Take a look at the garage floor. How does it look? Is it something to be proud of, or are there stains and greasy spots. Is it a part of your home that was forgotten about while you worked on beautifying the rest of your home, simply because it was “out there?” For a relatively low cost, you can give your garage floor the look of a sparkling showroom, sealed from the elements. You would be surprised at how much of a “wow factor” a good looking garage floor will give your home.
This is a job that you should not attempt yourself unless you are comfortable with the process. I am not trying to scare you away from this project, but this is one job where a non-professional look will ruin your attempt to improve the floor’s look. You would almost be better off not doing anything than to finish a floor with bubbles, runs, and spots where it doesn’t stick to the concrete.
In today’s market, there are two competing products in the garage floor coating market: the traditional applied epoxy/polyurethane coatings, and the newer polyurea coatings. Both types of coating are chemically similar on a basic level. Both types of coatings are highly adhesive, and they are very durable, especially when compared to a standard concrete paint product. Keep in mind that “polyureas” are not pure polyurea, but rather, they are a hybrid blend. A pure polyurea will cure in roughly 15 seconds, which cannot be applied unless it is sprayed. Pure polyureas are sprayed when applied, and are only used in industrial applications.
It is very important to get good adhesion for the floor coating because garage floors will take a beating, from dropped tools to heavy vehicles driving across the surface. If one area of the flooring loses its adhesion, the floor project will be a failure, because once one area of concrete is exposed, the problem will migrate across the rest of the floor until there are “holes” in the finish all over the floor. At this point, your only option is to start over on the project. Both polyureas and epoxies will tenaciously adhere to the underlying concrete floor, but only when time is taken to properly prepare the concrete surface first.
The main problem with using polyureas is that the faster drying time may not “wet” the concrete surface sufficiently. This refers to absorption of the material, which increases adhesion properties.
When properly applied, both polyurea hybrids and epoxy coatings will both adhere properly and will protect your garage floor for a decade or more.
A.C. T. Services would be honored to have the opportunity to show you the best choices for protecting and beautifying your garage floor in order to make your garage the envy of your friends. We can put our 31 years of experience to work in making your garage into the showroom that you have always wanted. We will make the garage match your personality, as well as your personal tastes. Most of all, you are the most important member of our remodeling team.
