It can become confusing when looking for an easy-to-use, topical DIY garage floor sealer that offers fairly good protection and looks great as well. While some sealers can provide a very durable and beautiful finish, the do-it-yourself part can be much more involved than the average homeowner wants to tackle. Epoxy floor coatings are a good example.
As a result, we like to highlight products we feel do a particular job well and are easy to use. If you are searching for a garage floor sealer that looks great, is easy to apply, and provides good protection to bare concrete, then you have come to the right spot. We recommend HD6600-MMA™ Interior/Exterior Concrete Sealer by Legacy Industrial.
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Why Do We Recommend HD6600-MMA Acrylic garage floor sealer?
What makes this concrete sealer unique from most other acrylic sealers is the use of methyl methacrylate copolymer acrylic resin (MMA). HD6600 is a solvent-based sealer that provides the MMA in a 30% solids formulation. Here is a quote from Legacy Industrial’s technical data sheet about the benefits of an MMA sealer;
HD6600-MMA™ offers improved resistance to rain, the sun, freezing temperatures, stains, hot-tires, and other pollutants that sometimes can be hazardous to concrete, far greater than other conventional sealers. HD6600-MMA™ truly is non-yellowing and will not have hot-tire issues, ever!
This means you get a DIY garage floor sealer that can easily be applied out of a paint tray with a roller and provides better protection than typical acrylic concrete sealers.
HD6600 has a glossy, clear finish that is UV stable and approved for both interior and exterior use. This means you don’t have to worry about your garage floor being exposed to the sun for long periods.
Benefits of Legacy Industrial HD6600-MMA Acrylic Sealer
MMA acrylics offer better protection and wear over standard water-based and solvent acrylic sealers. HD6600-MMA creates a much better film formation that contributes to the following benefits when applied in multiple coats:
- Water resistance
- Good adhesion
- Concrete dust proof
- Excellent efflorescence and alkali resistance
- Non-yellowing
- Chemical resistance
- No hot tire pickup
- Good over bare, stained, or dyed concrete
- Higher abrasion resistance than other acrylic sealers
- Fast dry time
- Provides an easy-to-clean garage floor or concrete surface
- Attractive gloss finish
The better chemical and abrasion resistance is one benefit that makes this garage floor sealer stand out compared to other acrylic sealers. It has good resistance to motor oil and salts, as well as good resistance to gasoline and most other chemicals that you find in a typical garage. If you do happen to damage the surface, it is easily repaired with the application of more sealer.
Is this type of sealer just as durable as epoxy? No, it’s not. And this is one of the reasons why it is less expensive. However, it is also much easier to apply than epoxy. It provides good protection and great looks for the average garage floor that doesn’t see a lot of abuse.
MMA acrylic sealers are also popular for commercial applications where heavy foot traffic and light vehicle traffic are common. Mild workshops and woodworking shops are another example.
One thing to be aware of is like most topical sealers, this one can be somewhat slippery when wet. Legacy Industrial recommends adding their Fine grit Soft Skid additive into the final coat to improve wet slip resistance.
How easy is it to apply this sealer?
Like other acrylics, HD6600-MMA™ is easiest to apply using a 3/8″ nap roller out of a paint tray. It can also be applied with a quality garden pump-up sprayer with a conical spray tip. If you can paint a wall and clean a garage floor, then you are qualified to apply this sealer.
Because it is solvent-based, you need to take the proper precautions and extinguish any open flames you may have in the garage. It is also important to clean the concrete before application. All contaminants, such as oil, dirt, dust, grease, and excess concrete laitance, must be removed. Be sure to give the concrete adequate drying time before application, and do not apply it if there are any visible signs of moisture.
A light sanding or acid etch may be required if your concrete is not very porous or has been steel-troweled to a very smooth finish. You can test with water drops. If the concrete absorbs drops of water and does not bead up, further prep should not be necessary.
A minimum of two thin coats are recommended for the best performance and appearance. Do not apply thick coats, or you will encounter problems with the finish. More coats can be applied if you desire. Each coat can be applied approximately 4 hours after the first coat, but no later than 24 hours. You can walk on it 4-6 hours after application, and drive on it 24-48 hours after the final coat.
One gallon covers approximately 250-350 square feet. Be aware that the second and third coats always go further since they don’t soak into the concrete like the first.
If you are looking for a DIY garage floor sealer that will stand up to the rigors of light to medium-duty garage use, then this sealer is worth looking into. It is easy to apply, easily repaired, easy to clean, looks great, and has good wear resistance for an acrylic sealer.
Thanks for posting! When it comes to DIY home improvement sometimes the garage gets overlooked. And while it may not be ‘easy’, simple projects like this can add so much value to the look, feel, and resale value of the home.
Legacy told me that the floor needs to be sanded before applying this.
Yes, sometimes this may be a requirement if you have hard troweled concrete or concrete that does not absorb water well. Sanding the surface or a mild acid etch may be required.
What is the best product for a maintenance coat, floor previously sealed with epoxy, has lost the gloss on the tire track.
Hello John. For epoxy coated floors that are still in sound shape but have lost their luster, the easiest way to bring it back is to ad a top coat of clear epoxy or polyurethane. It’s not difficult to prep. It requires roughing up the surface with either a black pad on a floor maintainer or sanding with 80 grit sandpaper or sanding screed. Clean up the dust and wipe it down with denatured alcohol and you are ready for the coat.
Our recommendation would be a coat of polyurethane. It has a longer pot life than most epoxies, it can be rolled on out of a paint tray, and it will provide a very durable and glossy finish to your floor.
A standard acrylic sealer seem to last about 2-3 years before another coat is required. What is the expected life of a MMA sealer before another coat is necessary?
Under similar conditions, MMA sealers have been known to last twice as long or more than standard water based acrylic sealers. Of course the time is relative to the conditions the sealer is put under.
Getting ready to put up a new garage and I am very interested in the MMA sealer. What would be the best method to finish the concrete floor in preparation for an MMA sealer?
Hi Dan. A normal hand troweled finish works fine. If you machine trowel it you will need to acid etch the surface first before applying the MMA sealer.
I have used epoxy coatings in previous garages, but the cost of the MMA sealer is so much less with about the same protection. If it needs a re-coating in a few years, can this be applied on top of the existing coating or does the floor have to be stripped (if that is even possible) and re-preped?
Hi John. Just to eliminate some confusion, an MMA sealer does offer good protection, but it’s not the same protection as a quality epoxy. That said, you do not need to strip the old coating to reapply. Just makes sure it’s clean first then reapply.
Could you recommend a contractor in the Indianapolis area for either of these products:
https://allgaragefloors.com/acrylic-garage-sealer/
https://allgaragefloors.com/diy-garage-floor-sealer/
Hello Gary. Since Legacy Industrial sells this product, I would recommend contacting them to see if they have installers in your area that they sell to.
For new construction home, what sort of prep work would be involved before applying this sealer to garage? Would acid etching be necessary?
Thanks!
Many times all that is required is a thorough cleaning. At most, a light acid etch may be required. It depends on how well your concrete currently absorbs water. Legacy Industrial can give you the specs on what would be required based on your concrete characteristics.
Great article! Looking at the Legacy Industrial website, their MMA acrylic sealer looks likes its around 250 dollars for a five gallon container. Looking around the interweb I’ve found two other MMA acrylic sealers for a lot less. Can you tell me if you’ve heard of any feedback on the quality of these other products, and do they seem like similar products?
Concrete Sealers USA – TS203 MMA SB-25 Acrylic sealer for around $ 180 for five gallons
Southern Stain and Seal – SurfKoat MMA-25 Acrylic sealer for around $ 138 for five gallons
Thanks!
Jamey
Hello Jamey. It’s not always easy to judge acrylic sealers since they are not subjected to quite the same type of testing as resinous coatings. However, most do have ratings for chemical resistance and stain resistance in the TDS sheets provided by the manufacturer. You can usually get this information if you request it or call and ask what the ratings are.
Legacy Industrial has the both the HD-6525 MMA and HD-6600 MMA which does even better against salt, de-icing fluids, and outdoor use. We know their product is used extensively in Alaska at fishery plants. Give Concrete Sealers USA a call and ask about their product as well. We have spoke with them on a few occasions and they are very happy to provide info about their product. We haven’t dealt with SurfKoat, but we recommend doing the same. Many times there is a reason for large price discrepancies in this market and the TDS information may reveal that.
Where can I buy your hd6525 sealer? Can it be put over current light coat of water based acrylic on garage floor
Hi Steve. We don’t sell product, but you can find the link to the sealer in the article. You can also find it here. The HD6525 is a solvent based MMA acrylic sealer and cannot be applied over a water based acrylic however. It will soften the water based acrylic and cause all kinds of issues. You would need to remove the water based acrylic first in order to use it.
Perhaps I missed this question above and please excuse my ignorance on the topic….however, I live in Mid-Wisconsin and the salt run-off from cars is problematic….will this sealer specifically address the caustic interaction of the salt and the concrete? If not, which do you recommend?
Yes it will Robert. In fact, Legacy Industrial has HD660 which is a version of the same product, but has an even higher resistance to salt water. You can find it here.
i am thinking of using a produst like HD6525-MMA™ with it seems to be be similar to what i am looking for. i was originallly thinking of using tlppc but cant seem to find that product. i am looking for an abilty to add moderate protection to the flor and give a darkened glossy appearance. its for a garage in a new construction home. My question is does it make sense to use a densifier with a a product like this? Does provide a benefit still, or cause any potential issues?
Hello Jim. Unless you have some issues with needing to harden your concrete, you don’t want to use a densifier in conjunction with an MMA sealer. If you did, you would need to grind the concrete after application of the densifier. The reason is that the densifier would inhibit penetration of the MMA sealer in order to create a mechanical bond. If you have other question regarding HD6525, we recommend contacting Scotty at Legacy Industrial. He is an excellent resource. Regarding TLPPC, it was a good product that fell victim to a bad batch that left vendors reluctant to carry it.
We (Legacy Industrial Corp.) recently added a (35) color palette to this product for customer’s looking for a solid color vs. clear. In addition, due to the success of HD6525-MMA, we have lowered the price by $30.00 per 5 gal unit.
Soon a translucent formula will be available giving the user more color options!
Scotty, I don’t see the tints on your web page. Can you point me to them?
Hello Ercle. We noticed just the other day that the color tint options are not listed anymore. Scotty doesn’t monitor comments on our website for his company unless we notify him of something in particular. We suggest contacting him here and ask him directly.
First, thanks for all the great information throughout this website.
I am in the middle of the floor prep stage of my 900-square-foot garage project. I’m mechanically preparing it (as explained in the guide on this website). Given that I am taking this approach on floor prep, should I be at all concerned about this sealer’s thickness as compared to Nohr-S or epoxies, or will the 2-3 coats be enough to overcome any grittiness and allow the floor to be fairly smooth once complete?
Hello Adam. There is a big difference between the two products you are referring to. An MMA acrylic sealer can’t be compared to the superior protection and durability of the Nohr-S coating. How do you plan on using your garage?
I don’t think I phrased that well. I guess what I was trying to ask was whether, following the mechanical grind and cleanup, the acrylic primer will have enough thickness, following 2-3 coats, to overcome the gritty sandpaper feel left behind from the grinding to create a smooth surface?
It is a light duty garage, primarily storage with occasional tinkering and project work.
OK, that makes sense then Adam. Yes, the acrylic primer will work nicely with the grind if you are doing 2-3 coats. Just remember that it’s “thin to win” when applying acrylic. Don’t apply a single thick coat or you will get curing issues.
Is there an anti-slip agent available for The Acrylic sealer HD6525-MMA? Can you recommend other clear seal coatings? I saw something from Rust bullet (Duragrade Clear). Would this be compatible with the waterbase “DeltaDye Concrete Stain?
Regards,
Ron
Hello Ron. Yes, Legacy Industrial sells Soft-Skid as an option for both their HD6525 and HD6600 MMA acrylic sealers. DuraGrade clear will work well with Delta Dye also. Just make sure your concrete meets the requirements for application without concrete prep if that is your intention.
I have a saw cut concrete floor for crack control. Do I need to do anything with the saw cuts before I seal the floor? Also, I am considering a matte finish. Does the matte finish have slip resistance equivalent to the sand additive?
Hi Mike. No, the saw cuts do not require any special treatment before sealing the floor. Some people like to fill the joints with SikaFlex afterwards, but that is up to you. The matte finish you can get with the additive will make it slightly less slippery than the gloss, but it will not reach the same slip resistance as adding a slip resistant aggregate.
My garage floor has a ton of salt corrosion and cracks, pockmarks, etc. Initially I was thinking about patching and then using a penetrating sealer but due to the amount of cleanup and the uneven surface, I have decided to cut out an 20 x 20 section of the 3 garage and repour new concrete, then cleaning up the surfaces and sealing it in. I plan on using the MMA 6600 from Legacy Industrial after all is said and done. I have two questions regarding the job.
1) I have some small but long cracks on the garage surface in the area that won’t be re-poured. What is the best patching approach to use for these cracks that will still take the MMA 6600 sealer? Reading your site, I believe epoxy won’t be a good solution for the MMA and it needs to be “concrete”based, but I also am reading that concrete patching doesn’t adhere to dry concrete. What is a recommended approach to this
2) I am considering using a color bomb or a delta dye stain after cleaning and patching, but don’t really like most of the delta dye colors and there are not enough examples of what the color bomb looks like and appear to be limited to a grayish / blue color and a sand color. I think just the raw concrete would look good but concerned that the newly poured concrete vs old and the patches cracks would really show. The color or staining was meant to hide some of that. Any suggestions on a low cost approach that would be aesthetically pleasing would be welcome!
Thanks much for all the information on your site. I definitely would have otherwise used big box retailer and so glad I found the information you guys have posted.
Hi Johnathan. Crack repairs should be performed using a 100% solids resinous patching material such as epoxy or polyurea. Once the crack is filled and the product has cured, you need to grind/sand the repair flush with the surrounding surface. This properly preps the repair to accept a coating such as MMA 6600. Our favorite products is Xtreme Set 100 by Legacy because it’s so fast and easy. You can read about it here. It is more expensive though. We have an article here about crack repairs that also lists other appropriate products.
About stains – True stains are translucent in color. They are not meant to cover imperfections in concrete. Instead, they highlight imperfections and create character. This is because the density of the slab surface varies throughout. This is why no two concrete slabs look alike when stained with the same color. In addition, crack repairs do not accept stains since they are resin based. If you were to apply a stain and then a clear coat to protect it, all of these differences are highlighted and stand out. Many people like this and some don’t. It’s all a matter of preference. Color Bomb isn’t a true stain since it’s the MMA 6600 sealer that is being tinted and then applied. If you were to severely scratch it, it would expose the bare concrete. It’s similar to a coating. Furthermore, Color Bomb won’t completely hide all the imperfections since it’s very thin. Only a thick colored epoxy or polyurea coating can do that. Based on the description of your floor, applying just the MMA 6600 would create an aged and retro looking surface with lots of character. It just depends if that is the look you want or not 🙂
I ended up just applying 2 coats of Legacy Industrial MMA 6600 sealer to my newly poured concrete garage with some of the anti-slip silica additive. I am very unhappy with the results. I applied the acrylic sealer and waited 9 days before using the garage. Over the course of the last 6 months, the acrylic sealer has pulled up with tire marks from our two cars after rains or snow, leaving raw, exposed concrete and pockmarks. My question is what is the best way to fix this and ensure I have a functional sealer to protect from road salts and moisture? The entire reason I had my garage floor repoured was to address previous damage. Now I am back at square 1. Do I have to remove all of what I put down? Can I epoxy over acrylic? This is my nightmare scenario…
Hello Jonathan. MMA acrylic sealers pulling up from tires is not common. What prep was done with the new slab before the application of the MMA 6600? Was a cure and seal compound applied to it directly after it was placed and finished? One advantage of MMA sealers is that reapplication over an old coat will will reactivate the old sealer and they will meld together.
No additional prep outside of curing with water applications over 15 days was done to the new slab. It was hand troweled finished to a smooth grade and very fine sanding performed prior to application. Considering I have 600 sq ft of MMA applied in two coats and every single tire on any vehicle that sits on it with wet tires has pulled up to raw concrete…what is the best way to address?
Hi Jonathan. From your description, our guess is that you have fairly hard concrete (good thing) and the fine sanding wasn’t enough to open up the pores at the surface. As a result, it did not bond well enough to resist the tires pulling it up. Our suggestion is to sand the areas more aggressively where the tires sit and recoat them. If the problem goes away, then that’s the reason why you had the issue. I would also suggest contacting Legacy Industrial directly to report the issue you have. I believe their response will be similar, but they are the vendor for the product and will know for sure what is required.
Thank you for your counsel! I will follow up with Legacy Industrial directly and see what they say before taking action.