Sealed Basement Floor
Sealing your concrete basement floor keeps moisture from seeping through and causing damage to flooring, pipes or goods. Choosing the correct sealer and applying it correctly will keep your basement floors and walls dry. You can also beautify your basement by using a colored sealer. If you are planning on installing a carpet, wood or tile flooring on a concrete basement floor, a sealer is necessary to create a moisture barrier. An epoxy-based paint is durable, but an additional sealer must be used if the basement floor is allowing moisture to seep through.
Instructions
1. Scrape up any debris on the floor. Scrub and sweep the area thoroughly. Tape a plastic bag to the floor with duct tape overnight, sealing it firmly around all four edges. If the floor under the bag is damp in the morning, a sealer must be used before painting.
2. Patch any areas that have cracks or holes with concrete patching compound. Make sure floor surface is as level as possible. If there are large holes, use mesh and concrete to patch, and level with compound.
3. Apply sealer with a lint free roller. Use a continuous motion to keep the floor glistening and wet. The sealer is designed to penetrate and several coats will need to by applied one after another. Use a large brush to seal corners. Let sealer dry completely before painting.
4. Roll on epoxy-based paint generously with lint free rollers and brush into corners. Let first coat dry for 24 to 48 hours depending on humidity, then apply a second coat. A third coat can be applied if needed.
5. Create texture and add colored latex chips sprinkled into a still-wet second coat. A mottled effect can be obtained by adding a third coat in a different color applied with a sponge.
Tags: basement floor, Basement Floor, before painting, concrete basement, concrete basement floor, epoxy-based paint, lint free