If you’re looking for a floor coating that is both durable and attractive, consider epoxy. This flooring solution creates an impressive shield that covers and protects concrete floors.
Epoxy is resistant to most types of impacts. It can withstand hot slag from welding or heavy items dropped onto the floor. More by clicking here.
It’s Durable
When applied correctly, epoxy floor coatings can be as thick as 1 mm. This thickness is much higher than the typical garage floor paint, which averages 0.4 mm in thickness. This helps the epoxy hold up well to traffic, machinery, and other heavy items that are typically dropped on the concrete.
Additionally, epoxy floors are stain and chemical-resistant. This means that oil, brake fluid, anti-freeze, and other caustic car chemicals can be easily wiped up without damaging the epoxy.
If you are interested in a high-quality epoxy flooring solution, it’s best to hire a professional contractor to apply the product for you. The floor will need to be thoroughly cleaned and any cracks or holes filled in before the epoxy can be applied. Then, the surface will need to be prepped through grinding and acid etching, which creates the correct profile for a quality bond. Finally, the decorative color flakes are broadcast into the base coat and then a clear topcoat (also known as the wear coat) is applied to lock them in and create the glossy finish that epoxy floors are famous for.
It’s Easy to Clean
One of the biggest reasons people choose to do a DIY epoxy garage floor coating is that it’s easy to clean. While many epoxies are not recommended for the average homeowner to apply because they require significant prep work and specific application techniques, there are some products like ArmorClad that can be installed by a homeowner with basic DIY skills.
To keep your garage floor epoxy clean and shiny, avoid cleaners with citrus, acidic, or vinegar solutions. These chemicals will degloss your floor coating and dull its shine over time. If you need to scrub a particularly stubborn spot, try using a lactic acid-based cleanser such as CLR and rinse immediately with cold water.
Tire marks are a common problem on garage floors, but they can be easily cleaned by using a concrete degreaser such as Simple Green. Just make sure you use a soft scrub pad and don’t rub too hard to prevent deglossing.
It’s Stain Resistant
Unlike concrete stains which wither away leaving your garage floor prone to mold and mildew, an epoxy treatment actually seals the surface. It also resists spills much easier than paint.
You can find a single-coat, low-budget epoxy paint for your garage floor in kits for about $1 per square foot. However, these products are not very durable and can be subject to UV damage without an aliphatic urethane top coat.
A professional application of a full-color flake, high-solids base epoxy with optional acrylic paint chips costs about $4 per square foot. This includes a full prep, clean up, and proper curing of the product. The clear epoxy top coat (also known as the wear coat) locks in any color flakes, provides the best durability and creates the glossy, polished look that an epoxy floor is known for. This typically takes a few days between prep, application, and proper drying. This is why it’s so important to hire a pro team for the job.
It’s Decorative
A well-applied coating can make your garage floor look like it was professionally designed. This makes the space more aesthetically pleasing to those who spend time in it and can add value to your home if you ever decide to sell. There are plenty of color options for the floor, too, and some even include decorative chips that give it an added visual appeal.
Epoxy flooring isn’t just paint, it’s an actual thermosetting resin that dries and cures into a strong and durable surface. Properly applied, the coating can last indefinitely, but it should be re-applied periodically to mitigate wear and tear.
This is an affordable option that doesn’t require any primer or mixing. However, it’s important to note that the brand recommends extensive prep work, including cleaning and degreasing, grinding, repairing cracks, and etching the concrete. It also takes three days for the coating to be driven on, which can be a problem with cheap epoxy products as hot tires pick up the surface and cause it to delaminate. Next blog post.