An Overview of Garage Floor Coatings

Which would be the most neglected part of the house? Without doubt, anyone would say it is the garage. The garage often gets smelly and dirty and requires constant repairs. The floors of the garage would be subjected to wear and tear and needs to be constantly maintained by touching up with paint since it is utilize the maximum. For getting a whole new dimension to the garage floor, it is best to apply a good garage floor coating. The process is not as simple as it sounds and it would be better to leave it in the hands of a professional.

There are different types of floor coatings and paintings available in the market. Before selecting the floor coatings, you must have a clear understanding of the outcome that you expect depending upon the space. The common garage floor coatings that are available in the market are epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic sealer/stainer and latex. The epoxy coating is the most widely used one as it forms a hard durable surface and a strong bond on the concrete. This coating has a tendency to change the color and turn yellow losing its gloss if it is exposed to sunlight for prolonged period of time. The area where epoxy is applied should be completely free of dirt and dust before application. Once the area is prepared, wait for the right temperature and apply the coating. Even though epoxy dries to a touch in a few minutes it would be better to wait for many before driving your car over it.

Next comes the most popular and reliable garage floor coatings which are available in the market. The polyurethane resists chemical spills in a much better way than the epoxy. The coating doesn't even fade easily and dries to a high gloss. Moreover it is really durable compared to other types. The polyurethane cannot be used directly on the floor. Before applying polyurethane, you need to polish the surface using epoxy and then use it. If you want to go for cheap coatings, then pick latex paints. They are antique looking coatings which gives a unique and warm finish. However, the latex paints are prone to fade in exposure to the sun, so it is advisable to apply a protective coating over it.

If you are planning to do the garage coating by yourself, it would be better to take some precautions. Before you begin painting, make sure that the garage is properly ventilated. For protecting your hands and eyes against chemicals, wear eye protection and protective gloves.