With so many flooring materials and sealers today, choosing the right one for your commercial or residential space can take a lot of consideration. That being said, let’s look at all the different floor sealer solutions and what they can do for your floors. Moreover, we’ll discuss the differences between solvent-based and water-based epoxy floor sealer solutions.

What Are Floor Sealers?

Floor sealers are clear or pigmented materials that provide an extra layer of protection to your floors. This helps them resist fading, staining and scratching, as well as makes the easier to clean. As aforementioned, there are two basic types of sealers – solvent-based and water-based. Solvent-based sealers provide a more durable finish, but they’re toxic, flammable, and leave an odour for a while. Water-based sealers, on the other hand, come with lower volatile organic compounds, and are safer to use, but they don’t last as long as solvent-based sealers.

Choosing the Ideal Sealer

When choosing a sealer, you have to consider a couple of factors, such as the type of flooring you have, your budget, and how much traffic it gets. For instance, if you have a hardwood floor, you should use a water-based sealer. For concrete, stole or tile floors, you need a solvent-based sealer.

Solvent-based sealers are costlier than their water-based counterparts. But seeing as they’re more durable, they pay off in the long run.

As for traffic, rooms or areas that don’t see much traffic can get by with a water-based sealer. On the other hand, high-traffic areas will require a solvent-based sealer to withstand the constant abuse.

Benefits of Floor Sealers

There are many benefits to applying epoxy floor sealer solutions, such as protection from fading, scratching and stains. They create a barrier on your floors, and make them easier to clean. Dirt and dust won’t be able to penetrate the surface easily, and spills will also be easier to wipe. As a result, you get more out of your floors by preventing wear and tear. Instead of replacing your entire floor, you’ll have to reapply the floor sealer every now and then.

Applying Floor Sealers

Applying a floor sealer is relatively easy and simple. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Each type of floor sealer is different, and requires the use of a different applicator. For water-based sealers, lambswool applicators are ideal. For solvent-based sealers, on the other hand, you’ll need an airless paint sprayer.

Once you’ve chosen the sealer and applicator, you have to prepare the floors. This involves cleaning them and making sure they’re free of contaminants like debris and dust. If you’ve not performed this type of work before, it’s almost always to have professionals do it.

DIY vs Professional Sealing

Even though applying a floor sealing solution yourself is relatively simple, there are a few things you need to consider before you try. For instance, if you go with a solvent-based sealer, you need to take extra precautions when handling and applying the sealer. As aforementioned, solvent-based sealers are flammable and can be toxic, so it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions down to the T.

That being said, if you’re not experienced with applying a sealer, it’s best you leave it to professionals. They’ll have the knowledge, experience, equipment and safety gear needed to take on the task. Hiring a professional can also have its benefits in terms of warranty coverage. If something goes wrong, they’ll cover the costs. Doing it yourself, on the other hand, can void your flooring warranty.

How Often Do You Need to Apply Sealers?

The answer to this question depends on whether you’re applying a water-based or solvent-based sealer, and the amount of traffic happening over the floors in the particular area. For instance, in a high-traffic room, you might need to reapply the sealer more often than in a low-traffic area. Typically speaking, most sealers need to be reapplied once every two to three years.

Conclusion

The best floor coating sealer for your floors will depend on your needs and preferences. For instance, if you’re looking to seal a high-traffic area, you’ll want to use a solvent-based sealer as that’s the more durable option. If you’re worried about chemicals, you should consider water-based sealers. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and what meets your needs. Either sealer will make your floors easier to clean, and protect them from spills and damage. It’s better to reapply the sealer every two or three years, than to change the entire flooring.

You can apply the sealer yourself, or have professionals do it for you. If you aren’t experienced in applying floor sealers, it’s a task best left to professionals with experience in sealing floors, as it requires special equipment and tools to apply them successfully. This is even more important if the sealer is solvent-based, as it can be somewhat toxic, and will require the use of protective equipment.