This step by step guide is for new garage floors or garage floors that have never been sealed. If your garage floor has ever had an existing sealer applied, then read our article on How to Re-Seal Your Garage Floor.
Step 1: Allow the Concrete to Cure
Freshly poured concrete needs to cure for a period of 4 - 6 weeks prior to being stained and sealed. Failure to let the concrete adequately cure will result in failure of any applied sealing system.
Step 2: For floors that need to be cleaned, acid etch the surface
If there are oil stains present, embedded in the concrete, they should first be removed using an oil stain remover such as Pour-N-Restore (www.pour-n-restore.com). If the garage floor has signs of dirt, grime, construction residue, etc..., it must first be cleaned and etched using MasonrySaver® Safer Acid Cleaner. When cleaning the surface, follow all label directions. Once cleaned, thoroughly rinse the surface to remove all acid residue prior to proceeding to the next step. Failure to adequately rinse away the acid cleaner can result in eventual failure of the new sealer.
Step 3: For New, Clean Concrete Surfaces
For new concrete surfaces that do not require cleaning, omit the cleaning directions as described in step #2 and instead, simply etch the surface using MasonrySaver® No-Rinse Concrete Etch. Etching is critical to achieving adequate adhesion of the sealer and, because MasonrySaver® No-Rinse Concrete Etch does not need to rinsed, the floor can be etched and sealed in the same day.
Step 4: Allow the surface to dry
If cleaning was accomplished using Safer Masonry cleaner, as described in step #2 above, the surface must be allowed to dry completely for a minimum of 3 days. Application of a sealer on a damp surface can result in a "blushing" effect, where the sealer takes on a cloudy appearance as moisture becomes trapped inside of it. If the surface was not cleaned, but only etched using MasonrySaver® No-Rinse Concrete Etch, allow 1 - 2 hours dry time and then proceed to sealing the floor.
Step 5: Apply Two Coats of Concrete Sealer
Seal the garage by applying two coats of MasonrySaver® Decorative Concrete Sealer per label directions. The sealer can be applied using a brush and roller or by spraying using a garden variety pump-up type sprayer. Avoid puddling or "ponding" of the product. Allow adequate time between coats (1-2 hours) for the sealer to completely dry. MasonrySaver® Decorative Concrete Sealer must be recoated within 4 hours. Allow a minimum of 4 hours before subjecting the surface to foot traffic. Full cure of the sealer is achieved within 5 days. To avoid "hot tire" release of the sealer, avoid parking vehicles on the floor until full cure is achieved. Use caution as sealed surfaces will become slippery when wet.
Step 6: Maintain the sealer
It will be time to apply a single maintenance coat of sealer when the surface of the garage begins to exhibit a dull or uneven appearance. When applying a maintenance coat, clean the surface using a mild detergent and water, allow the garage floor to adequately dry, and apply a single coat of MasonrySaver® Decorative Concrete Sealer as described in step #5.
Tech Support
If you need help or have any questions about any of these decorative concrete products, please contact Duval Paint at (800) 457-1332.
