[KTL]

Chrisp,

Don't forget to use a curing compound or sealer on your concrete. Using a sealer protects the surface from salt damage and makes garage spills (like oil and paint) much easier to clean up

The brand I used, sold by Home Depot, is made by Jasco. It comes in 5 gal. containers and is very easy to apply. Get your garden pump sprayer out and fill it with the sealer. Don't worry about boogering the sprayer as the sealer is water soluble. Spray on a nice even coat until the surface has a bluish-milky haze. You can apply this stuff while the concrete is still curing (right after the concrete has been placed and finished) or you can wait a few days until you can walk on it and apply it more uniformly. Either way is fine. I apply the stuff once a year and my driveway still looks like new whitish concrete after three years. I think it's time and money well spent.

I know there's other heavier-duty products out there. But for home use, this stuff is plenty durable. Plus, being water soluble it's much easier to use and clean up when you're done. Some of the solvent-based stuff gives off really strong fumes. Additionally, when using the solvent-based sealers the cleanup of the application equipment is usually futile so the stuff ends up being garbage.

Like you said. You want to do this right the first time. I think with the great advice everybody's given so far, you'll have a good idea how to get the job done right.