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Sealing Your Garage Floor
from: Maxx Home GuidesYour garage is required to withstand exposure to intense corrosion and deterioration from road salt, oil and other auto fluids. By sealing your garage floor, you can reduce the dust which will make cleaning and sweeping much easier. Using a clear acrylic concrete sealer will protect the concrete from damage and stains and you can also use it on concrete walks and driveways. However, it's importat that you're careful applying the sealer because it can't be applied over paint or other coatings.
If you're planning to do the sealing yourself you'll need several materials and tools including protective clothing, goggles, rubber gloves, a paintbrush, a stiff brush and bucket, a paint roller with extension handle and tray, a cartridge-style respirator with organic-vapor and small-particle filters, medium nap roller cover, and a concrete degreaser and concrete sealer. You will usually require 1/2 gallon of sealer for about 100 square feet of floor.
Start by cleaning the floor to remove dirt, grease and oil. You should use a stiff scrub brush for applying the cleaner and concrete degreaser. The solution should remain on the floor for 15 - 20 minutes or more to deal with stubborn stains. Rinse thoroughly with clear water and use several applications if required.
Concrete sealers usually contain hazardous chemicals harmful to skin and eyes plus the vapors aren't safe to breathe. Avoid possible damage to your skin, eyes and lungs by wearing protective neoprene rubber gloves, goggles and a respirator with both organic-vapor and solid-particle filter cartridges. Make sure you keep the garage constantly ventilated during the process of sealing the floor by keeping doors and windows open plus using a fan to keep the air moving.
Once the concrete is cleaned and dryed, the sealer can be applied. Test the sealer an small corner before applying since some uneven density in the concrete could cause a light/dark appearance you may not want. Using a medium-nap paint roller with an extension handle is the quickest and easiest way to apply the sealer. Start in a rear corner and work your way out of the garage. Before any activities should take place in the garage, allow the sealer to dry according to instructions, usually for a several hours.
If you're also doing your driveway, the procedure is basically the same but you can do the job faster by using a garden sprayer to apply the sealer. However, be careful not to over spray on other material since there's a high risk there could be staining.
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