Concrete Sealer for Pole Barn?

[Deere Dude]

You looking to just seal the floor, or are you wanting something like a polyurethane ? I'm getting ready to do mine before long and still not decided on what I'm going to use, thinking on using a simi gloss poly, there are so many different types now it can get really confusing.

I just put an acrylic coating on my garage floor and also the concrete approach and turn around. I would consider that. It leaves a very thick hard tough shiny surface. This went on with a 2' roller quite easily.

Cheap acrylic can be expensive or cheap but the cheap stuff has a low volume of acrylic in the liquid.

 

[PhysAssist]

I just put an acrylic coating on my garage floor and also the concrete approach and turn around. I would consider that. It leaves a very thick hard tough shiny surface. This went on with a 2' roller quite easily.

Cheap acrylic can be expensive or cheap but the cheap stuff has a low volume of acrylic in the liquid.

We used this, not a sealer but a hardener and densifier:Amazon.com: 1-gal. S2 Concrete Densifier and Concrete Hardener Concentrated Water-based Sodium Silicate: Home Improvement

It worked well and makes it less dusty, as well as less prone to cracking and chipping

 

[Gem99ultra]

I went through the same indecision on my 40' x 60' workshop a few years ago. Cost then was about $2500 for the sealer, so I skipped that "unnecessary" expense. Now I wish that I had not skipped that final construction stage.

You may think that you'll never get an oil spill, a grease glob, or whatever on the floor. And even then, think that you can simply wipe it up or throw some floor-dry down, and it'll be like new again. Nope - it'll never be the same. My suggestion is that IF you're going to try to ever keep it halfway nice looking, do the sealer now.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I think i paid around $50 for a 5 gal can, did my 30' x 48' wirh some left over.

 

[kneedeep]

Any sealer is better than none. The cost well be determined by what type of finish floor you want. Anything hard and permanent is going to cost more than a product that has to be reapplied.
Google concrete sealer with what you want it to do and pick based on budget, lots of options.
I just built a 40x40 shed to eventually become a shop/ storage. Whatever I do will start with a good vapor barrier under the complete concrete slab and a slick finish in the 'shop' area to make sealing and cleaning easier.

 

[LD1]

I might do sealer on my garage if it were not so expensive but never in my shop where I store boat, motorcycle, lawnmowers and a couple of cars. I also do my mechanic work and welding there. No way is any sealer going to stand up to welding.
If you want a Jay Leno type building, then go for the $1000+ sealer, but for me, I will just wipe up any grease or oil and consider that a PATINA for a floor well used.

Agreed.

My shop is a workshop. torching, welding, dragging metal across the floor, dropping heavy stuff, fuel spills,etc. There is no "sealer" that I have seen that will hold up, and will look worse in the long run than just a stained concrete floor.

I did spray down a densifier though. Its not a coating, rather a chemical that reacts with free lime and remaining stuff in the concrete and causes a similar reaction similar to how the concrete cures in the first place. Once on its as permanent as the concrete itself

 

[PhysAssist]

Agreed.

My shop is a workshop. torching, welding, dragging metal across the floor, dropping heavy stuff, fuel spills,etc. There is no "sealer" that I have seen that will hold up, and will look worse in the long run than just a stained concrete floor.

I did spray down a densifier though. Its not a coating, rather a chemical that reacts with free lime and remaining stuff in the concrete and causes a similar reaction similar to how the concrete cures in the first place. Once on its as permanent as the concrete itself

Which is what I posted a link to, and the reason I chose it is that I intended [and use] my barn for pretty much all the same things you quoted, and wanted a "finish" that would be bulletproof so to speak...

Concrete Hardeners and Densifier Products
Foundation Armor concrete hardeners and Densifiers penetrate deep into concrete surfaces and chemically react to form a permanent CSH structure within the pores that can't be removed or broken down. Foundation Armor Densifiers will increase the strength and density of concrete by up to 45%, reduce the movement of water and moisture through the pores, and reduce concrete dusting. Foundation Armor concrete hardeners and Densifiers can be applied to virtually all types of interior and exterior concrete surfaces, and can also be used as part of the polishing process. Popular applications for Foundation Armor hardeners and Densifiers include basement walls and floors, garage floors, retail floors, warehouse floors, kennels, concrete driveways, and more. Foundation Armor densifiers and hardeners work entirely below the surface and won't change the look or color of the concrete. Foundation Armor manufactures two concrete hardeners and Densifiers:

Armor S2000: The Armor S2000 is a concentrated sodium silicate hardener and Densifier. Prior to use, dilute with 3 gallons of water. The Armor S2000 is great for use on porous concrete surfaces and offers a cost-effective solution for increasing the strength and density of concrete.

Armor L3000: The Armor L3000 is a concentrated lithium silicate hardener and Densifier. Prior to use, dilute with 3 gallons of water. The Armor L3000 is great for use on dense concrete surfaces and offers a fast-reacting solution for increasing the strength and density of concrete.


Benefits:
Dilute with up to 4 gallons of water to make 5 usable gallons
Will increase strength and density of concrete by up to 45%
Reduces water seepage through concrete
Reduces concrete dusting
Protects against freeze-thaw damage and road salts
Reduces the rusting and expansion of rebar
Neutralizes alkalis
CSH formed by chemical reaction is permanent

From: Concrete Hardeners and Concrete Densifiers

We used S2000 after corresponding with the mfg to see which would be best for our application.

 

[SirReal63]

A testament to the Ashford Formula, a whole pint of pvc purple primed managed to get spilled, wiped it up with paper towels and after it dried, no trace of purple. I was sure it would have left the dye behind but nope.

 

[Rustyiron]

I treated my last 2 shops for 2 reasons, one being a better "cure" on the concrete, the other for stain blocking and a nice easy sweep up. The first shop I used (iirc) rez-seal from Euclid Chemical. A solvent based high voc good product that held up well even with a lot of welding, grinding & cutting.
The next shop with in floor radiant heat, I was talked into a water based sealer. I was cautioned that with the radiant heat, a solvent based sealer might smell when heating. That was a big mistake, even a little mist of WD-40 on the floor had that chit all sticky and a big waste of time other than helping cure the concrete. Both products were sourced from a commercial concrete contractor supply house. Water based is "epa" speak for a waste of money & time.

 

[lilyperch]

I wouldnt seal. Most get very slippery.