If you’re a homeowner, you have an important decision to make about your garage floor: do you want to coat it?
A concrete garage floor is a practical and durable flooring surface, but it’s not very attractive. The smooth surface of a concrete garage floor can become stained and pitted over time, and oil or antifreeze spills can leave unsightly stains on the surface.
Is it a good idea to seal your garage floor?
Sealing your garage floor is a good idea for many reasons, including:
- Aesthetics. Sealing turns your concrete slab into a beautiful, shining showpiece.
- Ease of cleaning. Sealed floors are much easier to clean than unsealed concrete floors.
- Safety. Your feet will thank you; sealed concrete is non-slip and easy on the feet, even when wet or oily.
- Protection against stains and damage. You won’t have to worry about staining or damaging the floor with motor oil, road salt, transmission fluid (your car’s wet dream), or battery acid (your car’s nightmare).
- Preservation of the flooring material itself. The sealant protects your floor from scrapes and other abrasive damage while preventing water penetration that promotes spalling, cracks, and pitting that lead to structural weakness over time.
Table of Contents
- Is it a good idea to seal your garage floor?
- What are benefits of coating garage floor?
- Is it worth putting epoxy on garage floor?
- Should I put a clear coat on a garage floor?
- How often should you seal your garage floor?
- When Should I seal my concrete garage floor?
- What are the disadvantages of epoxy?
- How long does epoxy floor last?
What are benefits of coating garage floor?
Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect from coating your garage floor:
- A better appearance. Your garage floor will look its best with a fresh coat of paint or epoxy.
- Protection from damage. Coatings protect against the wear and tear that comes with storing vehicles, tools, equipment, and other materials in your garage. This is especially important if you have a vehicle lift installed, as it puts extra pressure on the flooring material underneath by increasing the load on one point by thousands of pounds.
- Long-lasting durability. Most coatings last for decades when properly applied, so you don’t have to worry about applying a new layer every few years.
- Non-slip surface. Slipping and falling can cause serious injury at any age; adding a non-slip surface reduces this risk significantly for those walking around any section of your garage on foot or driving through it in their car or motorcycle, for instance.
Is it worth putting epoxy on garage floor?
So, why should you consider an epoxy coating for your garage floor? Here are the top five reasons:
- It’s affordable.
- It’s durable. Coated floors will last for decades, even in the high-traffic areas of a busy garage. We’re talking about years of use without chipping or peeling—even if you drop heavy tools on it! If you take care of the surface, there’s no reason it shouldn’t last as long as your house does. (Although we do recommend resealing every 3-5 years.)
- It looks good. This isn’t just limited to its durability and longevity, either: epoxy on a garage floor can be mixed with pigments that allow you to make your floor look like it’s made out of granite or marble—if that’s what suits your fancy! Especially if you have a showroom floor to display cars and other items in your garage, an epoxy coating is perfect for giving your space that extra polished look.
- It protects what’s underneath. Epoxy is actually slightly thicker than paint, so when it dries, it creates a protective layer over the concrete below. This shield prevents damage caused by things like salt and oil spills from ruining the underlying concrete structure…and adding to those ever-growing expenses! Plus, since epoxy doesn’t absorb stains or dirt very easily, cleaning up those pesky driveway mishaps is much easier than normal.
- It makes cleaning easier overall! Because we mentioned how easy it is to clean up oil and other spills earlier…spills don’t happen often enough where they could really be called “easier” under any circumstance; but once again due to its non-porous nature and slick finish, epoxy coatings also make sweeping up regularly dirt and debris quick and painless!
Should I put a clear coat on a garage floor?
If you want to make your garage floor look better, sealers are an inexpensive solution. Although they don’t actually change the color of your concrete, they do protect it from things like automotive fluids and give it a glossy sheen.
One of the best things about using a sealer is that you can clean up spills more easily. Because garage floors typically have grease, oil, and other substances on them, there isn’t much point in putting down carpet or tile. One downside of having a concrete floor is that any spill becomes hard to clean up.
With a sealing product though, you will be able to wipe away stains more quickly and with less hassle than if you didn’t have one at all. This makes for easier maintenance since you don’t have to worry about staining the surface over time as often!
How often should you seal your garage floor?
Sealing your garage floor makes it much easier to keep clean. This can be extremely helpful if you have kids, as many people use their garages for play areas and storage.
You should schedule a time to reseal the garage floors at least once per year. If you are able to do so more often, that’s ideal. It’s important not to leave the garage floors unsealed for too long, as this can cause them to become damaged and stained. The great thing about sealing your garage floor is that it doesn’t require any special skills or tools; anyone can do it!
When Should I seal my concrete garage floor?
- Consider the weather. Sealing a concrete garage floor can be done in any weather, but it is recommended to do so when temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make sure you have a clean and dry surface. You should use a moisture meter to check for moisture in the slab before applying the sealant, as well as inspect it for cracks or defects. Next, make sure it’s clean of any oil, paint, or wax by using a degreaser and following up with a neutralizer after cleaning is complete.
- Prepare the surface correctly: Once everything is cleaned and dried, sweep out all debris from cracks and joints with a stiff brush or broom before mixing your water-based solvents. When mixing your water-based solvents, avoid over stirring—this could affect the pH levels of your sealant negatively if too much air bubbles into it as you mix—and ensure that there are no lumps in the mixture before you begin applying it to the floor.
What are the disadvantages of epoxy?
Epoxy floor coating can be expensive.
Epoxy floor coating is not slip-resistant.
Epoxy floor coating is not a good choice for a garage floor that is damp, oily, or subject to other chemicals.
It can be difficult to maintain epoxy flooring if it has been scratched or gouged.
It can be difficult to clean epoxy floors because the surface tends to attract dirt and dust.
How long does epoxy floor last?
Epoxy floors can last a long time if they are installed properly. In addition, the amount of traffic and use it gets will also impact how long it lasts. Most epoxy floors should last 10-15 years with proper care and maintenance, but some have lasted as long as 20 years!
There are a few factors that affect the life of your epoxy floor coating:
- The thickness of the coating
- Quality of the materials used
- Preparation of the substrate (garage floor) prior to application
- Proper installation
Conclusion
To summarize, garage floor coating can protect your concrete floor from damage, make it easier to clean, and increase the value of your home.