Did you know that almost one in four Americans say their garage is too cluttered to fit their car?
When you do finally get around to clearing out some of that clutter, you may find that your garage flooring isn’t in the best shape.
Is it time you did something about it? How can you tell when it’s time for a garage floor upgrade?
Read on as we take a look at seven key signs that your garage floor needs to be updated.
1. Stains
Stains on your garage floor that you can’t wash away are never a good sign.
There are a number of possible causes for stains on your garage floor. New motor oil will leave a yellowish-brown stain whilst old motor oil will be a darker brown in color. A lighter yellow could be from brake fluid, and a darker yellow may be power steering fluid. Engine coolant could be any number of colors but will usually leave a sticky mark.
All of these stains are unsightly and difficult to remove, but they are also caused by chemicals that may be damaging your garage floor.
A high-quality polyaspartic floor coating can protect your garage floor from stains and the damage that they can cause.
2. Flaking
Another tell-tale sign that you have problems with your garage floor is when you notice flaking or peeling.
This flaking or peeling of a concrete floor is known as spalling. It occurs because the surface of the concrete has become weak. There are a number of possible causes for spalling. One of the most common is a cycle of freezing and thawing of water that has penetrated the concrete, but it can also be caused by substances brought in on your car, such as de-icing salts.
Once spalling starts you’ll need to get the floor repaired. The best way to prevent spalling in the future is to coat the concrete which will protect against spills and moisture-related damage.
3. Visible Cracks
A clear sign that you need to do some work on your garage floor is if you can see visible cracks in the surface.
Your garage floor can crack for a number of reasons. It may be due to the floor expanding and contracting with changes in temperature. Over time this expansion and contraction will cause the concrete to crack. It may also be caused by the ground beneath your garage floor settling, meaning that the floor is not evenly supported.
If the cracking is severe, you may need to consider getting the floor completely redone but if the cracking isn’t too major then sealing the concrete with a coating can help to stop the cracks from progressing and give you much more life out of your garage floor.
4. Uneven Floor
Another key indication that you have issues with your garage floor is if the surface is uneven.
You may not even notice it to look at; you may first detect the issue when you’re walking on the floor and can sense that there are dips and rises in the flooring. This may be caused by the settling of the ground beneath your garage which means the floor is no longer supported by a level surface.
If you’re considering garage floor upgrades because of an uneven surface then you should make sure that you create a level surface again before you apply any coating.
5. Poor Drainage
Pooling water is a clear sign that there’s an issue with your garage floor. This is another common way of discovering that your floor is not as level as it once was. If water is pooling it means there are rises and dips in the surface which weren’t there before.
You may also have issues with the draining in your garage. If there are problems with your drainage system, you’ll get water that doesn’t drain away which is going to cause damage to your floor. The longer this problem persists, the more likely it is that you’ll need to replace your garage floor.
Before you make any repairs make sure that the problems with the drainage system are fixed, or the same problem will keep occurring.
6. Discoloration
Another visual indication that you have an issue with your garage floor is if it becomes discolored.
This is different from localized staining but is instead a noticeable change to the overall color of your entire garage floor. This may be a uniform issue, or you may find that you have blotches of a different color appearing across the whole floor.
There can be any number of causes for discoloration on your garage floor. It may be down to the types of admixtures used in the concrete, inadequate curing, or simply from exposure to the elements.
Applying a coating to your floor can instantly remove unsightly discoloration; you can even choose from a range of different colors for your coating.
7. Aesthetics
One common reason for a garage renovation is that it simply doesn’t look that great anymore.
If your garage floor is getting old, it will begin to look tired. Since it’s the largest single part of your garage, a tired-looking floor means a tired-looking garage. Applying a coating to your garage floor can instantly transform a tired-looking garage into one that looks smart and appealing once again. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make.
Does Your Garage Flooring Need Updating?
If your garage flooring is past its best, the good news is that you may not need to completely replace it. Instead, you could opt for a concrete floor coating.
Our polyurea concrete floor coatings are up to twenty times stronger than epoxy. They’re 100% UV resistant so you never have to worry about yellowing, and they can be applied all year round, regardless of the weather. We offer a variety of styles and colors to ensure that your garage floor has never looked so good.
Find your nearest Garage Force location now!
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