Garage Floors (Epoxy & Coatings)
Transform your garage with durable, attractive floor coatings that resist stains and make cleaning easy.
Why Coat Your Garage Floor
Your garage floor takes serious abuse. Cars drip oil, antifreeze, and other fluids. Salt and chemicals tracked in during winter eat away at bare concrete. Spills from lawn care, painting, and workshop projects leave stains. Tools and equipment scratch the surface. Bare concrete is porous and absorbs these contaminants, creating permanent stains that make your garage look dirty no matter how much you sweep and clean.
A quality floor coating seals the concrete and creates a protective barrier. Oil and chemicals sit on the surface instead of soaking in. You can wipe up spills easily without leaving stains. The smooth, sealed surface repels dust and dirt. Sweeping becomes more effective because dust does not settle into concrete pores. Your garage looks cleaner with less effort. Many homeowners report spending less time cleaning their garage after installing a floor coating.
Beyond practicality, coated floors simply look better. A fresh, glossy floor brightens your entire garage. You can choose colors and finishes that complement your home and style. Many coatings include decorative flakes that hide imperfections and add visual interest. A professional-looking garage floor makes the space feel more like an extension of your home rather than just a place to park. If you ever sell, an upgraded garage floor is a feature buyers notice and appreciate.
Types of Garage Floor Coatings
Epoxy Coatings
Epoxy is the most popular garage floor coating. True epoxy systems use two parts that chemically react when mixed. This reaction creates an extremely hard, durable surface that bonds tightly to properly prepared concrete. Epoxy resists chemicals, abrasion, and impact better than most other coatings. It creates a high-gloss finish that reflects light and brightens your garage. The surface is easy to clean and resists staining.
Professional epoxy systems differ significantly from DIY kits sold at home improvement stores. Professional products have higher solids content, meaning more actual epoxy and less filler. They bond better and last longer. We apply epoxy in multiple coats including a base coat and a top coat. Decorative flakes can be broadcast into the wet epoxy for texture and visual appeal. A clear top coat seals everything and provides UV protection. Properly installed professional epoxy can last 10 to 20 years or more.
Polyurethane and Polyaspartic Coatings
Polyurethane coatings are often used as a top coat over epoxy. Polyurethane is more flexible than epoxy and resists scratching and chemicals even better. It also has superior UV resistance, which prevents yellowing over time. Polyurethane takes longer to cure than epoxy but provides excellent long-term performance. Some systems use polyurethane as both the base and top coat for maximum durability.
Polyaspartic coatings are a newer technology that combines the best features of epoxy and polyurethane. They cure very quickly, allowing you to use your garage within 24 hours rather than several days. Polyaspartic coatings are extremely durable and UV stable. They work in a wider range of temperatures than traditional epoxy. The main drawback is cost, as polyaspartic products are more expensive. However, for homeowners who cannot have their garage out of service for days, the fast cure time is worth the extra investment.
Other Coating Options
Additional garage floor coating options include:
- Acrylic sealers for basic protection and dust control
- Concrete stains that add color while maintaining natural texture
- Hybrid systems combining different coating technologies
- Non-slip additives for better traction in wet conditions
- Custom color blends to match your preferences
We discuss your needs, budget, and timeline to recommend the best coating system for your garage. Factors include how you use your garage, whether you want to repair existing damage first, and your aesthetic preferences. Not every garage needs the most expensive coating. We help you find the right balance of performance and cost.
New Concrete Garage Floors
If your garage has a damaged floor or no floor at all, we can install a new concrete slab before applying coatings. New floor installation includes proper base preparation, reinforcement, and finishing. We ensure the floor is level and has adequate slope for drainage. A new concrete floor provides the ideal surface for long-lasting coatings and completely transforms your garage.
Our Coating Application Process
Surface Preparation is Critical
Proper surface preparation is the most important factor in coating longevity. Coatings will only adhere as well as the surface is prepared. We start by thoroughly cleaning the floor to remove all dirt, oil, grease, and previous coatings or sealers. For most jobs, this requires grinding or shot blasting the concrete to open the pores and create a profile for the coating to grip. This mechanical preparation is far superior to acid etching which many DIY kits recommend.
We fill any cracks or damage before coating. Small cracks can be filled with flexible crack filler. Larger damage may require patching with repair mortar. Surface imperfections like spalling are ground smooth. The goal is to create as uniform a surface as possible before coating. All dust and debris from grinding is vacuumed away. The floor must be completely clean and dry before we apply any coatings.
Coating Application
We mix coating materials according to manufacturer specifications. These products have specific mix ratios and working times that must be followed for proper curing. The base coat is applied evenly across the floor using rollers and brushes to ensure complete coverage. Edges and corners receive careful attention since they are often the first areas to show wear. If decorative flakes are part of your system, we broadcast them into the wet base coat.
After the base coat cures, we lightly sand the surface to remove any rough spots or imperfections. Any loose flakes are vacuumed away. Then we apply the top coat, which seals everything and provides the final protective layer. Some systems require multiple top coats for maximum durability. Each coat must cure for the specified time before the next coat or before allowing traffic. Temperature and humidity affect curing times, so we schedule coating work when conditions are favorable.
Curing and Care
After the final coat, your garage floor needs time to cure fully. You can typically walk on the floor within 24 to 48 hours. Light vehicle traffic is usually allowed after 3 to 5 days. However, full cure takes 5 to 7 days or longer depending on the coating system and weather conditions. We provide specific instructions based on the products used and ambient temperature. During curing, keep the garage well-ventilated and avoid placing heavy objects or hot tires on the fresh coating.
Once cured, your new floor requires minimal maintenance. Sweep regularly to remove dirt and debris. Clean spills promptly with mild soap and water. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning tools that could damage the coating. Many coated floors look great for years with nothing more than occasional sweeping and mopping. The coating protects your concrete while making your garage look professional and staying easy to keep clean.