Garage floor coatings are the best way to keep your garage in good shape. Storing vehicles and tracking in the elements make for stains and deterioration of your garage floor. Adding coating will help maintain the concrete longer. In this article, we would like to answer what is the best garage floor coating?
What Is Garage Floor Coating?
Genuine garage floor epoxy creates a durable, long-lasting, attractive coating for the garage. However, this product should not be confused with so-called “epoxy paint,” which is a one-part latex paint product with a small amount of epoxy added to it to improve the hardness of its finish. A garage floor coating is a thin covering that adheres to the concrete of the garage floor. The process is designed to increase longevity and enhance the ambiance of the garage. Garage floor coating needs to be of higher durability and strength than the other floors of your home. Coating for garage floors is all about function over form, however.
Why Consider Investing In A Garage Floor Coating?
Even if you don’t currently get much use out of your garage, their floors undergo plenty of stress on a daily basis. Garage floors have to deal with temperature fluctuations, pressure from the weight of vehicles, dust accumulation, and more. Just think about it on a rainy or snowy day all o that water drains to the floor of the garage weakening the concrete and staining it. A floor coating with help to maintain that concrete longer. And you will be avoiding the stain and adding a unique look and feel to your garage. The coating can also provide more insulation. And walking out onto the garage barefoot will not give your the chills anymore. And safety is a factor, concrete can be slick. The resins and textured options will reduce and eliminate slipping on slick concrete.
Epoxy Coating
On most surfaces, the forces between the surface and the epoxy resin are stronger than the forces between the epoxy resin itself. This results in the substrate surface and the adhesive having strong force between them. Epoxy floor coatings typically come in two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is a resin and Part B is a catalyst or hardener. When mixed, a chemical reaction ensues. The mixture is then applied to a concrete slab, usually in multiple layers, where it cures and bonds with the concrete beneath. The end result is a seamless and extremely durable floor coating. Epoxy is flame resistant, water-resistant, and stands up against germs and bacteria. One note to remember is epoxy has a lot of chemical in it. So have ventilation available when installing . That is a good reason to hire professionals to install the epoxy floor.
Routine maintenance should be done with a soft-bristle broom or commercial dust mop. In order to make sure your flooring remains free of debris. Heavy-duty cleaning is best done after sweeping away any debris. You can use a hard foam mop, hot water, and clear ammonia. Some epoxy has a lifetime guarantee and others may require a new coating every decade depending on the brand you use.
Epoxy Chip Coating System
Basically, in a “chipped” epoxy coating system, either thermoplastic PVA or mica “chips” are broadcast into an epoxy color coat. Because the chips are broadcast before the epoxy cures, the chips get embedded. “Full-chip” application means that the chips have been broadcast to the “point or rejection” Primers are applied below the mixture of resins. Finally, a top layer is added as well. Chip coating does not have a strong smell and can be tolerated safely by those nearby.
Concrete Floor Paint
Concrete floor paint will not hold up as well as epoxy and you may find yourself having to reapply new coats every few years. Paint is the least durable of all garage flooring options. However, it is less expensive and there are lots more choices in the appearance of the floor if that is important to you. You can choose many different colors and even a shimmering metallic. This can be a budget-friendly option.
Just Concrete Sealer
Just a concrete sealer for a budget-friendly approach. Surface preparation before applying a sealer to existing concrete is extremely important. All oil, grease, stains, dirt, and dust must be removed or they may prevent the sealer from adhering properly. Also, if a sealer is being applied over a different brand of sealer, most manufacturers advise removing all traces of previously used sealers, since the products may not be compatible. Some manufacturers recommend etching the surface first with an etching solution to ensure the best adhesion. Concrete sealers are best applied in two thin coats. The first coat of sealer acts as a primer. Most of it will disappear into the concrete surface, and the concrete will probably look fairly unattractive after the first coat. The texture will also be slick and require resealing every few years, though less frequently than reapplying concrete floor paint. Epoxy coatings tend to be more expensive than a simple concrete sealer, but epoxy offers better protection and less maintenance.
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