If you’re thinking about having your garage floor coated, you may be wondering if epoxy or polyaspartic will provide the best results. Both options are durable and attractive, but they have different applications.
A quality epoxy coating will improve the look and chemical- and stain-resistance of concrete floors. It’s also easier to clean than bare concrete. Read this first!
Durability
Whether you’re repairing cars or just want to keep your garage clean, a durable floor coating is key. It should resist impact damage, chemical spills, surface abrasion, and more. A top choice is epoxy. This hard and thick product has excellent durability and is resistant to most automotive chemicals and even hot tires.
It is a two-part system that requires you to mix together a hardener and catalyst. However, it’s a lot easier to apply than concrete paint or stain and can be done by a homeowner with the right tools. It also cures quickly so you can drive your car on it within 24 hours.
Polyurea is a great option for DIYers because it comes in a kit that includes the main epoxy solution, an etching product, and rollers and brushes. It can be applied to most floors and is incredibly resilient. It’s also UV, moisture, and scratch-resistant. It’s also easy to clean and can be used on floors with existing coatings.
Easy to Clean
A high-quality floor coating is much easier to clean than concrete and can make the maintenance process a breeze. Oil, brake fluid, anti-freeze, gasoline, and other caustic automotive chemicals are easy to wipe up from a coated surface. Marks from tire tires are also far less pronounced than with traditional concrete paint, and they can even be removed by using a rust inhibitor (like CLR) or a kitchen scrubbing sponge or soft deck brush if necessary.
Just remember to avoid vinegar and citrus cleaners, which contain acidic ingredients that can degloss epoxy and other floor coatings over time. Also, be sure to rinse with cold water rather than hot, as hot water may leave a soapy film on the floor that can dull and damage the shine of your garage floor coating over time.
Easy to Maintain
Floor coatings are typically easier to maintain than a bare concrete floor. It is easy to sweep up dust and debris and the coating protects against any stains from oils, chemicals, or grease. Chemical-resistant epoxy coatings can be easily wiped down to remove oil, anti-freeze, gasoline, and other caustic auto fluids.
Floor epoxy is a popular garage flooring option. It is available in a variety of colors and can be accented with decorative color flakes and a high-performance clear coat. Commercial quality epoxy systems can last ten to twenty years on a garage floor.
DIY epoxy kits are available in home improvement centers, but these products often require extensive floor preparation and may not adhere to the concrete as well. If the product is not properly applied, it can peel away from the concrete leaving the floor unprotected and vulnerable to hot tire damage. Some paints also build up and can cause your floor to become slippery.
Safety
While epoxy coatings are tough, they do not resist everything. Welding can be especially hard on floor coatings as it often creates burn marks and hot slag will stick to the surface. Epoxy surfaces also tend to be slippery and are not a good option for wet garage floors. Some textured coatings are available to address this issue and even more texture can be added with color chips to improve slip resistance.
Polyurea and polyaspartic coatings have a better grip on wet floor conditions than epoxy does. This means that they are safer to walk on when wet and will not trap ice, salt, chemicals, or other materials as easily. These coatings also offer a more extensive style range than the other two options and can be a great way to brighten up a dull concrete floor. These protective styles come in a wide variety of colors and can be customized with colored chips to give the floor a textured look. Discover more interesting articles.
