How To Choose The Right Garage Floor Protection
Why Is Garage Floor Protection Important?
If you use your garage floor as a workshop, you might understand what it’s like to spill oil or gas on your concrete. Or, if you are parking your car in your garage every day, you might hate seeing tire marks on your floor. That’s why garage floor protection is so important.
Without the proper protection and maintenance, your garage floor could be at risk to various things, such as:
- Cracks.
- Tire marks.
- Moisture damage caused by snow, rain, or condensation.
- Stains caused by oil, gas, or chemicals.
- Efflorescence (a white powdery substance formed from deposits of mineral salt).
- Scaling (when your concrete degrades and forms small indentations).
- Spalling (when your concrete surface crumbles or flakes).
How To Choose The Right Garage Floor Protection
Full Polyaspartic System
A polyaspartic system can be an optional topcoat or a full system comprising of multiple layers. This high-performance coating is long-lasting and prevents hard-to-clean stains. Using special equipment, polyaspartic coatings penetrate deeper into the concrete. Compared to other protection options, full polyaspartic systems are the most expensive.
Basic Epoxy Coating
A basic epoxy coating is made from a synthetic polymer that creates a strong, plastic-like layer. Epoxy coatings come in various colors, designs, and textures. Professionally installed epoxy floors are perfect for garages and other spaces where there’s constant foot traffic or accidental spills.
Read more: Epoxy Floors For Your Basement: 7 Benefits & Cost.
Note: Before any industrial coatings are applied to your garage floor, Complete Concrete Coatings will use a diamond grinder to expose the pores in your concrete and remove any existing coatings. This allows the coating to penetrate deeper creating a permanent bond.
Garage Floor Tiles
Instead of coating your garage floor, you can use interlocking rubber or plastic floor tiles. These tiles can help minimize damage from average foot traffic. Also, floor tiles are a cost-effective solution if you’re working on a budget. On the downside, floor tiles won’t protect your concrete from degradation, stains, or moisture.
Garage Floor Coverings
Simple coverings like mats, rugs, and parking pads might help you if you’re looking for something easy. Again, these coverings don’t actually prevent damage to your concrete. They can shift or move under the pressure of your car, and they only add temporary protection.
Roll-on Sealers
Roll-on sealers are the bare minimum protection you can add to your garage floor. Roll-on sealers are inexpensive and relatively easy to apply. They come in acrylic, latex, and urethane types. On the downside, they don’t bond to concrete as well as polyaspartic or epoxy coatings, so they need to be reapplied every two to three years.
Floor Patching
Patching sections of your concrete without addressing your floor’s real needs isn’t very effective. You might be able to seal a couple of cracks and imperfections, but you’re still not protecting your concrete from future damage. Also, keep in mind you might have patch spots all over your garage floor once your done.
Floor Stains
You might find floor stains in your local hardware store. These stains can repel water and hide surface imperfections, but that’s about it. They barely penetrate the concrete, leaving your garage floor susceptible to damage. You might be able to add a sealer topcoat over the floor stain for extra protection, but that still doesn’t provide the same protection as an epoxy or polyaspartic coating.
Floor Paint
Floor paints are simply cosmetic and do nothing to protect your garage floor from damage, spills, or moisture and will wear off due to normal foot and vehicle traffic.
What Do Professionals Recommend?
If you want the best possible garage floor protection that’s durable, stain-resistant, and long-lasting, we recommend a full polyaspartic system. Unlike stains and sealers, which provide minimal protection, and mats and tiles that just cover your concrete, a full polyaspartic system will actually waterproof and protect your garage floor. These systems also come in various colors and designs, allowing you to personalize the look of your coating.
Who Offers Garage Floor Protection Near Me?
If you live in the Greater Salt Lake City area and need the best garage floor protection, you should call Complete Concrete Coatings. We’ve protected over thousands of garage floors, decks, patios, and more since 2005. Call us now and receive your free estimate and in-depth inspection.
