I have read the previous postings about garage floor paint and have decided to go with a sealing coat of PVA/water mix, with probably Screwfix floor paint on top, but my questions are as follows:

I am getting the floor slab laid on Thursday, how long should i leave it before sealing the concrete?

How long should i leave the seal coat before applying the finish paint coat?

I know concrete takes 28 days to fully cure and also to tape a piece of polythene down to the floor to check the moisture etc, but i am just looking for a general rule of thumb as i dont want to damage the floor or covering, but on the other hand i am desperate to get my Locost in there to get the engine transplant finally complete this spring...

Thanks

I dont know, but proberbly would be best to leave it for around a month before doing much. Maybe a little less as its warm/drying ish about.
- We left ours about a month before sealing. It then took maybe a week to seam fully dry from the pva sealent (two coats 2days apart).


Daniel

You are going to think this is very sad but I have a City and Guilds in Concrete technology

You are quite correct that you should keep the concrete moist after it is laid. if you let the surface dry out before it sets, it could crack - particularly if it is windy.

If you want a good non dusty surface go for a higher cement content mix and don't have the concrete too wet as it's laid.

The higher cement content will help it get to a useable strength quicker but at any rate, it should be ok after about a week to let it dry then you can seal it and paint it after 3 weeks it should reach about 90% of it's strength
Actually it can take years to reach it's full strength


Cheers

Mark

I've no idea why people paint there home garage floors but I'm interested in the shiny surface you see, like in B&Q.

Can you explain whats involved in that mookaloid my learned friend?

Steve

I can confirm that Screwfix garage floor paint is good stuff.

Some say that you need to use concrete etch if its a fresh floor to give something for the paint to bite onto. I saw how many warnings there were on the side of it (basically concentrated acid) and saw how rough the floor surface is anyway and did't bother... Infact, its still sat in my garage....

quote:

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Originally posted by coozer
I've no idea why people paint there home garage floors but I'm interested in the shiny surface you see, like in B&Q.

Can you explain whats involved in that mookaloid my learned friend?

Steve

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It will also depend on the slump of the concrete.

Only problem with garage floor paint, returning after a spirited blat, this can happen.


Stuck on you :-)

Them there tyres do get very bloody hot, the next day all four had stuck so hard to the paint couldn't move the car, had to start it and drive it back. You have been warned, Cheers Ray

I used a polyurethane sealer, not PVA, on my new floor many years back. It's still on there, with the red paint on top of it.
The garage floor (7m by 5m) was levelled and polished when laid, so it's like glass. I didn't think PVA would be able to penetrate too well, hence polyurethane sealer.
I remember the garage being a glue-sniffers paradise for a few days, though the paint took many weeks to totally lose it's solvent.
A048/888's would pick up the surface for a few months, it now takes a good hot slick to do the same.

Epoxy floor paint every time, can be expensive so shop around.

I bought some last year £120 a tin normally a fiver to me !!!

No I can't get any more