We all know that floors are designed to be walked all over, and no one pays much attention to them anyway. Well, that’s not entirely true. As a matter of fact, a well-designed floor can be a centerpiece of an entire room or commercial space.
But that’s not all. Imagine owning an industrial warehouse that has a cracked, bumpy floor that makes staff stumble around and drop items all over the place. That’s not only a health hazard, but it’s also a financial drain.
After all, you’re facing damaged goods, workers’ compensation, and other potential issues that could be avoided with a little care and a proper epoxy concrete sealer.
Therefore, there’s more to floors than meets the eye, and even a soulless, run-down floor can be renewed into a reliable surface once more. With that in mind, let’s further examine how concrete sealers can enhance and protect your floors.
What Exactly is a Concrete Sealer and Why Do You Need One?
A concrete floor is quite sturdy and reliable on its own. However, exposed concrete will get damaged over time, and those damages can create major problems if they’re left unattended. The fact of the matter is that concrete has small pores that you cannot see with the naked eye.
Eventually, those pores get filled with dirt, grime, water, mold, and other stuff. As you might imagine, filled pores lead to cracks, and cracks can further result in pitting and spalling of the concrete floor.
Now, all of that can be avoided by applying a concrete sealer. But back to the question at hand, what is a concrete sealer to begin with? Simply put, a concrete sealer is a liquid solution designed to coat a concrete floor and protect the surface from external damage.
That includes water damage, corrosion, physical damage, and so on. Furthermore, these sealers also have a secondary purpose, which is to make the floor more aesthetically pleasing. For example, adding a colored sealer on a stamped concrete floor will make it look good, aside from making it a more durable and safe surface.
So, this is why concrete sealers are of vital importance for any residential or commercial space that has one or more concrete floors.
Without a sealer, your floor would get damaged more often, and you’d have to repair it more frequently. Apply a proper sealer and your floor will last a good decade or two, with proper maintenance and cleaning, of course.
Different Types of Concrete Sealers You Should Know About
As you might’ve guessed by now, concrete sealers come in different forms and types. Each one is a solid choice depending on your needs, of course.
That said, some are better than others depending on the circumstances. We’re going to examine each one to help you better understand your options. So, let’s get to it then.
Film-forming Sealers
Otherwise known as film-coating, film-forming sealers are a type of topical sealer used to coat the entire surface of a concrete floor. Once applied, the sealers form a protective layer that offers adequate protection from various factors. Their key features are:
- Moisture protection.
- Enhanced durability.
- Simplified maintenance.
- Physical damage protection.
- Resistance to chemical spills and abrasives.
- Resistance from environmental factors and weather conditions.
Depending on the type of concrete floor you have and your overall needs, you can use different types of film-forming sealers, each designed to serve a specific purpose. Here are a few examples.
Acrylic Sealers
Acrylic sealers are more focused on aesthetics than overall protection. They still get the job done, but they’re usually applied in thin layers, which means they will wear off more easily and thus have to be reapplied more frequently.
Still, they are cost-effective and easy to apply. Their main purpose is to highlight the color or pattern of a stamped concrete floor, making it truly stand out visually.
Polyurethane Sealers
Polyurethane sealers are chemical compounds that are created by combining two different types of polymers.
In other words, a 2-part epoxy concrete sealer needs to be mixed properly and carefully until the mixture obtains the necessary properties needed to coat the concrete floor.
Once combined, they create a much stronger compound that is more resistant to damage, water or chemical spills, and general wear and tear.
They are ideal for commercial spaces with heavy foot and vehicle traffic, such as industrial warehouses.
Epoxy Sealers
The strongest of the film-forming sealers, epoxy sealers are renowned for their durability and resistance to liquid-based damage. If we look at it objectively, they combine the best acrylic and polyurethane sealers have to offer with no drawbacks.
In other words, they offer the highest-grade protection and the best visual appeal. So, for example, you can use a clear epoxy sealer to highlight the color or the pattern of your floor.
However, if you don’t like the color or the pattern on the floor, you don’t have to change it. Instead, you can simply use colored epoxy sealer to apply any color or pattern you want, covering the existing one in the process.
But before you do that, it’s advisable to hire professional epoxy floor grinding services to clear out any imperfections and smooth over the floor’s surface before epoxy can be properly applied.
Penetrating Sealers
Unlike film-forming sealers, penetrating sealers are not visible on the floor’s surface. Instead, they penetrate into the pores and cavities of a concrete floor, hence the name. Once applied, these sealers act as a repellent that shields the floor from dirt, grime, moisture, mold, and other factors.
Penetrating sealers usually contain silanes or siloxane emulsions and fluorochemicals, both are exceptional at repelling potential hazards, especially salt. Therefore, if you own a residential or commercial space somewhere near the coast, these are the sealers you need.
As you may already know, salt can do a lot of damage to concrete floors when it accumulates in pores. All in all, penetrating sealers are ideal for those who want the protection of film-forming sealers, but without actually altering the floor’s appearance.
Epoxy Concrete Sealer – The Best Overall Pick
Choosing the right type of sealer comes down to individual preferences and needs. But if we have to pick one that really stands out, that would be epoxy sealers. Their protective benefits and visual enhancements are unparalleled.
Moreover, the use of epoxy sealers is quite versatile, meaning you can use a garage floor epoxy sealer in your home or a clear epoxy sealer for a hospital, for instance.
Simply put, applications of epoxy sealers extend to residential, commercial, and even industrial uses. Regardless of which sealer you opt for, every floor requires proper care and maintenance.
That said, there are plenty of ways to take care of your concrete floors, and you should always prioritize maintenance. After all, applying a sealer is an investment, and you want your investment to pay off for as long as possible. This is why you should always focus on the following:
- Use protective mats wherever you can, especially on entrances and exits.
- Clean any spills right away.
- Avoid using abrasive chemicals for cleaning the floors.
- Opt for professional cleaning services to thoroughly clean the floors every once in a while.
Speaking of which, let’s have a look at some of the key features of epoxy sealers to determine why it’s better than other options.
Enhanced Adhesion Strength
Epoxy has a much more powerful adhesion strength than acrylic, silicone or polyurethane. In other words, when epoxy is applied, it will truly hold the grip over the concrete surface, providing much more protection, water-resistance, and stain-resistance.
Improved Durability
Aside from protecting floors from dirt and chemical spills, epoxy sealers can really take a beating. You can drop heavy objects on the floor, have hundreds of people walk over it every day, or drive a small vehicle over the floor for days on end without it showing any signs of wear or tear.
Of course, damage to the floor will occur eventually, but it won’t be any time soon. And, when the damage does occur, you can grind out the imperfection and reapply a coat of epoxy so that the floor will be as good as new.
Visual Appeal
As mentioned before, epoxy sealers offer absolute stunning visual enhancements to concrete floors, even more so than acrylic sealers. You can mix colors and patterns to create virtually any design that you want.
And, if you want to keep things simple, just use clear or one-colored epoxy, and it will still look great regardless. What’s more, epoxy sealers are resistant to UV light exposure, which means colors won’t fade as easily when exposed to direct sunlight.
Take Proper Care of Your Epoxy Seal with TSC Floors
Alt Text: An image of the TSC Floors company logo.
Here at TCS Floors, we know how important proper floor maintenance and hygiene are. After all, we’ve been in business for 31 years, providing cleaning services to commercial property owners all over the country.
If you coat your concrete floors with epoxy sealers, it’s of vital importance that you take care of them regularly. We can help you out in this endeavor, as our team of professional specialists not only has the means but also the tools to ensure your floors are in the best possible condition for years to come.
And, don’t worry, our custom pricing program is in place, which means we will come over, check out the situation, and give you a quote that will meet your needs and fit ideally within your budget.
If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to check out our previous work, and don’t hesitate to reach out today, so that we can start managing your floors as soon as possible.
Conclusion: Epoxy Concrete Sealer is Your Best Choice
Among all the sealers available in the market, epoxy concrete sealer can safely be proclaimed as the best option.
The protection and durability benefits it offers, as well as the aesthetic appeal of epoxy are simply unmatched, which is why this sealer is so highly sought-after by both residential and commercial consumers.
Therefore, if you decide to opt for epoxy sealer, you should know that it won’t let you down for at least a decade if not more. Provided, of course, that you take proper care of it and maintain it regularly.
FAQ:
Is epoxy a good concrete sealer?
Yes, epoxy is actually considered one of the absolute best concrete sealers available today. Its adhesive strength and protections against all kinds of damage makes it the most reliable solution for your concrete floors.
And, if you’re into aesthetics, epoxy sealers offer the most versatile options when it comes to choosing colors or patterns for your floor’s design.
When should you not use epoxy for concrete?
If you have a nice concrete floor that you do not wish to alter in any way, you shouldn’t use an epoxy sealer.
In that case, a penetrating sealer would be a better option as it will preserve the original design of the floor, while giving it adequate protection as a topical sealer would.
How long does epoxy coating last on concrete?
That entirely depends on how often and how well you maintain your floor. Generally speaking, with proper maintenance, care and regular cleaning, an epoxy sealer for a concrete floor should last at least two decades, give or take.
What is an epoxy sealer?
As mentioned before, epoxy sealer is a type of film-forming sealer that coats the entire surface of a concrete floor, giving it much-needed protection from all kinds of hazards and environmental conditions.
This sealer is made from epoxy resins and other polymers, thus creating a very effective compound used to seal concrete floors and make them waterproof, aside from other benefits, of course.
