What is the best garage floor coating?

Getting a beautiful garage floor coating reaps more benefits than you may think!

Do I need to get my garage floor coated?

Looking to update your garage? Many garage floors are made of untreated concrete that can often look dull, and become cracked and dirty quite easily. Untreated concrete floors, especially in places like your garage, can do much damage to their condition and integrity over time.

Disadvantages of Untreated Concrete

Your garage floor is most likely made from concrete. Although concrete floors are the cheaper option, they can actually do much damage over time if they're not specially treated.

Uncoated concrete floors often become chipped, cracked, and dirty with the constant wear and tear of tire and foot traffic. Untreated concrete floors are also bad for your garage because of the following:

1. More vulnerable to moisture and bacteria build-up due to their porous material.
2. More susceptible to extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, tire and foot traffic, de-icing salts, and liquid.
3. Create a lot of dust due to the chipping overtime, stirring up allergies.
4. Very slippery.

4 Types of Garage Floor Coatings

There are many different types of coats, sealants, and paints created for garage floors, however, this doesn't mean that they all work best for your garage.

1. Latex paint is the cheapest garage paint option and is easy to install, which is great for any DIYer looking for a quick, easy way to make their garage floor look cleaner. Latex paint, however, doesn't last too long and can start to wear after a year or two of application.
2. Acrylic paint is another garage paint option that is slightly more expensive than latex, but again, is easy to apply for anyone. Same as latex, acrylic paints are sensitive to salts and other chemicals, requiring touch-ups every few years.
3. Epoxy flooring is probably the garage flooring type you're most familiar with. Epoxy flooring is made from a bunch of resins and hardeners that together, form a durable plastic-like material. Although this may sound like a good thing to those looking for a durable floor, it actually also means that it is very inflexible and brittle. For instance, if you drop something heavy in your garage, like a wrench or sledgehammer, the epoxy flooring can start to form microscopic cracks. Although not visible to the naked eye, these cracks can cause much damage when water touches the surface. If the epoxy flooring starts to crack and it is exposed to water, this water will slowly begin to go through adhesion failure, causing separation between the coating and the concrete floor below it.

4. Polyaspartic flooring has been around industrial settings for over 40 years and is now being used on residential garage floors. Polyaspartic flooring is made from a 100 percent UV-resistant polyaspartic active ingredient and a small amount of environmentally friendly solvent that helps it flow smoothly into the concrete. The durable, granite-like look of a polyaspartic coating is a big reason why it sets itself apart from the rest. Polyaspartic garage floor coatings will not peel, flake, yellow or fade in color over time. It also won't leave stains from chemical burns or hot tires, making it great for garage-type settings. You can learn about polyaspartic flooring and how it's installed at www.HelloGarage.com.

Hiring a Garage Floor Coating Expert

When it comes time to coat your garage floor, you want to make sure it's done right the first time. Many homeowners attempt doing this project on their own, but it's highly recommended that an expert perform such a detailed task. With a professional installing your garage floor coating, you can ensure a beautiful job well done that will last for many years to come. HelloGarage installs their polyaspartic flooring using this five-step system:

1. Garage floor is prepped by using an industrial grinder.
2. Cracks and surface damage are repaired.
3. Base coat is applied.
4. Decorative flake is fully scattered on the surface.
5. Clear top coat is applied.

Looking for a garage flooring expert in your area? Visit the HelloGarage website for a free estimate today!