For most of us, concrete coating options are not something we lie in bed thinking about at night. We probably don’t know that it’s a $313 million industry and that it’s dominated by epoxy, with a 40% market share. But what we do know is the crushing shame of opening the garage door to reveal a concrete floor that destroys your curb appeal.
It doesn’t have to be that way. And you don’t have to settle for an epoxy floor. Instead, you can have something superior – a garage floor coating that looks great and will stand the test of time.
You need a polyurea concrete coating. And you’ll be glad that you spent a few minutes of your time learning six reasons why.
1. Installs Like a Dream
Polyurea is a super-easy product for installers because they can put it down year-round. This might not seem like such a major bonus until you consider the alternative, epoxy.
Epoxy is a real Goldilocks product. It doesn’t like it too hot or too cold. In fact, it won’t cure if the temperature isn’t just right.
That limits when you can install a new concrete coating for your home. But with polyurea, you set the date that’s most convenient for you. Whether it’s 100°F or there’s a blizzard outside, polyurea is usually good to go.
Polyurea coatings also cure quickly. Epoxy takes around 10 days to fully cure, but polyurea is ready to walk on after a few hours! This also makes it much less likely to develop unattractive bubbles that spoil the appearance of the final concrete coating.
2. Won’t Yellow in the Sun
The most common place to use concrete coating systems is in garages. But they’re also perfect for outdoor areas, such as balconies, patios, paths, and stairways. In these external applications, you need a concrete coating system that can withstand UV rays.
Epoxy has a problem with this. It’s not UV resistant. So over time, the UV rays will cause it to turn yellow, which is not the look you want outside your home.
Polyurea won’t do that to you. It has a different chemical composition that is not affected by UV rays like epoxy. As a result, it will retain its good looks almost whatever you throw at it, including glaring sunlight!
3. Strong and Durable
We ask for different things from our home flooring, depending on the room. For example, we want luxurious carpets and hardwoods in the living areas but need something more robust outdoors and in the garage. Polyurea is the perfect choice because it’s extremely tough and long-lasting.
Polyurea will not be damaged by hot tires, heavy foot traffic, outdoor shoes, kids’ bikes, and more! It’s even up to 20 times stronger than epoxy.
If you’ve got a classic car you love working on at the weekend, there’s no reason why you can’t have a beautiful garage floor as well. Polyurea coatings can stand up to dropped wrenches and oil splashes and do not scratch easily.
4. Easy to Clean
Some types of flooring require you to buy specialist cleaning products and follow strict regimes. You don’t have to worry about any of that with polyurea coatings. All you need is a soft-bristled brush, a mop, and a regular floor cleaner.
The maintenance program is as easy as sweeping once a week and deep cleaning once a month. Mopping will help to loosen any dirt trapped in the textured surface, stopping it from looking dingy.
If you do spill a corrosive liquid on a polyurea floor, they offer excellent chemical resistance. To keep your floor looking great, clean up the spill safely and quickly. Polyurea coatings are non-porous, so chemicals cannot penetrate and cause staining.
5. Water Resistant
Any concrete coating system used outdoors or on garage floors needs to offer good water resistance. Water can cause problems with epoxy floor coatings. But professionally laid polyurea flooring options can will not allow it to penetrate and damage the concrete beneath.
6. Wide Range of Styles
Polyurea concrete coating systems allow you to stamp your personal style on your home. Polyurea coatings are made up of three layers:
- Primer/base coat
- Decorative layer
- Clear, protective top coat
The decorative layer is where you can really let your imagination run wild. But of course, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a plain solid color. White and light gray are timeless classics, and if you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, they can be neutral crowd-pleasing choices.
But if you’re in your forever home, you can express yourself with something you truly love. Got a passion for terrazzo flooring but are put off by the price? A full-chip concrete coating gives you the look in a huge variety of colors.
There are also metallic options, in an array of tones, from hot pink to deep blues and reds. In addition, the quartz concrete coating system offers outstanding grip and abrasion resistance. This makes it ideal for households with young children or seniors.
Polyurea – The Ideal Concrete Coating
Putting down a new concrete coating is definitely a do-it-once, do-it-right situation. If you choose the wrong concrete coating system, you’ll have to spend time and money maintaining and replacing it in a few years’ time. But choose a polyurea concrete coating for your home, and you’ll have years of maintenance-free enjoyment from it.
Installing a polyurea coating takes knowledge and skill. Leave it to the professionals at Garage Force. We have locations across the country that are ready to bring your garage floor or patio back to life.
Click here to find your local Garage Force today!