More than 82 million homes across the United States have garages. Whether you use it as a man cave, a storage room, or even park the car in it, you need a great quality floor. One that can stand up to the rigors of daily life and that the neighbors can admire when you lift the garage door.
There are several concrete coatings on the market, but not all of them are equal. Join us as we explore four options for coating concrete flooring so you can get a garage floor you can be proud of.
First Steps: Repair the Slab
Sorry to start on a downer, but your concrete flooring will only be as good as the condition of your slab. Sure, it can be tempting to think that by whacking down some flooring, you can hide a multitude of sins. But this will only lead to a garage floor that’s unsafe and will have problems in the future.
Start by repairing those cracks and getting it level. As we explore some of your options, you’ll see that many companies will include this as their first step.
Option 1 – Floor Paint
Floor paint is a cheap and cheerful option when you just want to breathe some life back into a tired garage. It’s not going to set the tone for a complete garage makeover, but it will cover blotches of oil and rust.
They’re designed to be easy to apply yourself and come in a range of colors. But they will do nothing to disguise any scrapes, cracks, or blemishes in the slab. You’ll still need to sort out the slab first if you want it to look good.
One of their best features is that they provide some extra grip. They may also resist certain chemicals, such as solvents and salts.
Our Verdict
While floor paint is an economical option, it’s unlikely to be your best long-term solution. It will quickly start to wear away and flake off. You’ll have to keep on repainting it to keep it looking good, which means that it soon becomes a time-consuming and expensive option.
We recommend exploring more permanent concrete coatings that look great and provide genuine protection for your floors.
Option 2 – Acrylic Coatings
Stronger than floor paint but not as strong as epoxy, acrylics occupy the middle ground in concrete coatings. They are a cheaper option to apply but they will not last as long as an epoxy or polyurea coating. You, therefore, need to balance the initial cost against the ongoing maintenance costs to keep the floor looking good.
The main advantage of acrylic coatings is that they dry quickly. However, they do not provide good resistance to abrasion and chemical spills.
Our Verdict
Acrylic coatings may seem like an affordable option, but they’ll cost you a lot in maintenance. We recommend choosing a more robust coating that will stand the test of time.
Option 3 – Epoxy Coatings
Epoxy coatings have been used for decades to protect concrete floors. They have a number of excellent qualities, including being hardwearing, resistant to many chemicals, and having an attractive yet grippy finish. It also bonds well to the concrete floor.
Epoxy coatings are suitable for a garage makeover because they provide a solid flooring system that will last for years with proper care. However, they come with some distinct disadvantages that may make them unsuitable for your project.
Our Verdict
Firstly, it’s very difficult to apply this coating due to its temperature sensitivities. Epoxy likes it to be around 70°F. If it’s too cold, it won’t cure, and if it’s too hot, it will cure too fast.
In practical terms, this means that there’s only a tiny window in spring and fall when you can apply the coating in many parts of the country. You’ll have to put your garage coating on hold until the temperature is perfect.
Another disadvantage of epoxy concrete coatings is that they are not UV resistant. Over time, UV rays cause the epoxy coating to turn yellow. This is unattractive and irreversible.
Option 4 – Polyurea Concrete Coatings
Polyurea may not be as well-known as epoxy, but it is far superior.
For a start, it is 20 times stronger than epoxy. It creates a classy, high-gloss finish that provides lots of grip, so it’s safe for kids, cars, and grandparents.
The top surface is water-repellant, which makes it highly stain-resistant. It is also able to withstand most chemicals and is very difficult to scratch or scuff.
You can apply the coating year-round. Unlike epoxy, it can withstand temperatures between -30 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that you don’t have to put your garage makeover on hold until the perfect time of year!
The final feature that makes polyurea the standout choice is its UV resistance. You don’t have to worry that your polyurea garage floor will start to go yellow over time. The chemical structure is different from epoxy, making it naturally UV resistant.
Our Verdict
Polyurea is durable, UV resistant, and will last for many years. It’s available in a huge range of colors and styles, letting you put your own stamp on your garage makeover. It gives you all the benefits of epoxy with none of the disadvantages.
The Best Concrete Coatings Are…
There is no competition. If you’re serious about getting a garage floor that looks great and will stand everything life can throw at it, polyurea concrete coatings win every time.
At Garage Force, we specialize in polyurea concrete coatings for garages and more. With five different coating systems to choose from, there’s something to reflect everybody’s style. We have franchises around the country ready to provide an estimate.
Why not click here to find your local Garage Force and schedule an appointment today?