If you're like many people, you've got a garage. That garage, if you're like most people, has an ugly, stained concrete floor. There's no shame in this, of course (you're just like most people). However, many are starting to question whether having a rough, ugly concrete garage floor is the way to go. Many are asking themselves if there is a better way.
As it turns out, there is. There are many types of garage floor coverings available, but I'd like to focus on the coating options in this article. While installing some tile or a mat might be the way to go for many, sometimes its easier just to paint on a durable garage floor coating and be done with it.
So, what kind of coating should you buy? It might seem tempting to buy some tough exterior paint, clean up the floor, and paint it on, but there is a better way. Epoxy based floor coatings will prove much more durable and robust in the long run than other types of paints.
Epoxy, as many of you might be familiar with, is a resinous chemical that cures hard when combined with another chemical. This provides a thick, sturdy, moisture resistant coating for your garage floor. No longer will spills and leaks seep into your concrete floor. Instead, they will pool up on top of the epoxy coating, making it easy to clean up.
It's worth noting that you can get this epoxy in many different colors. You can get many differen shades and tints, making your epoxy garage floor uniquely yours. It's not exactly something Martha Stewart would get excited about, but it's still nice to have options.
Installing an epoxy floor yourself is quite easy. Simply buy a kit, clean up your existing floor (this is most often the hardest step), mix up the epoxy, and begin to apply it to your floor. Typically, you will only need one coat, as the paint is really very think. After the painting, you'll need to wait about 24 hours before you can use your garage again.
Once the epoxy is cured, you'll have a garage floor that is both better looking and more durable than the original concrete. Of course, epoxy isn't full proof. Some brands of epoxy will be susceptible to damage from the heat of hot tires, while other may have same bad reactions with certain chemicals. On the whole, though, epoxy flooring is a great option for sprucing up your old garage floor. i
Epoxy floor coatings are poured on surface coverings that should be installed by a professional. The concrete surface needs to be prepared very carefully and the epoxy poured properly, or they can fail to stick. (Even with good preparation, though, epoxy coatings can fail to stick.)
When epoxy fails to stick to concrete floors, water and humidity are the biggest culprits. Concrete has a way of retaining water for a long time compared to other surfaces, so you need to wait long enough for the concrete to dry after you clean it.
Humidity creates the same problem. You should be able to read the product's directions to see what humidity level it will tolerate before you use it.
Just as water can keep epoxy from sticking to the concrete garage floor, so can anything else that's in the way. Dirt, dust, grime, and oil will also keep epoxy garage floor coatings from staying put.
You should know that when fresh concrete cures, salts and minerals rise up to the surface. That's why you should scrub and clean the concrete thoroughly before you apply the epoxy-- AFTER the concrete is thoroughly dry!
When a professional comes to install your epoxy floor coating, he will follow several steps, and it will be a multi-day process. The first day should be devoted to cleaning the existing floor, and making sure that all dirt, oil, dust, grease, etc. is completely gone.
First he'll probably use pressure washing and/or chemicals to achieve this end. The floor will have to be left alone to dry for a while.
Priming the floor with a specific floor primer is the next step. After it dries out in a day or so, the installer pours the epoxy finish over it.
The thickness varies depending on the product, and it may be applied in one or two coats. The sealer comes last.
Epoxy is not the easiest or cheapest solution when it comes to garage floor coatings, but once the hassle is over with, you'll love the clean, slick surface.
Both David Wilson & Harmony Teal are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
David Wilson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Camping, Team Building and Bad Credit Loans. David Wilson is the man behind a site devoted to helping you pick the right flooring option for your garage. Visit to learn about the diffe. David Wilson's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.
Harmony Teal has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Gardening. Before you design your garage, make sure to visit for advice and tips on everything from. Harmony Teal's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.