You don’t want to rush sealing your garage floor. If you do, you’re going to waste not only your time but your money as well.
It’s an easy process to seal your garage floor but you need to be patient. Below you’ll find out how to seal your garage floor in 9 easy steps.
Let’s dive right in.
How to Seal Your Garage Floor
Step 1
Before you do anything, you need to test your garage floor for moisture. Garage floors made out of concrete are porous, so if it’s wet, the sealer won’t be able to penetrate your concrete leading to a waste of material.
You can purchase a concrete moisture test online, or if you want to DIY, you can do a sheet test.
Take a 16″x16″ plastic sheet and duct tape it over a section of your concrete. Take a look under the sheet after a day and determine if there’s moisture on the underside. If it’s dry, you can go ahead with the next steps.
If it’s wet, wait a few days to let your concrete dry out then test it again before proceeding.
Step 2
If you’re using a topical garage floor sealer, it’s recommended that you fix any cracks that your garage floor has accumulated over the years.
Garage floor sealers are not intended to be used as a sealing product, especially on cracks greater than 1/16″. You can fill your cracks with concrete crack sealant or find caulk at your local hardware store.
It’s preferable to wait 2-5 days for the caulk to be fully set before sealing your concrete.
Step 3
Now is the fun part. Take everything out of your garage and then sweep the floor of any debris and dirt. You’re going to give your garage floor a deep clean, preferably with a cleaning product.
You’ll need to put use some elbow grease to remove all oil, grease, stains, or dirt your floor has accumulated. If you can afford it, pressure washing your garage floor will speed up the process and get the job done right.
This step is imperative and shouldn’t be overlooked. If you don’t clean your concrete well, the sealant will fail to adhere to your floor. Take your time with this step as it’s the most important.
Step 4
After your garage floor has dried, do a water drop test on your concrete. If the water pools up and doesn’t sink into the concrete, you have a pre-existing sealer that needs to be removed.
You’re going to need to strip your concrete sealer from the surface. You can purchase a chemical stripper from your local hardware store.
Before stripping away any sealant, ensure your garage is properly ventilated and wear the proper safety gear. You can use a roller or a paint sprayer to apply the stripper onto your concrete. Follow the instructions on the stripper you’ve purchased.
Once removed, wait until the concrete is dry to continue.
Step 5
If you’re using an acrylic sealer that will alter the appearance of your concrete, you can do a small test in the corner of your garage. This will allow you to see if the look is what you had in mind.
If you were satisfied with the appearance after 24 hours, you can start the full application process.
Step 6
I recommend using a low-pressure sprayer to apply your sealer. You can get away with using a roller, but keep in mind that concrete sealers dry fast. You need to work quickly to keep up and prevent puddles from forming.
What you’re aiming for is the concrete to fully absorb the concrete sealer and rejecting any further application. Once you’ve reached that point, spread the rest of the sealer with a roller or broom to other areas of your floor.
Divide your garage into four areas and move on to the next area once you’ve determined that the concrete has absorbed as much sealer as is possible.
If you notice any white residue forming, it will gradually disappear over time. If you have a power washer on hand, you can wash it away after the sealer has dried.
Step 7
Let the first coat dry. Your concrete may not need another coat, so test your concrete by pouring water over it. If you notice that the water beads up and doesn’t sink into the concrete, then your garage floor is sealed!
If your floor has areas where the water penetrates the concrete, then you should apply another light coat to the floor.
Step 8
If you’ve applied a second coat, let it dry for a few hours.
Penetrating sealers normally dry in less than 24 hours, but if you’re using a topical sealer then it’s best to wait 48 hours.
Take it easy on the traffic at first to ensure that your sealer has adhered to the concrete.
Step 9
After the waiting period, place everything back into your garage and enjoy your newly sealed concrete floor.
What is the best concrete sealer for garage floor?
I recommend the TS210 garage floor sealer for indoor applications. Considering the garage is protected from the environment, you’re sealing your concrete for protection.
TS210 is a heavy-duty oil and stain protector. It lasts for up to 5 years and one gallon is enough for 500sq.ft.
Learn more about the best concrete sealer here.
Should you seal your garage floor?
You can drastically change the appearance of garage floors with an acrylic sealer. It will also protect concrete floors from any freeze/thaw damage preventing cracks, oil spills, and other stains that can build up over time.
Penetrating sealer will penetrate your concrete garage floor, sealing it from any liquid spills that occur. It will ensure your concrete stays protected for years to come.
I prefer concrete sealers over cheap water-based epoxy paint kits that will need to be reapplied after a year or two. It’ll also make your concrete easy to clean as the water will roll right off. If you are interested in garage floor paint, then I’d recommend going with this option.
Final Words
If you’re ok with sealing garage floors then you can seal your concrete for an affordable price. It’s going to be a great investment as your concrete will be protected from stains and cracks for years to come.
Sealing garage floors is a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it’s as easy as can be. You won’t have to deal with oil stains or staining if you opt for a topical sealer. If you go for penetrating sealers, then you’ll be able to enjoy from long lasting structural integrity.
Image Credits: https://theconcreteprotector.com/
