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We're not ready to finish our basement yet, but we do use it. The concrete is a pain to clean, and we've heard that sealing it would help. Any recomendations on someone to do this, and aproximate cost? Has anyone done this?

Just paint it. The hardest part is moving all the stuff around.

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Definitely a DIY job. Use Behr Porch and Patio Paint from Home Depot. Go with the low luster finish and pick a nice colour like beige opposed to an ugly gray colour.

If you want to hire someone to do it then maybe a local painting company can help.

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

Is it really that simple? I thought it had to be power washed with some special chemical and sealed and then painted. If it's as simple as you say, I think we can do it ourselves!

yup,
That easy and lots of options....

Google it.

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid= ... qCpCY92Aj0

many different products from paint to epoxy.
Good luck

This is easy. I've painted 3 basements the same way and never had a problem. I found the key was using an etching solution diluted in water, squeegeeing it around the floor and rinsing afterwards. This prevents the paint from flaking later on with use. I agree with Hodor...moving your stuff around to cover the whole floor is the hardest part. save your money for a holiday! This is an easy DYI job not to mention your own sense of satisfaction.

Power washing the floor is hog wash AND IMO etching is unnecessary overkill that is a waste of time. Besides, power washing the basement floor or even washing it can ad huge amounts of moisture into the home and that can be an issue with hardwood floors.

Paints these days are all latex based and rollers and brushes are not very expensive. If you have lots of stuff in the basement then you will need to do this one section at a time. Sweep the area first. Make sure you sweep everything, even around the perimeter of the floor and around equipment. If you want, to really keep dust down then use a "sweeping compound" from Home Depot. Its cheap. See link below.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.sweeping-compound-10-lb.1000681879.html

Then vacuum the area with the beater brush on the lowest setting. Do a good job. Use the hose to get everything out of corners, crevices and from under equipment.

Then, with a paint brush - paint around the perimeter of the floor and around equipment. PLEASE - don't slop paint on your equipment.

Then, with an appropriate roller ( ask at the store ) start rolling out paint. BTW, if you do not finish the whole floor then don't bother trying to wash the roller. Just make sure it is fairly dry, wrap it in a couple plastic bags and freeze it until you need it again OR, just throw it out and use a new one next time.

You will be finished in no time.

Remember, what ever you do - pick a low luster paint and do not choose an ugly grey colour. My concrete floor is a light beige colour and it looks great.

BTW, painting your basement floor will NOT void any warranties on your home so ignore the builder if they suggest you wait. The sooner you are living in a clean dust free environment the better.

Use a good concrete paint. I used BEHR Porch and Patio Paint from Home Depot.

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

Agreed with those who say this is an easy DIY. It's one of the first things I do when I move into a new home. Dust free basements FTW.

Definitely DIY, but depending on what you will be doing in your basement, or your long term plan, the epoxy coatings can be much better alternative. Did this in my garage. The power washing and etching was definitely a good idea for best adhesion, especially if high traffic. 2-3 day process to wash/etch, let it dry, and then you can get down 2 coats in a day or so. I doesn't take long, its mostly just the waiting. You don't have to go crazy with the washing, but I would protect your walls with some plastic sheets. The floor has held up very well so far and is very durable. I've dropped steel tools on the floor and never even came close to chipping it since it very flexible. Latex paint would have just flaked right off. Water beads right off of it and its nice and smooth to sweep.

Do you park cars in your garage? If so, do you find that you're cleaning the floor a lot in the winter? I've always wanted to do this, but I fear that having the slightest amount of dirt on the glorious epoxy floor would drive me crazy, sending me in to a constant cleaning vortex all winter long.

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I don't park any cars in there, just use it as a workshop for metalworking/woodworking/bicycle stuff, but would have no issue putting a car on the surface. You can get different finishes of this stuff. Some of it is super high gloss, and the smoother you want it, the more coats usually required. This has a sheen to it, and can be slippery when wet, but not like a mirror.

I don't foresee it being difficult to clean. I've spilled stuff, and had the entire garage covered in saw dust and dirt. Its very smooth and cleans easily. Even grease has wiped up easily. The coating is apparently rated to withstand hot tire pickup as well (providing you give it enough cure time before parking a car on it).

Last night I relocated a workbench that had a mitre saw/router/skill saw/grinder/sander + weight of the table (at least 300 lbs) and the legs are raw 2x4s—I just dragged it across the floor. It was loud but didn't even scuff the floor.

I think my neighbours thought I was weird when I spent the first 2 days of moving in focusing on the garage floor...but as you can imagine, its a much easier job when all your stuff isn't in there. My previous basement workshop got so dirty with an unfinished floor, and every time you sweep you drum up more and more dust, and then that gets tracked to other areas of the home. Didn't make that mistake again once we moved!

*edit: Should also add I just used the Armour coat brand from Canadian Tire. It was on sale and I did a double car garage with 2 kits for about $100. There is a more expensive Rust-Oleum product available but it was double the cost at the time I did it. I opted not to add those weird looking colour flakes to the floor and left it grey.