An unsealed concrete floor is going to be more reactive and sensitive to changes in temperature. It will freeze in cold climates and expand in warm ones. This can cause crumbling, chipping, and cracking.
Because garage floors are protected from outdoor elements, they don't generally need sealed as often as a concrete driveway. However, most garage floors are made from concrete, making them susceptible to cracking and moisture intrusion from oil spills, antifreeze leakage, and other household chemicals.
Sealing your concrete floors prevents damage – no matter how regularly your floors are used. So, if you want to ensure your concrete floors look and stay great for longer, sealing them is definitely a wise choice.
While the advantages outweigh the negatives, there are some disadvantages that you should keep in mind before sealing your concrete driveway. Sealant can make the surface slippery. Sealants tend to dry down with a glossy or semi-glossy sheen that can be quite slick, especially when wet.
Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
Because concrete is a porous material, it has a tendency to absorb moisture. When this moisture doesn't dry and the surface is left wet for an extended period of time, mildew begins to form and mold begins to grow.
Epoxy and urethane coatings tend to be more expensive than a simple concrete sealer, but they offer better protection.
Acrylics and epoxy topical sealants are the least expensive, but do require prep work. They aren't as durable and long-lasting as penetrating sealants.
Polyurethane Sealers
A polyurethane concrete sealer is a great choice for driveways, garages, and outdoor surfaces that are exposed to extreme weather conditions. A polyurethane sealer is a type of oil-based sealer that is made from polyurethane resin.
Acrylic Concrete Sealers: Acrylic sealers last 1-3 years before they need to be re-coated. Epoxy Coatings: Epoxy coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated. Urethane Coatings: Urethane coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated.
Concrete is already a porous material. This means that water could find its way through your concrete by itself.
Colour sealing is preferred for driveways, carports, pathways and patios. Paint is a thick coating, gets slippery more easily, is prone to flaking and difficult to re-paint once worn.
If you are pouring concrete floors in any type of warehouse or heavy commercial setting, leaving them bare is asking for trouble. Vehicle traffic, chemicals, temperature changes, and other common industrial impacts can quickly damage bare concrete floors. If appearances are a concern, bare concrete is the wrong choice.
Solids, epoxies, and urethanes 50% or under are often applied DIY, but 100% solids, epoxies, and urethanes require special tools and professional application. If you use the siliconate penetrating sealers and acrylic topical coatings recommended above, you should have no problem applying yourself.
Applying Garage Floor Paint
Before Thinning applying the first coat, work out whether you need to apply a primer/sealer first. You will normally need to apply this if the floor hasn't been painted before or if the floor has bare concrete exposed.
We find that it is significantly easier to clean a coated garage floor than it is to clean concrete that's untreated. In general, both paint and epoxy are easy to clean because of their smooth finish and water-resistant properties. Weather- and corrosion-proof coatings require nothing more than soap and water.
Concrete can be described as a hard sponge that soaks up oil and water-based spills. Easily marked by tires and outdoor elements, it is important to seal the surface, so it looks beautiful year-round. The other benefit to sealing concrete is improved cleaning and maintenance.
In order to properly seal your concrete, then, you must clean the surface of the substrate before applying a concrete sealer of any variety. The easiest and most effective way to clean the concrete will vary depending on the condition of your concrete and whether it has been treated with chemical stains.
Sealers can be slippery. Sealing concrete can create a slippery surface, especially when wet.