Are you looking to spruce up your garage? Floor coatings come in a limited variety of colors and textures. The trick to picking the right one is to determine your budget and predict the likely wear-and-tear.
Lastly, you need to know which products are available. When you’re ready to learn which garage floor coating is right for you, read on.
Floor Coatings Vs. Floor Coverings
Floor coatings are finishes that professionals apply with a brush or roller directly to a concrete floor. Traditionally, they come in only two options: paint and epoxy. Though, now, there’s a new kid on the block named durable polyurea.
Floor coverings, on the other hand, sit on top of the garage floor. They’re easily removed, requiring no special tools. In this family sit your basic floor tiles and floor mats.
Floor Paints
These are either oil- or latex-based products designed especially for concrete floors. They have a satin, non-slip finish. They’re also specially formulated and remain durable under the effects of the following conditions:
- Hard traffic
- Salts
- Solvents
- Other caustic solutions
They are not the same as house paints. Some may also include small amounts of epoxy resin. They’re also less expensive than epoxy paints, though less durable.
Floor Epoxies
The epoxy floor coating looks much the same as oil- or latex-based floor paints. Professionals even apply them the same, using paintbrushes and rollers. But that’s where the similarities end.
First, epoxies take a few days to completely dry. Paints take less than 24 hours. Epoxies are also more durable than paints and can take more wear-and-tear.
Epoxy coatings harden as a side effect of a chemical reaction between a resin and a catalyst called the “hardener.” The finished product stands up better to both friction and direct impacts.
Floor Polyurea
The newest edition in the garage floor coating class is Polyurea. It goes on like epoxy, though it has a few unique traits:
- It dries in under 24 hours
- It stands up to more stress
- It lasts longer
Though the polyurea vs epoxy debate is still raging, most experts agree that it’s worth the additional cost. Most consumers choose some type of floor coating, and polyurea the best garage floor coating on the market today.
Floor Mats
Mats are the first in the “floor covering” category. They’re also arguably the easiest to install. You just roll out the rubber or polyvinyl plastic mats and cut them to size.
If you make mistakes, they’re easy to fix. But you must take precautions to keep mold out of concrete before you lay your mats. That’s the only prep work you need to accomplish before you begin.
You can pick some mats up for the same price as floor paint while fancier versions may cost as much as polyurea.
Floor Tiles
Tiles are similar to mats, though they come in small individual tiles no wider than 18 inches. Professionals install the tiles side-by-side. Usually, they include interlocking grooves to ensure they don’t move easily.
They’re typically made from 3 types of materials: plastic, rubber, or wood composite. The rubber style is the most resistant to direct stress, though they wear out the fastest.
What’s Next?
Now you have all the information you need to determine which floor coatings are right for you. If you know you’re hard on your garage floors, pick an epoxy or polyurea option. Otherwise, choose the best paint, mat, or tile that matches your style and budget.
Have you made your decision? Great, then contact your local garage flooring expert today. So long and good luck!