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Types of coating materials for garage floors

Types of coating materials for garage floors

Having a good garage is a protective shield for your vehicle. It protects it from extreme weather conditions, thus extending its lifespan and maintaining its resale value. Also, around 55% of citizens spend an average of 1-2 hours weekly in their garage, while 74% of garage owners named “parking” the most crucial use of this house feature. Now let’s look at the different types of garage floor coating with their benefits and the average cost of flooring.

Garage floor coating types
Different garage floor coating types have their advantages and benefits. Here they are:

Epoxy floor coating
Epoxy is the most commonly used garage floor coating material, available for more than 100 years. Its properties include chemical resistance, thermal protection( cold and hot), and wear prevention. Novalac Epoxy is one of the toughest products available in the market. The best part is that epoxy is easy to install compared to other types of coating materials and only hardens when component A is mixed with component B. Additionally, it is cheaper, costing an average of $3 to $12 per square foot.

Polyurethane floor coating
Polyurethanes are a thick mil system with unique characteristics that have been used for as long as epoxy. Particularly well-suited for floors with space beneath the cement slab, they exhibit a remarkable property called elongation, allowing them to stretch up to 400-500%. Polyurethanes excel at preventing discoloration and degradation in well-lit areas. Additionally, the material can be thickened with cement, and this coating effectively resists water penetration, thereby preventing cracks and moisture from degrading the floor.

Acrylic floor coating
Acrylic, belonging to the MMA (methacrylate) category, is a type of floor coating primarily used for single-component paints and sealers. Around 5-10 years ago, MMAs were quite prevalent in the market and considered strong competitors to polyurethanes and epoxies. Like polyureas, acrylic offers a quicker cure time and can be applied in cooler temperatures. This garage floor coating is known for its durability. Still, its application requires a certain level of expertise due to its rapid curing process. The average cost of acrylic floor coating ranges between $1.5 and $3 per square foot.

Polyaspartic polyurea floor coating
Polyurea is a specialized material that falls under the category of polyurethane. As a coating, it forms a strong bond with the moisture in your concrete garage floors, creating a protective barrier that effectively shields against scratches, stains, and various hazards. Its exceptional durability makes it ideal for sealing garage floors, outlasting traditional coatings, and providing excellent scratch resistance. Moreover, Polyurea is highly effective in safeguarding the flooring against spills. On average, this coating costs from $2 to $3 per square foot.

Outlook on garage floor coating
Applying a coating on garage floors enhances ground strength and significantly extends its lifespan, reducing the need for frequent maintenance. Suppose you have a large garage area or lack the necessary skills; in that case, you can opt to enlist the services of top contractors who specialize in floor coating. While some layering options may require experience for installation, most are user-friendly and can be applied at a reasonable cost. The good news is that all four popular garage coating materials are relatively affordable, with prices averaging below $3 per square foot, and they can be applied efficiently and quickly.