Both strong and durable, concrete has been the standard material used to install basement and garage floors, and home foundations, for about 75 years. Hard though it may be, concrete is very porous, so it stains and abrades easily.

 

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Foot and vehicular traffic over concrete floors generates a fine, abrasive mortar powder that can be tracked all over the home, where it wears on carpets, rugs, vinyl, tile and hardwood flooring. Sealing concrete floors prevents this damage, inhibits staining and leaves a glossy surface that is much easier to clean than untreated concrete.

Before sealing concrete floors, however, dirt and stains need to be removed. That means a thorough cleaning as follows:

• Take everything moveable off the floor, since you’ll want to seal as much of the surface as possible.

• Sweep the floor and use a vacuum cleaner to suck dirt out of crevices, corners and edges. (You may want to obtain a “shop,” or wet-and-dry, vacuum cleaner for this task and for later steps.)

• Apply an alkaline cleaning solution onto the floor using a string mop. Suitable cleaning chemicals are sold by hardware stores and home centers. Allow the cleaner to work for several minutes. Read and follow all label instructions carefully, since these products can include many strong chemicals. Warning! Never mix chemicals together in an effort to boost cleaning power.

• Be prepared to scrub areas that are still discolored. Use a pole scrubber, or wear rubber gloves and knee pads to scrub these areas by hand using a nylon scouring pad or scrub brush. Wear goggles to protect eyes from any spatters.

• Use a wet-dry vacuum to remove as much of the solution as possible.

• Use a garden hose to rinse a garage floor where practical. Once finished, use a floor squeegee or “street cleaner’s” push broom to push excess rinse water out of the garage. Mop and re-mop basement floor using plenty of clean water and a mop wringer. You may need to go over wet corners and crevices one more time with the wet-dry vac to suck up any remaining pools or puddles of standing water.

• Allow the floor to dry completely. A fan will speed drying. Caution: Place fan on a dry surface to reduce shock hazards.

The clean, dry floor is now prepared for sealing. Transparent concrete sealer is sold by hardware stores and home centers. Follow all label instructions, cautions and warnings when applying two coats of sealant.

Caution: The cleaning and sealing chemicals used in this process can be hazardous. Wear skin and eye protection, and ensure good ventilation to avoid breathing any harmful vapors. Store any leftover chemicals in original containers out of the reach of children.