Garage floors are subjected to heavy foot traffic, vehicle movement, and various spills and stains. To protect and enhance the durability and appearance of garage floors, many homeowners and businesses opt for garage floor coatings. These coatings not only provide a protective layer but also offer aesthetic appeal.
In our guide below we will explore the different types of garage floor coatings available, highlighting their characteristics, benefits, and suitable applications.
Polyurethane
Commercial garages tend to opt for polyurea garage floor coating because it is very resistant to chemicals. Polyurethane coatings are also UV resistant and they have enhanced flexibility.
Because the coating is more flexible the floor becomes more resistant to abrasion. This elasticity means that the coating is great in many types of environments including low freezing temperatures. It is not recommended for areas with high levels of humidity.
When there is too much moisture in the air it will cause bubbles on the surface. The bubbles can lead to blemishes that can’t be fixed.
Another bonus of polyurethane is how quickly they cure. You can start using your garage the next day instead of waiting a week or so for the application to cure.
Polyaspartic
This is a type of polyurethane coating that can cure in just a few hours. Polyaspartic coatings are durable, UV stable, and resistant to chemicals. This is a perfect choice for time-sensitive projects that need a really quick turnaround time.
If your garage has heavy traffic, polyaspartic coatings are resistant to impacts and abrasions. As an added bonus this coating can be applied to concrete, wood, metal, and more. This means that you can apply it to not only your garage floor if you choose.
You can also use polyaspartic coating over epoxy or other garage floor coatings if you want to enhance the coating underneath.
For garages that commonly have oil spills, automotive fluids on the ground, or household chemicals, polyaspartic coating is very resistant.
Epoxy
This is one of the most popular garage floor coating options. It is durable and will last you for years to come. Once the coating is applied, it will give your garage floor a glossy and smooth finish.
There are different colors you can choose from and you can also choose unique patterns to match your style and taste. Epoxy is resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and stains, so they are perfect for garages that have high traffic.
Keep in mind that you have to wait at least seven days for the epoxy to cure before you can start using the area.
Acrylic
Opting for this floor coating means that you won’t have a floor coating as durable as polyurethane or epoxy. This means that you will need to re-coat the floor often or buff it out to help keep it in tip-top shape.
The upfront investment is less expensive, but the maintenance costs are higher than other coatings. If your garage has minimal foot traffic, or less chemical spills, acrylic coating is a perfect choice. There are specific formulations you can mix with acrylic coatings to give you certain performance characteristics.
For example, you can mix it to be more water-resistant, higher UV protection, or slip resistant.
Sealer
There are concrete sealers that penetrate the concrete surface to help create a barrier against chemicals, moisture, and stains. You can opt for a clear stain or one with a slight tint that will help preserve the natural look of the concrete.
Sealers can be used with other coatings if you want to enhance the longevity, or you can use them on their own.
You can opt to choose a latex or acrylic sealer. Keep in mind that this option is vulnerable to chemicals, so you will have to reapply it every few years. This sealer option will stick best to a concrete floor than a urethane sealer.
Another sealer option is urethane which is less likely to yellow in the sunlight. This can be used over a concrete stain or over epoxy.
Floor Paint
If you are more interested in sprucing up the garage floor then floor paint is the way to go. You can apply floor paint yourself after you take the time to prep the surface.
If there are cracks in the floor you will have to fill the cracks first. In the event that there are stains you will need to use a heavy-duty degreaser to help you get rid of the stains. Floor paint is a more cosmetic upgrade that gives you a short-term solution.
You will need to touch up or reapply paint when the paint starts chipping.
There is also the option to paint the floor with epoxy paint which will protect it from oil stains. The paint acts like a shield against grease stains and it makes it easier to clean the floor. It is best to paint the floor during crisp and dry temperatures.
Concrete Resurfacer
This is a combination of sand, cement, polymer, and a few additional additives. A brush, squeegee, or trowel are commonly used to apply concrete resurfacers. You can choose to enhance the color with a decorative pigment if you want or keep the natural cement gray color the product comes with.
Keep in mind that a concrete resurfacer is a more cosmetic fix for your garage floor because it is a pretty thin application in comparison to epoxy or polyaspartic coatings. This is a better option for garage floors that have light and superficial damage such as pitting and minor cracks.
If you have deeper and wider cracks then you will need more extensive repairs before you apply a resurfacer over the larger floor problems.
Patching
With this option you are simply repairing areas in your garage floor that are damaged. You can do this with concrete patching compound, crack fillers, or water stop cement. A bonus it that it will prevent the damage from getting worse.
This option is only good if you don’t have the time or money to take care of your entire garage floor.
Tiles or Mats
Although this is not technically a coating for your garage floor it is a great way to protect your floor as soon as you install either or. You can opt for rubber tiles or rigid snap-together tiles that are stiffer plastic. Rigid tiles can handle heavier loads than rubber tiles.
Also, rigid tiles expand and contract less than flexible tiles even during extreme conditions. A bonus is that there are plenty of styles and colors available to choose from. Installing tiles is super easy because you just have to line up the tiles, step on them, and click them together.
There are also flexible plastic tiles you can opt for that you simply cut with a utility knife and then press or tap the edges together with a wallpaper roller or a rubber mallet. A bonus is that they are more slip resistant than mats. Flexible tiles are also more resistant to liquid seepage through the seams and are a lot more comfortable when you walk on them.
The tiles are subject to stains, but you can easily change a tile as needed. It is important to leave some room for expansion along the walls because the tiles can contract and expand in extreme temperature changes or if they are exposed to direct sunlight.
You can also opt for a rollout mat. This is a thick mat that comes in plenty of sizes, colors, and patterns. Depending on how large your garage is you can use one mat or several mats to cover the entire garage.
Installing mats is a breeze because all you have to do is unroll the flooring and butt the edges against the walls. Mats are pretty durable but hot tires and chemicals can permanently stain them. Also, this flooring option is susceptible to being cut or easily gouged by motorcycle kickstands or gravel.
Mats can become slippery during icy and snowy weather. Make sure to not tape the floor at the edges because they can easily move during temperature fluctuations.
Tiles and mats are one of the most versatile flooring solutions.
Feeling Like a Garage Floor Coatings Pro?
Now that you learned about the most common garage floor coatings, you can make an informed decision on the best garage floor protection for your garage needs. Think about the traffic the garage will see, the environmental conditions, and how durable you need the coating to be.
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