Benefits of Coating a Garage Floor

Honestly, has your garage floor seen better days? You’re not alone. It’s no secret that garage floors take a beating: from car tires, to tools, to chemical spills, to other objects falling… Your garage floor gets scratched, chipped, dinged, and stained. Coating it will keep it looking nice and also protect it durably.

The 5 Main Benefits of Coating a Garage Floor

MotorCity has performed hundreds of floor coating applications in the Detroit Metro area. We have specialized in several types of concrete floor coatings, including epoxies, polyurea and polyaspartic. We also do concrete refinishing and polishing, especially in industrial applications. Over the years, we have improved the installation process, both at the preparation stage and at the coating installation phase.

With experience, we came to the conclusion that although epoxies were a great material with many excellent proprieties, chemical science has evolved and gave us two new materials that perform significantly better than epoxies: polyurea and polyaspertic polymers. We have developed a unique combination of the two materials which draws from their respective strengths to create floor coatings of excellent quality.

Here are the 5 main benefits of coating your garage floor with this polyurea/polyaspartic combination:

1. Enhanced Durability

A garage floor coating must be highly resilient and resistant to wear-and-tear due to the pressure that the weight of the car exerts on the contact points with the concrete, and also due to the temperature of your tires when you just drive in. Epoxy does not do well with warm car tires, whereas polyurea and polyaspartic materials are not affected. Moving heavy items will also create cracks in epoxy, whereas polyurea are more flexible and stretch better under pressure. Scratches, dents, and other such damage won’t be as visible on a polyurea/polyaspartic combination coating, due to the appearance of the material and its physical properties.

2. Improved Appearance

A good floor coating gives your garage a fresh, modern look. Polyurea coating is available in a variety of colors and finishes, so you can choose whatever complements the style of your home. The preparation process is of extreme importance: the concrete needs to be ground and leveled, and all chips and cracks have to be repaired and filled. This is a mandatory condition for the floor coating to look pristine, even if the polyurea and polyaspartic material hide a few imperfections. The colors themselves will also help with hiding stains.

3. Easy Maintenance

Once the polyurea/polyaspartic floor coating is applied, it will be much easier to keep your garage floor clean. The coating is chemically water and stain-resistant: it won’t absorb dirt and grime as an uncoated floor would. This makes it much easier to sweep, mop, and vacuum-clean it.

4. Increased Safety

Floor coating helps making your garage a safer environment. It creates a slip-resistant surface, reducing the risk of slips and falls. The coating is also resistant to oils and chemicals. If the spill is limited and handled rapidly, the coating won’t be damaged.

5. Cost-Effectiveness

Coating a garage floor is an affordable way to upgrade the look and feel of your home. The coating requires minimal maintenance, and because the type of material is more durable than epoxy, you will not need to replace or refinish it for years. 

Selecting the Best Floor Coating for Your Application

From all the options available on the market, how do you pick the right coating for your garage floor? Ask yourself these questions:

1. What Type of Traffic Does My Garage Get?

The volume of traffic your garage sees will determine the type of coating to use. If you have a lot of foot traffic, you are probably better off opting for a harder coating like epoxy and polyurea. If your garage is mainly used for storage, a less durable coating like latex or acrylic will be OK. If you have a workbench in your garage and do a lot of DIY, a polyurea coating will be much more durable than a

2. What Is My Budget?

The cost of a coating job on a garage floor can range from a few hundred dollars for a basic coating to thousands for a more elaborate one, depending on the total surface to cover. Knowing your budget beforehand will help you narrow down your options as prices of the primary material vary significantly, and the cost of labor depends on the complexity of the job. In general, we recommend avoiding going for the cheapest option: it’s better to save a few more months and select a coating that will last several years, than to select a coating with a very short shelf life. Also, your contractor has to prep up the surface of your concrete, and if this step is not done right, your garage floor coating will start chipping within a couple of years.

3. What Color Do I Want?

Polyurea/polyaspartic coatings come in a diverse palette of colors. (Click on the link to see the palette we offer). If you want something that stands out or on the bright side, opt for “Safari”, “Sandstone”, or “Orbit”. If you prefer a more subtle tone, go with a neutral color like “Silver Creek”, “Slate”, or “Pebble Beach”. The choice of color depends on your house color palette, but also on practical aspects like “if I drop a screw, how hard will it be to find it?”.

4. Do I Want a Glossy or Matte Finish?

Different coatings provide different finishes, glossy or matte. If you prefer a glossy one, look for oil-based coatings — epoxy or polyurethane. If you want a matte finish, opt for latex or acrylic. A glossy finish makes your floors look shiny and reflective. A matte finish makes the floor look much more muted. Based on our customers’ input, glossy is the preferred choice of most.

5. Do I Need a Waterproofed Garage Floor?

If your garage is prone to flooding or moisture, you’ll need a coating that waterproofs it. Polyurethane and epoxy are the best options for this, as they create a protective barrier against water. In the polyurea/polyaspartic combination, the polyurea is the base coast and it prevents moisture below the concrete from sipping up. The polyaspartic topcoat prevents spills from infiltrating the concrete.

6. How Long Should My Coating Last?

The durability of a garage floor coating depends on the type of coating material you choose, and on the thoroughness of the preparation work. Oil-based coatings like epoxy and polyurethane tend to last longer than latex coatings, which typically lasts around five years. For the longest-lasting protection, a polyurea/polyaspartic combination coating is the best option, with a lifespan of up to 15 years.

Conclusion

As you can see, garage floor coatings preserve the life of your concrete floor and keep your garage beautiful and a place to share. If your garage floor needs a bit of TLC because it is cracked or pitted, no problem: we prepare the concrete surface thoroughly to obtain maximum adherence of the coating to the concrete, for a long-lasting application. The preparation work will be critical to your enjoyment of your new floor for years to come.

We know there are many options out there. Many different types of coatings, many colors, and also many contractors. Call us at (248) 613-5888 to discuss your project and ask us any technical question. Our floor coating specialists are very knowledgeable with years of experience under their belt. If you want to go further, we’ll give you a quote free of charge and without any commitment on your part.

MotorCity Floors and Coatings offer premium concrete coatings for commercial, industrial, and residential use. We specialize in epoxy, polyurea, and polyaspartic coatings, and serve the entire Detroit Metro area. Our headquarters are based in Novi, MI. Check our 4.9 rating and customer reviews on Google to see the love we receive from the people we serve.