You only get one chance to make a first impression. This old adage is just as true of your house as it is of yourself. If you don’t nail your curbside appeal, people will turn on their heels and start looking at other homes in the area.
Touching up the exterior paintwork and refreshing the landscaping can go a long way. But with the median home price nationally coming in at $470,600, people understandably have high expectations. They’re paying 13.9% more than they were a year ago, and they expect to buy a property that looks great from day one.
Read on to find out how you can boost your home’s curbside appeal with a new driveway or garage floor.
The Value of a Good Driveway
All too often, driveways are made of materials that don’t look good for long.
Brick driveways can start to bow and sag as you drive over them. Asphalt driveways develop pits, divots, and cracks easily. Even untreated concrete driveways show up stains and start to let the side down quickly.
But what if you could use a material that was stain-resistant, ultra-hardwearing, and could withstand hot tires year in, year out? The answer is polyurea.
Why Polyurea Is the Best Concrete Coating
A concrete driveway can be utilitarian and not add much in terms of curbside appeal. But when you get a new driveway with a polyurea coating, you can forget boring old concrete driveways!
You have a huge range of colors and finishes to choose from that will take your curb appeal to the next level. The process begins with preparing the concrete surface so that it can accept the coating. All cracks and pits will be repaired so your final driveway is smooth and sleek.
Next, the surface will be thoroughly cleaned before the polyurea coating goes down. It starts with a tinted basecoat, followed by a layer of decorative chips. The final coating is a clear top coat that provides outstanding protection from the elements.
If you were to choose an epoxy driveway, it would quickly start to show its age. Due to the chemical composition of epoxy resin, it’s not resistant to UV rays. It starts to go yellow and there’s nothing you can do to reverse the process.
This will not happen with a polyurea coating. Its chemical structure is different and it will not be affected by UV rays. It will go on looking great for years to come.
Because a polyurea coating can withstand extreme heat, gas spills, and engine oil, it’s easy to keep it looking great. Simply sweep it and mop it, or hose it down once a week. Once a month give it a scrub with a mild detergent and a soft brush to get out any ingrained dirt.
You’ll be able to proudly tell your real estate agent and potential buyers that the driveway is coated in the most durable concrete flooring system around!
The Benefits of a New Garage Floor
A garage is so much more than somewhere to park the car. It can be a playroom, a man cave, a storage area, and more! If you’re selling your home, it’s important to show that your garage is a clean, safe space that the new owners can adapt to fit their lifestyle.
In the past, people have thrown down some garage floor paint and felt that was good enough. It might temporarily freshen the appearance of the garage, but it’ll soon let the side down. It’s prone to flaking and will not cover any defects in the garage floor surface.
Epoxy has been popular for years, but it has some drawbacks too. It can be damaged by solvents, gasoline, and engine oil. It will also start to turn yellow if exposed to UV rays.
Why Polyurea Is the Best Choice
A polyurea garage floor is different. It’s 20 times stronger than epoxy. With a wall-to-wall finish, it provides waterproofing for your garage floor.
The best installers have so much confidence in it that they provide a lifetime warranty. If you choose to get the same polyurea coating for your driveway, you can have the same coating system run from the street right through to your garage.
With polyurea, you have a huge range of coating systems to choose from. From classic solid colors like Antonio Silver to the full chip system, which creates a terrazzo-style effect. If you’re selling your house and looking to boost its value, stick to a neutral style that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Another great feature of polyurea is its anti-slip qualities. This makes it safer for all ages and pets. The top coat is waterproof and is also resistant to salt, oil, gas, and grease.
Will a New Driveway or Garage Add Value?
There are a lot of different factors at play when answering this question. However, many buyers are looking for low-maintenance, turnkey homes that they can enjoy living in from day one.
If you up your curbside appeal with a polyurea coating on your garage floor or driveway, you’ll give them just that. Buyers may be willing to pay a premium to have a home that looks great from the day they move in.
Let Garage Force Boost Your Curbside Appeal
As we’ve seen, the importance of great curbside appeal cannot be overestimated when selling your home. Give your curb appeal a boost with a polyurea driveway or garage floor. This versatile material is long-lasting, looks great, and can be applied year-round.
At Garage Force, our franchises throughout the country specialize in laying high-quality polyurea driveways and garage floors. Our design team will help you to choose the right system for your home. We back up our work with a lifetime residential warranty.
Find your local Garage Force and schedule a quotation today!