How To Remove Concrete Sealer From Garage Floor

The process of removing old worn or failing sealers or coatings from concrete ranks among one of the most miserable jobs a concrete professional may have to undertake.

How to remove concrete sealer from garage floor.

This is because any old sealer left on the surface of your concrete can impede the effectiveness of the newly applied sealant preventing proper adhesion to the concrete surface. There are two methods for removing sealers from concrete. The removal of old. Before applying a new sealer it s very important that you make sure the old one is completely gone.

In its place will stand a fresh slab of concrete ready for a new application of concrete sealer. Pour a large cup of water onto the concrete. If it soaks into the concrete quickly it hasn t been sealed. How to remove a solvent based concrete sealer.

How to remove a concrete sealer. If after a day or so water collects on the underside of the plastic you ll need to put down a good vapor barrier before the primer coat. The sealer penetrates the porous concrete and prevents stains from seeping deep into the concrete. If sealer was previously applied to your concrete you ll need to remove it before applying the new sealer.

Not sure if sealer was used. If the water beads up and stays on the surface it s been previously sealed. Try this quick test. The easiest way to remove a concrete sealer is to begin by acid etching the surface of the concrete with muriatic acid.

Moisture test if you think that moisture issues might prevent paint or sealer from bonding here s a simple way to find out. If concrete was dyed or stained using xylene can damage or change the color of the concrete pressure wash the surface and allow concrete to completely dry. Unfortunately it s often the only way to prepare restore or repair a concrete surface. Start by removing any visible peeling and flaking and use a solvent based stripper such as xylene to remove the previous sealer.

Cut out a 3 ft x 3 ft square of plastic sheeting and tape it down completely to your garage floor. Over time the sealer wears thin or other surface coatings may be more appropriate for the type of use and wear by the homeowner.