For some, the garage is simply a place to stash their vehicles at night to keep them safe from hail, theft and the occasional droppings from birds. They don’t think much about the oil and anti-freeze stains soaking deeper and deeper into the concrete floors. A mere spritz with the garden hose is enough to give their garage a ‘good-enough’ amateur makeover. For others, however, their garage represents untapped potential. They dream of transforming the area into an extra room where they can get away from it all and watch sports on a wide-screen television. Others yearn to remake their garage into a work room where they can practice carpentry or work on crafts. Regardless of the source of the ambition, one of the first things one must consider when planning to remodel that particular part of their home is what to do with the floor.
What is A Garage Floor Finish?
Take pride in your garage the same way you take pride in your cars.
There are many ways to finish a garage floor. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and, of course, each comes with a different price tag attached. The main goal of this venture is pretty obvious: coat the dingy old concrete with an attractive finish that will last. So, what types of options are available? The short answer is: plenty. From acid washes, to epoxy coatings, to tile, to run of the mill painting, choices for finishing your garage floor abound. However, when it comes to applying a lasting surface to your garage floor, things are a bit more complicated than they may seem. Knowing what negatives and positives come with each type of available product will help you make the best, most affordable decision for your garage floor remodeling project.
How Do I Know What Kind of Finish is Right For Me?
The first thing you need to ask yourself when attempting to select a garage floor surface coating is what exactly you need your garage floor to do. Do you need it to be water and stain resistant? Do you need it look like a show room? Do you need it to withstand potential damage from falling wood or tools? At bare minimum, most people want a garage floor that looks good. But, some need floors that can withstand abuse all the while maintaining a stylish appearance. So, what styles are just for looks and what styles do both?
Paint and Epoxy Floor Coatings
One of the simplest ways to remodel your garage floor is simply to paint it. A clean coat of floor paint can greatly improve the appearance of your floor provided you know what you are doing. There are basically two ways to go, here: water or oil-based paint. Water-based latex paint can be used effectively for most cement floors. It offers a clean-looking, lasting coating and has the additional benefit of easy cleanup. Oil based paint lasts a bit longer and offers a bit more of a resilient surface. But, it can put off fumes during application and can be a little more messy and difficult to work with.
Epoxy is a step above these first two examples of surface coats and can provide garage floors with a beautiful look. It is also considerably more durable against damage when compared to regular paint and tends last a great deal longer. Most epoxy also comes with ‘color flecks’ that add a nice accent to the finished surface giving it a real ’show room’ feel.
One positive of these three types of garage floor coatings is cost. They each provide a considerable improvement to cement flooring and do so at a reasonable price. The negatives to these types of coatings have to do with surface preparation. Aside from a thorough cleaning, most horizontal concrete flooring must also be etched with acid, a chemical treatment that neutralizes the surface. This allows the coating to better adhere to the cement and gives the coating a better chance to last through the years. This process is accomplished with harsh hydrochloric or phosphoric acid that can pose a danger to the person doing the application. Because of this, a professional must usually be hired adding to the cost of the overall project.
Tiling Garage Floors
There are several benefits to using garage floor tiles when remodeling. This type of surface is highly resistant to harsh chemicals including oil and anitfreeze leaks. Most are heavy duty and can support the weight of some of the heaviest sports utility vehicles. Usually constructed from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), this product is generally easy to clean, slip-resistant, and not too difficult to install. The one negative to this product is that it can be considerably more expensive than basic epoxy or paint coatings.
Regardless of what garage floor surface you use for your remodeling project, make sure to know what each entails. A little research about the types of coatings available will help you make the best choice for you individual needs.
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