Professionally coated flooring systems are a great way to keep your home in tip-top shape. Coating systems in a garage can turn a relatively unused area into another room in your house.
Even though the area is not used as frequently, garage floors tend to get the most benefit from a coating system. Garage floors usually develop cracks and pitting after a few years due to settling and weather. The porous nature of concrete harbors dirt, bacteria and encourages enduring stains from fluids and car debris.
These stains make the floor appear dingy and can be very difficult to clean. A floor coating system protects the floors and makes them easy to clean. Floor coating systems are also low maintenance and require little upkeep.
There are many do-it-yourself products that claim to make the process as easy, durable and high-quality as having it done professionally. We have tested and disproved many floor coating myths. Here are a few examples:
MYTH #1 – Floor Coating Systems are just “fancy” paint.
Generally speaking, epoxy is paint. In fact, the definition of paint is “a colored substance that is spread over a surface and dries to leave a thin decorative or protective coating.” The difference is that while epoxy may be classified as paint, not all paint is epoxy..
Epoxy is defined as “very tough, very adhesive, and resistant to chemicals….used to make protective coatings and glues.”
The level of protection this coating provides far exceeds the paint purchased at a hardware store.
MYTH #2 – All garage floor coatings are the same.
All coating materials are not created equally. Jim Melchert, founder of Garage-Store.com, explains, “epoxy, polyurea and polyaspartic are various coating systems that use various polymer resins and curing agents that are all packaged separately, but then are mixed, just prior to use. However, when mixed and cured, the coating system becomes a solid polymer system that offers characteristics such as superior adhesion, hardness, UV stability and chemical resistance. These characteristics are dependent on the type of resins, curing agents, solvents and fillers used. The quality, cost, and durability of the coating system is related to the purpose. Be sure to consult a certified installer and review product specifications to ensure the correct product is used for your purpose.”
MYTH #3 – A quick sweep and clean of the floor and it’s ready to be coated.
If you want your flooring to bond and make sure it seals and coats properly just a quick clean is not enough. If the floor is not prepped correctly, it will not result in a beautifully coated floor.
The concrete must be resurfaced with a diamond grinder or short blaster to remove imperfections in the surface as well as debris. The cracks/pits are then repaired. After the prep work is done the coating can be completed.
As you can see, a applying a coating system is so much more than just painting on some epoxy and calling it a day. Services provided by a professional usually go beyond what the typical DIY kit can provide. So, if you want it done right and you want a beautiful garage floor call a professional. Check out our Flooring Page to see how quickly and conveniently we can transform any floor – inside or out.