Choosing a Coating for Your Garage Floor

When homeowners decide they want to upgrade their garage floors, they often ask professionals about the cost of painting them. What most people are actually looking for, however, is an epoxy garage floor. Epoxy is a resin that provides a protective coating to your garage floor that makes it stain-resistant and easy to clean. The first decision you need to make is what kind of epoxy floor you want.

Solvent-Based Epoxy
The first type of coating is a formula that combines epoxy solids and a solvent. After application, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind the solids fused together to coat the floor. This option is the most economical, but it often requires several coats, increasing the time required to finish the job. If you are not in a hurry to use the space and have good ventilation in your garage, solvent-based epoxy is an excellent choice.

Water-Based Epoxy
This coating is similar to solvent-based epoxy in that it is a combination of water, solvent and epoxy solids. To create the epoxy garage floor, several coats must be added, as evaporation significantly thins out the coating as it dries. Water-based epoxy does not give off as strong a smell as its solvent-based counterpart.

Epoxy Floor Paint
Paint is somewhat of a misnomer, as it isn’t actually paint. It is composed of 100% epoxy and can be applied directly to the floor. While it is more expensive than other options, its benefits may justify the price difference. There is no evaporation in the curing process, so once the first coat is dried, it’s ready to use (usually within 24-48 hours). It also tends to be stronger and typically lasts longer than other options.

An epoxy garage floor is a good choice for homeowners who want something more than concrete in their garage. No matter what type of epoxy coating you choose to have installed, it provides a barrier to stains and damage.