Seal a Concrete Industrial Floor; Benefits, Methods, and Best Practices!
When it comes to industrial flooring, concrete is a strong and reliable choice. They are super durable and can handle high traffic, heavy machinery, spills and daily wear.
However, even the toughest concrete will show its true colors over time if it is not sealed or maintained properly. This is why sealing concrete floor is important. There are multiple industrial sealing options, but choosing a high quality sealer provides a protective layer, helps prevent damage and improve durability.
Explore the ultimate guide with DuraBull Epoxy Floors and learn why sealing matters, best industrial sealers available and how to seal a concrete industrial floor.
Industrial Concrete Floor Sealing
Before going too deep in this blog, let’s first understand what a commercial concrete floor sealer is. Concrete sealing is a process of applying concrete sealer, a protective layer to your concrete surface to enhance its appearance and improve its performance. It protects the surface against chemical spills, moisture, damage, and dust, making the surface easier to clean and increasing its durability and lifespan.
There are two common types of concrete floor sealants;
- Penetrating Sealers: This includes silicates and lithium, which hardens from inside. These are breathable and provide a natural look making it best for outdoor surfaces.
- Topical Coating: Epoxy and polyurethane forms a protective layer on the surface, providing a glossy, durable finish for indoor surfaces.
Benefits of Sealed Concrete Floor
1. Provide Durability
Sealed concrete protects the surface from heavy machinery, high traffic and daily wear. It helps extend the lifespan of the surface.
2. Protects The Surface
Concrete floor sealants form a protective layer on the surface preventing stains, chemicals, and oils from being absorbed in the surface.
3. Reduce Dust
Industrial Concrete floor sealer prevents surface damage, reduces dusting and helps improve air quality.
4. Low Maintenance Cost
A protected layer means easier cleaning and low maintenance.
5. Improved Work Place
A smoothly sealed surface provides slip resistance and visibility, making work faster and more efficient.
Industrial Sealing Options
Every industrial floor experiences different conditions and usage, therefore choosing the right industrial concrete floor sealer is crucial. Let’s discuss a few popular types of industrial floor coatings and know when, where and how to use them.
1. Penetrating Sealers
Penetrating sealers block moisture and chemicals by forming a protective barrier under the concrete. It gets absorbed into the concrete, providing a long term protection against oils and chemical spills.
It is usually used in areas that need moisture resistance such as basements, walkways, and driveways. It is highly durable, breathable, and long-lasting. However, when it comes to aesthetics, they are not very visually appealing.
2. Acrylic Sealers
Acrylic sealers are visible coatings used to protect the surface as well as enhance the overall look. They are available in both, solvent solution and water based solution, providing a high gloss, eco friendly finish.
Acrylic concrete floor sealants protect the surface from UV rays, spills, and staining, making it an ideal option for outdoor spaces like patios, driveway, and decorative concrete.
3. Epoxy Sealers
Here comes the most common sealer that is known for its high performance. Epoxy sealers provide a thick, hard, and glossy coating on concrete surface, making it the best sealer to use for garage floors, basements, and industrial flooring.
They are available in two types; clear and pigmented, and provide high quality protection against heavy traffic, stains, spills, and daily wear.
4. Polyurethane Sealer
This industrial concrete floor sealer is similar to epoxy sealers. They provide high performance and durability, offering great resistance to stains, chemicals, and abrasions due to heavy machinery.
Similar to acrylics, they are also available in solvent and water solution, creating a thick protective layer, usually used on decorative surfaces and countertops.
How to Seal a Concrete Industrial Floor
Sealing your concrete floor might sound like an extra expense, but trust us, it is not. A sealed concrete is a protected surface, making sure that your investment lasts long and is protected against the most common and daily cause of damage.
Step 1: Surface Check-up
The first step of this process is to examine your surface properly. Look for any cracks, stains, or damage.
Step 2: Clean the Floor
After the floor is thoroughly inspected, it’s time to clean the surface. Remove everything from the room and keep it empty for at least a week.
Step 3: Prepare the Surface
Sweep the floor thoroughly, or use a concrete cleaner to ensure a neat and clear surface. After that fill in any cracks, using concrete caulk to get a smooth surface. Before applying sealer, let the concrete caulk dry completely.
Step 4: Apply the Sealer
Apply the concrete sealer evenly all over the surface. For proper use, read the manufacturer’s instructions. To ensure even application, divide your room into manageable parts and begin applying from the corners.
Step 5: Drying and Curing
Complete the first layer and let it dry properly for 3-4 days. Avoid using the surface completely during the curing time to have a smooth finish. If required, apply a second coat.
Conclusion
It is to conclude that commercial concrete sealing is a practical investment for many industries and businesses that require tough, durable flooring. With correct sealing and maintenance you can increase the lifespan of your floor, saving yourself from repair and maintenance cost and provide a safe and efficient working environment.
Contact us today via email or phone number and let our highly trained professionals do the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Should I seal my concrete shop floor?
To protect your floor from stains and daily wear and improve its durability, sealing concrete flooring is essential.
Q2. How to tell if concrete is sealed?
Pour a small amount of water on the surface, if it beads up or sits on the surface for a couple of minutes, it is sealed.
Q3. What is sealed concrete?
A sealed concrete is a concrete surface that is protected with a topical coating such as acrylic, epoxy or polyurethane. The coating acts as a double barrier, protecting the floor from stains and damage.
Q4. What are the best industrial epoxy floor coatings?
The best industrial epoxy floor coatings are 100% solid epoxy systems that provides high durability, great performance, resistance against spills and damage and a high gloss protection.