Protecting Your Concrete Garage Floor

As the garage tends to become a storage or workroom for many households, it is difficult to protect the garage floor from cracks and stains. Concrete slabs, while durable, also demand a lot of care and attention to sustain for the long haul. Therefore, the savvy homeowner should try to protect that floor as much and as effectively as possible. Thankfully, there are many options now available to do just that.

Paint

While paint is not long lasting, it will protect your floor from staining, which in turn can preserve the integrity of the surface. However, you do not want to purchase just any paint. You should look for exterior and enamel-based paints because these offer a more durable finish that is longer lasting than other materials. Also, these are the safest paints to use on the concrete.

Epoxy

While paint is nice, it does not last very long. An epoxy garage floor, however, is more durable and will last longer as well. Epoxy coatings provide a hard, protective finish to your concrete that is nonporous and resistant to most damage.

Mats

While not as all-inclusive as epoxy, garage mats can still provide a functional layer of protection. However, instead of covering the entire area, mats will only cover a small portion. The benefit of mats is that they are portable, meaning that they can be moved wherever you need them with ease.

Interlocking Tiles

Interlocking tiles are another total covering option. Tiles essentially provide a layer of protection across your entire slab, protecting it from drops and falls. However, tiles are typically vented, meaning that they may not protect your floor from spills.

A garage floor is difficult to protect without adding some other material or substance. Mats and tiles provide some protection from damage, but they do not protect against all spills. Paint offers protection from spills but is limited with other types of damage. However, epoxy provides the durability of tiles and the coverage of paint. Talk to an installer to find out which option is best for you.