The Benefits of Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings

Flooring solutions in a home are often one of the first places to show wear and tear. When it comes to durability, get all the benefits of epoxy floor coatings as it is one of the best options you can choose. Especially for your home’s garage as they see the most traffic and can even be prone to oil stains or tire marks.

Vehicles are driven in and out daily, children riding their bicycles and scooters around in circles, or you pull out to find a dark stain (what liquid is this now?!?) on the ground where something leaked. The thought of having a different option besides concrete for your garage floor may have never crossed your mind. But you do have options, particularly epoxy garage floor coatings.

There are many benefits of epoxy garage floor coatings, some you may already know and a few maybe you didn’t.

Let’s read on…

What is Epoxy Floor Coating?

Epoxy coating on a garage floor should not be compared with a regular coat of floor paint. Resinous flooring is a layered epoxy system, consisting of polymer resins and hardeners (sometimes a decorative or protective coat is installed as well). The combination of these materials produces a chemical reaction that results in a chemical bond between the resin, the hardener, and the floor. Resulting in a durable finish that can last for years to come, even in tough areas like car shops or industrial buildings with fork lifts.

 

 

Benefits of Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings

Knowing the advantages of epoxy floor coatings for your garage can help determine if it is the right choice for your home.

Durable and Lasting Finishing

Epoxy floor coating not only provides durable protection but is also stain and chemical resistant. Garage floor epoxy can endure heavy traffic and daily abuse from cars or heavy trucks. As one of the strongest flooring finishes available, your garage floor will have a lifespan of years and still look great.

Due to its chemical resistance, liquids such as motor oil or brake fluid can sit on the floor for a longer period of time and not leave a permanent stain. Because of its hardness and thickness, epoxy is abrasion resistant against commonly used garage items such as toolboxes with metal wheels and floor jacks.

Easy Maintenance

Since garage floor epoxy coating seals the underneath concrete, they are extremely easy to clean. When the floor is dry, dust and debris can be easily collected with a broom or dust mop. When you want to provide a deeper cleaning, warm water combined with a mild cleaning solution is all that is required to clean your floor. If adjoining walls and trim will not be damaged by water, the simplest solution is to use a hose and spray the flooring with water.

Attractive Appearance

A boring garage can be transformed completely by giving the entire floor a makeover of epoxy coating. The coatings are manufactured in a variety of solid colours, or you can add decorative flakes to provide texture and a more sophisticated appearance. The decorative colour chips or flakes can be mixed and matched to provide beautiful colour combinations. The chips also add an attractive surface pattern to your floor.

 

 

Granted, those decorative flakes provide beauty, but they give the floor surface texture increasing slip resistance. The level of resistance you would like will determine the size of decorative colour chips used. A medium flake will give the most protection against falls and slips. In addition we can also add any Custom Business Logos, or Sport Team Emblems to the garage floor design as well.

 

 

Concrete Sealer

The epoxy coating acts as a sealant against moisture. This is especially useful in colder climates that tend to have more snow which could cause moisture issues as well as substances like salt or other harsh chemicals that are damaging to concrete.

Recommended Choice

Epoxy floor coating is a common choice with amazing reviews from home mechanics and homeowners in general. The 2-part epoxy floor coating gives a homeowner a garage with an appearance of a showroom floor.

Fast Installation

Depending on the section size that is being completed, installation can be done in a relatively short amount of time. Typically, you need to allow 2 days for installation and then an additional 24-48 hours to fully cure. The drying time of your floor will depend on the temperature also. If the air temperature is warmer, the drying time will be significantly reduced.

It is also important to limit foot traffic to only being light for the first day and then heavier traffic after 48 hours.

What is the Epoxy Garage Installation Process?

The first thing that will be done is to prepare the concrete surface. If you want an unblemished finish, then concrete cracks or other damage should be prepared beforehand. Beginning with a well-prepared concrete floor surface will aid in the finished look and longevity of the coating.

The prepared garage floor surface then has an epoxy primer applied that penetrates and binds to the concrete forming a firm adhesion. These primers also can provide a moisture vapour barrier where needed. Primers are not always required.

The epoxy colour base coat is the next application. This is also known as the build coat. This is the point when coloured acrylic paint chips can be added while the colour coat is still wet. Custom blends can be done with decorative chips to provide a specific look.

The final step is the application of the clear topcoat, also known as the wear coat. The topcoat locks in the colour flakes and gives the floor a glossy finish.

Final Thoughts

Equipping yourself with the right knowledge is best when investing in any type of home improvement. This allows you to understand the benefits of epoxy garage floor coatings and make the best choice for your home.

Choosing a trusted expert is also valuable when making your decision. Canadian Concrete Solutions can provide you with expert guidance as well as peace of mind that the job will be done correctly. With over 25 years of experience, they will go above and beyond to provide you with the PERFECT FLOOR. Your biggest worry will be choosing your design and colour, leave the rest to Canadian Concrete Solutions.