Sealing A Garage Floor
By Steve Leighton
Welcome to yet another challenge facing the house flipper - a garage floor from hell.
This floor has deteriorated from road salt, oils and other auto fluids, not to mention other chemicals that have been dropped, spilled and leaked over the years. A worthwhile project for the flip is to refinish and seal the garage floor.
Much like the bathroom or kitchen floor is important to Ms. Buyer, the garage floor is important to Mr. Buyer. Ideally it will be clean and sealed against harmful chemicals. A clear acrylic concrete sealer protects the concrete from damage and stains. Also the same sealers can be used on concrete walks and driveways or as a primer under acrylic or polyurethane floor paints. An important note here is that concrete sealers cannot be applied over paint or other coatings.
Many concrete sealers contain hazardous chemicals that may be harmful to skin and eyes and the vapors are not safe to breathe but the vast majority are acrylic. The best way to avoid damages to your skin, eyes and lungs is to wear the protective equipment.
Before you begin make sure you have the right gear. A good list of protective equipment would include: .some neoprene rubber gloves .protective clothing .goggles .a stiff brush and a bucket .a big heavy duty paintbrush .a cartridge-style respirator with organic-vapor and small-particle filters .paint roller with extension handle and tray .medium nap roller
Chemicals you ll need are: .concrete degreaser .concrete sealer (approx 1/2 gallon of sealer for 100 square feet)
Clean and dry the concrete thoroughly before applying the sealer. The floor must be free of dirt, grease and oil before you can start. This is done using the stiff scrub brush to apply the cleaner and concrete degreaser. The easiest way to apply the sealer is with the medium nap paint roller on an extension handle. Test the sealer in an area that is out of the way before applying it. An uneven floor might result in light and darks spots which may not be acceptable. Work your way out of the garage starting in the rear corner. Let it stay on the floor for at least 15-20 minutes, longer for more soiled or stubborn areas. Rinse with clean water. Repeat process if there are still noticeable stains.
Many concrete sealers contain hazardous chemicals that might be harmful to skin or respiratory systems.
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Allow the sealer to dry for a few hours before doing anything else.
– Steve
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Steve Leighton
Real Estate Investment Consultant
http://www.HouseFlipOnline.com
steve@housefliponline.com
Author of “Guide to Buying and Selling Fixer Upper Homes”
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