A garage epoxy coating will protect your concrete floor from damage and stains while looking great. It will also add to your home’s value.
Before you purchase that bargain type epoxy kit from your local big box store or buy an online deal, make sure to read this article!
Durability
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably spent a lot of time and money on your garage. It’s clean and organized, everything has its place and it’s just the way you want it to be. However, there is one thing that can really spoil the look of your garage, and that’s the floor.
Epoxy flooring is a great solution for your garage, and it will help prevent stains and protect the floor from chips or cracks. It’s also available in a variety of colors so you can choose the perfect color to suit your style. It’s a fantastic choice for your garage, and it will really add to the overall look of your home.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of products that promise to do the same thing as epoxy coatings, but aren’t as good as they’re made out to be. These low-cost kits that you can buy in home improvement stores and online typically use cheap materials, and their quality isn’t very high. If you’re looking for a better option, consider a polyaspartic coating from a reputable contractor. These coatings have better durability than the cheaper epoxy coating kits, and they’re designed to last much longer.
Another benefit of epoxy is its resistance to wear and tear. It holds up very well to heavy vehicles and equipment, and it’s resistant to chemicals and chipping. It’s also a very safe surface for people to walk on, as long as you aren’t wearing shoes with high heels or something similar. It also obscures dust well, so you won’t have to worry about a lot of visible dirt or debris on your garage floor.
When comparing prices for epoxy garage floors, make sure you are getting quotes that include all necessary services for the job. For example, the concrete will need to be prepared prior to the coating being applied. The contractor should prepare the concrete by abrasion or shot blasting, which will provide an optimal surface for the epoxy to bond with. If you’re unsure about what services are included in the quote, ask the contractor to provide you with a detailed list of all the work that will be done.
Aesthetics
You’re a careful homeowner and take great care to keep your house looking good. That includes your garage, which can be one of the most challenging areas to keep clean and stain free. With a little time and effort, you can make it look like new again with epoxy flooring.
Epoxy is a relatively affordable flooring option and, when installed by a professional, it will last far longer than other flooring materials. It also looks much nicer than a stained concrete floor and adds to the value of your home. It’s an excellent return on investment and will save you the expense of having to replace your garage floor in the future.
Another benefit of an epoxy floor is that it will eliminate stains and discoloration. With a simple wipe down of the floor with a damp cloth, you can keep your garage clean and looking beautiful. This is a much better alternative to the scrubbing and mopping required with most other flooring material and even carpeting, which can be hard on your knees and back.
In addition, the non-porous nature of epoxy makes it impervious to most chemicals, which can corrode or stain concrete floors over time. This means your garage floor will be safe from chemical damage and you won’t have to worry about unpleasant and hazardous odors.
An epoxy floor is extremely durable and can withstand the weight of your vehicle and other heavy items. It also resists abrasion from metal wheeled tool boxes, floor jacks, and dropped tools. If you plan on using your garage for welding or metal fabrication, ask a contractor about adding anti-slip media to the finish coat.
If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you will find it fairly easy to apply an epoxy coating yourself, especially if you use a low-cost product from your local big box store or online bargain retailer. If you do choose to do this yourself, it is important to read and follow all the instructions closely and prepare your floor properly. Choosing to skip any of these steps will result in an unsatisfactory job and costly repairs later on down the road.
Chemical Resistant
Epoxy floor coatings are resistant to motor oil, gas, bleach, acids and other chemicals. They are also very difficult to stain and scratch. These qualities make epoxy flooring ideal for garage floors where messes can occur frequently. They are also a great option for commercial and industrial floors such as those in breweries, electronic production facilities, food plants and agriculture and fertilizer plants.
A high-quality, single-coat epoxy floor system can be purchased in a kit form starting at around $1 per square foot. These systems include an epoxy primer, a high solids base epoxy color coat and color flakes with a high-performance polyurethane clear coat. If you choose a higher-end epoxy floor system, the price will go up significantly. However, you can expect a long life and superior performance for the investment.
One of the best things about an epoxy floor is that it can be installed over your existing concrete floors. While removing and resurfacing the entire garage floor is necessary for other types of flooring installation, this is not the case with epoxy. This can save you a lot of money and time during the installation process.
Another advantage is that an epoxy coating is safe for people to walk on once it has fully cured. This is not the case with paint, which can take up to a week to cure completely and can cause lung irritation in sensitive individuals.
It is important to note that an epoxy coating must be properly prepared prior to installation. This can be done by a professional, but it is possible for DIY homeowners to apply the coating if they have experience with home renovation projects. The preparation can involve surface grinding or acid etching to create the necessary concrete profile and to repair any cracks or damage. A moisture test should also be conducted before beginning the epoxy floor application.
Once the epoxy coating has cured, it can be used as a functional and beautiful flooring solution for your garage or workshop. It is highly durable and easy to clean, while providing a bright appearance. This type of flooring will also increase your property value if you ever decide to sell your home.
Shock Resistant
Unlike tile, mats or concrete, epoxy is very shock resistant and can be used as a floor surface for garages where cars are often dragged across the floor. It is also very strong and can be used as a flooring surface for storing heavy equipment and machinery without worrying about damage to the floor or the items.
It can withstand the weight of vehicles, machinery and tools as well as other household items like cleaning chemicals and paints. This makes it an ideal choice for garages that are used as workshop spaces. Epoxy is also extremely resistant to abrasion so dropped tools, metal wheeled tool boxes and even jack stands will not scratch or damage the coating.
Because of this, it’s very easy to clean an epoxy coated floor and it can be kept looking nice for a long time. It’s not a good idea to install it over a damp garage floor though because the moisture may cause damage to the concrete under the coating. It is best to have an expert mix and install the epoxy for you to avoid this.
In order to apply a proper epoxy floor coating, the concrete must be in good condition with no serious cracks or chips. It should also be free of grease, oil and dirt before the application process begins. A broom, flat-edge shovel and shop vac should be used to remove any loose debris before the etching solution is applied. Depending on the type of epoxy chosen, this step may be done manually or with a shotblaster (similar to a sand blaster).
The final product is tough, durable and attractive and can be customized with colored flakes for aesthetic purposes. It’s also waterproof and protects against mildew, mold, chemicals and stains. The only drawback is that it can become slippery when wet, so an anti-slip media should be added to the final coat if this is a concern.
An alternative to epoxy is polyurea coating, which provides similar benefits but with a few key differences. While both are formulated to resist water and stains, polyurea is more flexible than epoxy and can withstand more extreme temperatures. It can be purchased in a wide range of colors and is less likely to degrade with age, making it a great choice for a garage floor. It is also quicker to apply than epoxy and cures much faster, so it can be installed in a shorter time.
Epoxy Coating Industry 