Best way to seal a garage floor?
Discussion
My floor is driving me mad!
About 2 months ago I added a workshop to the back of my garage. Problem is the new concrete floor is continously dusting. Every time I sweep it it dusts up. This week I've applied 2 bottles of sealer from Wickes, I applied it exactly as advised in 3 coats but it hasn't make any difference. I've then applied 2 additional final coats and still rubbish.
Thing is I want to improve the garage next year my removing render and painting the walls/replacing roof etc and hope to put down a decent interlocking tile or paint (probably epoxy).
In the meantime I want to stop this dusting. Any ideas on best solution?
Thanks in advance!
David
About 2 months ago I added a workshop to the back of my garage. Problem is the new concrete floor is continously dusting. Every time I sweep it it dusts up. This week I've applied 2 bottles of sealer from Wickes, I applied it exactly as advised in 3 coats but it hasn't make any difference. I've then applied 2 additional final coats and still rubbish.
Thing is I want to improve the garage next year my removing render and painting the walls/replacing roof etc and hope to put down a decent interlocking tile or paint (probably epoxy).
In the meantime I want to stop this dusting. Any ideas on best solution?
Thanks in advance!
David
Thanks guys for the rapid response!
It's been down for around 3 months and to be honest that is more than enough time for it to have cured. On site you can load up Holorib concrete floors after 2 weeks!
I think the problem is these ready mix companies often add more water than is actually needed to keep it workable. The result being when you vibrate & then float the surface the cement/ballast settles leaving a watery weak layer at the top, this obviously remains weaker under traffic as the bulkier aggregate is deeper down. In hindsight I should have left it 50mm lower an then finished with a structural fibre screed!
I must admit I think I'll go down the PVA route and then paint at a later date.
It's been down for around 3 months and to be honest that is more than enough time for it to have cured. On site you can load up Holorib concrete floors after 2 weeks!
I think the problem is these ready mix companies often add more water than is actually needed to keep it workable. The result being when you vibrate & then float the surface the cement/ballast settles leaving a watery weak layer at the top, this obviously remains weaker under traffic as the bulkier aggregate is deeper down. In hindsight I should have left it 50mm lower an then finished with a structural fibre screed!
I must admit I think I'll go down the PVA route and then paint at a later date.
dasherdiablo1 said:
It's been down for around 3 months and to be honest that is more than enough time for it to have cured. On site you can load up Holorib concrete floors after 2 weeks!
after 3 months is a different storycured sufficiently to load up is one thing, curing times is something else - have you never tested and analysed the test cubes?
Once it's dry, forget trying to paint it, waste of time in my opinion and expierance, it'll always flake off, usually attached to your tyres!
I bit the bullet and did mine with this, the only way to get a decent floor IMHO.
http://www.versatileflooring.co.uk/garage-flooring...
I bit the bullet and did mine with this, the only way to get a decent floor IMHO.
http://www.versatileflooring.co.uk/garage-flooring...
Just on confirm, its this stuff you used from wickes?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Concrete-Dustproofer-Surfa...
I did this on my driveway about six months ago, and i've got to say it worked perfectly.
In the garage i laid Epoxy garage floor paint, theres a thread on here i started about it somewhere, that has also worked perfectly.
Thanks
Matt
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Concrete-Dustproofer-Surfa...
I did this on my driveway about six months ago, and i've got to say it worked perfectly.
In the garage i laid Epoxy garage floor paint, theres a thread on here i started about it somewhere, that has also worked perfectly.
Thanks
Matt
This sounds ridiculous but it worked on my concrete floor which like the O.P was just concrete dust.
I put about 1/4 liter of PVA glue into a bucket of water and brushed it round with a broom, the water and PVA soak into the top of the concrete and the PVA seals it, you can then paint on top if you still want to. This stopped the dust overnight and has been down for 3 years now, there is a small patch I missed under the work bench which is still dusty so I could comapre before and after.
It is a very quick and inexpensive way to seal a concrete floor.
I put about 1/4 liter of PVA glue into a bucket of water and brushed it round with a broom, the water and PVA soak into the top of the concrete and the PVA seals it, you can then paint on top if you still want to. This stopped the dust overnight and has been down for 3 years now, there is a small patch I missed under the work bench which is still dusty so I could comapre before and after.
It is a very quick and inexpensive way to seal a concrete floor.
kellys hero said:
This sounds ridiculous but it worked on my concrete floor which like the O.P was just concrete dust.
I put about 1/4 liter of PVA glue into a bucket of water and brushed it round with a broom, the water and PVA soak into the top of the concrete and the PVA seals it, you can then paint on top if you still want to. This stopped the dust overnight and has been down for 3 years now, there is a small patch I missed under the work bench which is still dusty so I could comapre before and after.
It is a very quick and inexpensive way to seal a concrete floor.
spot on, I did mine a few months ago. just load up pva and water into the fence sprayer (I'm lazy) spray all the walls and floor, brush the floor around a bit to make sure it;s even and leave for a day or two - once it's soaked in.. dust be gone!I put about 1/4 liter of PVA glue into a bucket of water and brushed it round with a broom, the water and PVA soak into the top of the concrete and the PVA seals it, you can then paint on top if you still want to. This stopped the dust overnight and has been down for 3 years now, there is a small patch I missed under the work bench which is still dusty so I could comapre before and after.
It is a very quick and inexpensive way to seal a concrete floor.
pimpin gimp said:
kellys hero said:
This sounds ridiculous but it worked on my concrete floor which like the O.P was just concrete dust.
I put about 1/4 liter of PVA glue into a bucket of water and brushed it round with a broom, the water and PVA soak into the top of the concrete and the PVA seals it, you can then paint on top if you still want to. This stopped the dust overnight and has been down for 3 years now, there is a small patch I missed under the work bench which is still dusty so I could comapre before and after.
It is a very quick and inexpensive way to seal a concrete floor.
spot on, I did mine a few months ago. just load up pva and water into the fence sprayer (I'm lazy) spray all the walls and floor, brush the floor around a bit to make sure it;s even and leave for a day or two - once it's soaked in.. dust be gone!I put about 1/4 liter of PVA glue into a bucket of water and brushed it round with a broom, the water and PVA soak into the top of the concrete and the PVA seals it, you can then paint on top if you still want to. This stopped the dust overnight and has been down for 3 years now, there is a small patch I missed under the work bench which is still dusty so I could comapre before and after.
It is a very quick and inexpensive way to seal a concrete floor.
I recently did mine with "International" garage floor paint from Homebase. Cost 40 quid for 5 litres.
I did not seal the concrete beforehand, and so far it has stayed down very well - even the areas which see a lot of "traffic" (i.e. out to the beer fridge & back).
I echo sleep envys comments about curing - if it is still letting water vapour out then painting it will be a waste of time as it will lift it off.
I got a roller on a long pole as well - you'd kill yourself doing it by brush. And preparation was everything - I brushed then hoovered the concrete to get the last vestiges of dust off.
I did not seal the concrete beforehand, and so far it has stayed down very well - even the areas which see a lot of "traffic" (i.e. out to the beer fridge & back).
I echo sleep envys comments about curing - if it is still letting water vapour out then painting it will be a waste of time as it will lift it off.
I got a roller on a long pole as well - you'd kill yourself doing it by brush. And preparation was everything - I brushed then hoovered the concrete to get the last vestiges of dust off.
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