete floor so difficult to fully remove stains, mold, and mildew.

7 Best Penetrating Concrete Sealer and Water Repellent Salt Guard

How Do You Use a Penetrating Concrete Sealer?

Just as wooden floors need a wooden finish, concrete floor needs a concrete sealer.

Applying a concrete penetrating sealer is not difficult, but you can easily go wrong since different products have different ways of application. Spraying is quite effective, but you can also use a roller or mop to do the job. But be keen when using a roller since it leaves traces when applying the sealer.

Most penetrating sealers have silane, siloxane, silicate, or silicone formulas that seldom alter the appearance of the concrete.

When using a penetrating sealer, pay attention to the weather condition and seal at the right time. Choose a dry day with 85% humidity and no sign of rain. If it’s too hot, the sealer will evaporate, and if it’s too cold, the sealer will not cure and dry entirely.

Follow the below tips and steps on how to seal concrete flawlessly.

Step 1: Prepare the Concrete floor

First, prepare the concrete. If your concrete is freshly or recently done, give it a resting period of 30 days before sealing it.

In the case of existing concrete, confirm if it is sealed already by pouring some water and watch how it behaves. If the water doesn’t get absorbed but beads up on the surface, then the concrete has been sealed. But if the water is quickly absorbed, the chances are that the concrete either has a worn-out sealer or has no sealer.

If the floor has a sealer, then you have no option but to remove it before re-applying another sealer. You can use a sandblaster or chemical stripper. Use a roller to apply the chemical stripper and scrap it off with a scraper with a long handle.

Use a vacuum cleaner or sweep the dirt from the concrete. Use a putty knife to scrape off the remaining sealer and a degreaser to remove stain and any oil traces. For better adhesion of the sealer, use a mixture of water and Trisodium Phosphate to scratch the surface. After rinsing well with clean water, allow the concrete dry for a day.

See also how to clean unsealed concrete floor.

Step 2: Apply the Penetrating Sealer

Since penetrating sealer is usually a thin layer, the best way to apply it, is by use of a garden sprayer, which is perfect for outdoors. You can also pour the sealer and use a roller or mop to spread it on the concrete. Avoid pooling the sealer on the floor, so use the mop to soak it up.

• When using a paint roller, have an edge that it wet to prevent streaking. Applying the sealer with a paint roller, always keep a wet edge on the roller to avoid streaking.
• Roll as if you painting a wall with a roller. Avoid letting the roller dry. You are advised to do more than one thin coat of the penetrating sealer since one won’t be enough and thick coats aren’t recommended.
• After the first thin coat, wait for the recommended drying time to elapse before applying the second coat. A water-based penetrating sealer dries faster, but it also depends on the temperature outside.
• After the second coat, spray some water to see if it beads up. If it doesn’t, dry the water and apply another coat until you are satisfied with the results.
• Ensure you maintain and clean the sealed concrete floor occasionally for longevity.

The best penetrating concrete sealer for garage floor include:

• Penetrating Concrete Sealer and Water Repellent Salt Guard.
• TotalBoat Epoxy Resin Crystal Clear.
• Rust-Oleum 261845 EpoxyShield Garage Floor Coating
• 5-Gal. SX5000 DOT Approved Solvent Based Silane Siloxane Penetrating Concrete Sealer.
• Miracle Sealants 511 Porous Plus Penetrating Sealer.
• Miracle Sealants 511QT6 511 Impregnator Penetrating Sealers.
• PS101 Siliconate Multi-Surface (Smooth) WB Penetrating Sealer.

Should I Seal The Garage Floor Before Painting?

If you are planning to paint your garage concrete floor, it is vital to seal the floor first. As mentioned, concrete is porous; hence moisture gets underneath and causes mold. Sealing it before painting blocks the moisture from leaking underneath the paint preventing the forming molds.

Sealing before painting also covers up cracks, thus giving an even flawless finish. Painting over the even concrete improves the outcome of the paint. Concrete floors are meant to last for years. Therefore, it wouldn’t hurt to spend more money on a penetrating sealant. Also, garage floors are prone to damage by oil stains, gas leaks, moisture, and solar radiation.

Therefore, it’s imperative to use a penetrating sealer to ensure that the floor lasts longer. Besides adding longevity to the floor, it also gives it a nice look without altering the color of the concrete. The application process of the penetrating garage floor sealer isn’t complicated either. Free up one of your weekends and have fun with this DIY project. But Does Bleach Kill Mold on Concrete?