Sealing / Waxing a Polished Concrete Floor

[jyl]

This is a concrete floor, polished although not super duper polished.

How can I seal, wax, etc this floor to get it as dark and glossy as possible?

Not able to bring in serious equipment, it's a rented space.

[Scott Douglas]

I've often asked the guys at the local smart and final store how they did their floor. The local Home Depot has a pretty nice floor too. Might ask there. I'm sure it would require use of an electric polishing machine.

[Bill Douglas]

You could look at getting it really clean then a high gloss polyurathane.

[rfuerst911sc]

To alter the color I would go with a concrete stain , then top coat with a clear from the same manufacturer as the stain . Many retail stores are done with concrete stain , the theory is the color goes IN the concrete not just ON the concrete . So foot traffic is less likely to wear through the color . Same applies to a garage floor .

[MBAtarga]

I don't think a stain will work - it looks like there is already a finish on the floor.
Go over to Garage Journal and look in the Flooring forum. There are a hand-full of pros and suppliers that will provide recommendations.

[wilnj]

If it's already been polished, you might be able to bring the luster up with a floor buffer and a polishing compound.

The floor buffer would plug into a standard outlet.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by jyl

How can I seal, wax, etc this floor to get it as dark and glossy as possible?

it's a rented space.

Changing something major in a rented space (without permission) might lose you the security deposit. Danger ahead.

That said, changing colors would be very tricky I'd guess. It looks mottled and stained in some areas and the surface sealant is missing in other areas. These will have a huge effect on getting a consistent finish and alter the absorption rates. The best way to do it is to sand the entire thing down to raw concrete and go from there. The only thing I can think of is to re-seal the missing areas and then use a concrete wax slightly darker which stays on the surface. Very rarely have I been able to match the finish with these kinds of things.

Or better yet request the LL hire a company that does this.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I don't think a stain will work - it looks like there is already a finish on the floor. ......

Sprinkle some water on the concrete. If it beads it is sealed, if it soaks in it isn't.

You can add color to sealant. I've done it with the powders they use for patterned concrete. Mica powders (sold for coloring epoxy) would likely work also. Try a spot first to make sure it is compatible with the existing sealer.

[jyl]

Hmm, so this is more complicated than Mop 'n Glo For Concrete :-)

Yeah, rented space so I'm not inclined to spend much money on refinishing the floor.

Maybe I'll just apply some wax and see if that helps.

[Bill Douglas]

If you apply wax no one with be able to paint or polyurathane it in the future. Well, not without an acid wash.

As I said polyurathane is cheap and friendly enough.

[Skillet83]

There are companies that can polish concrete floors using diamond grit floor pads. They can polish to a matte finish all the way to a high gloss, wet look, depending on the grit. No waxes, no sealers. Costs more up front, but much cheaper in the long run.

[RWebb]

for dark, do an acid etch/stain on it

easy to do but I'd hire somebody to do it inside a closed space

they'll charge a huge amt. for $50 worth of chemicals and a few hours labor but your lungs will be happy

[john70t]

Talk to the new LL/aka owner, before turning the floor black?

[jyl]

Yeah, I'm constrained since not my property . . . will check w/ LL

[RWebb]

how about dark brown BTW