Sealing a New Concrete Floor vs. an Old, Damaged One
Whether in your basement or garage, concrete floors offer a solid, durable foundation. This doesn’t mean they’re invincible, however. Over the years, shifts in the earth, moisture in the ground, and pressure from vehicles and other heavy objects can lead to fracturing in the floor. When they’re new and small, sealing garage floor cracks is fairly simple. However, older concrete floors that haven’t been well maintained will need a lot of work to get them back in shape.
Regardless of the age or condition of your concrete floor, you always want to seal it once it’s ready. Sealing the garage floor or basement floor will prevent further damage caused by water, chemicals, and pressure. However, sealing an old, beaten up concrete floor takes a bit more effort than sealing a new concrete floor. Let’s go over the process in both cases.
Sealing a New Basement or Garage Concrete Floor
If your concrete floor is brand new, you can’t seal it right away. Concrete takes about a month on average to cure. Only after the material has fully set in place should sealer be applied. Waiting for this duration will provide the optimal conditions for basement or garage floor sealing.
So, after you’ve allowed the new concrete to cure for 28-31 days, it’s time to seal the floor. You have several material options in this regard, including epoxy, acrylic, siloxane, polyurea, and more. These sealing materials vary in cost, longevity, and appearance. At Anderson Painting, we implement the Penntek polyurea system for showroom quality results. This durable material provides a beautiful finish that can last over 25 years.
With your materials in hand, you can begin to coat the new concrete floor. It’s usually best to use large paint rollers for this job, covering smaller sections at a time for the most even coat. The Penntek method uses a basecoat and topcoat, further protecting your concrete floor. Dry times vary depending on the type of sealer you use, but in most cases, the coat will be dry in just a couple of hours.
Sealing an Old Concrete Floor
When it comes time, the sealing process for sealing an older, broken down concrete floor is the same as for sealing a new floor. However, more work must be put into repairing and preparing the floor beforehand. The old floor must be made full and smooth again for the seal to really matter. Therefore, before the sealing process begins, any existing, old seal must be stripped away and the floor thoroughly cleaned. A powerful floor grinder provides the most effective method for this. This will remove leftover sealer as well as excess oil, dirt, and debris while smoothing down the surface.
Once that’s all done, you’re left with the bare concrete. Every gap and crack must be filled with an epoxy crack filler and then sanded down. When everything is dry, your old floor will already look much better than before. To make it good as new, you can apply whichever sealer you choose. From here, the process is the same as previously stated.
Floor Sealing Companies
Floor sealing companies eliminate the hassle of DIY concrete floor sealing. Professional flooring contractors have the equipment and know-how for proper surface prep, coating selection, and flooring repair. Hiring a flooring sealer is an investment that helps you avoid costly, unexpected repairs down the road. When choosing a floor sealing company, hire a trusted local expert with access to some of the best concrete coatings in the business.
Fixing up and sealing your concrete floors may not be the first thing on your mind, but it’s a significant job that will enhance the value of your home. While some people tackle the project on their own, it’s always wise to leave it to the professionals, especially if you’re not feeling confident. Anderson Painting contractors don’t just specialize in painting; our people are also trained in concrete floor sealing and much more. Call us today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@www.andersonpaintingnc.com!
