The garage isn't traditionally known for being one of the most attractive parts of the house, but this is changing fast as the popularity of floor coatings continues to rise. Today's cracked, stained, and boring concrete floors are quickly becoming replaced by innovative coating and floor finish systems.

Floor finishes come in a wide range of products and applications—ranging from DIY options available at local hardware stores, to premium-quality, professional applications. As with most home remodeling projects, the quality varies greatly between the options, and the type of garage flooring you choose is an important one.

In this guide to garage floor finishes, our team at ETEK Custom Coatings will reveal some of the most popular choices among homeowners today. Take a look at these options and get inspired about renovating your garage floor with a brand new look this year.

Epoxy Coatings

Like paint, epoxy coating is applied with paint rollers and brushes. However, that's where the similarities end. Many homeowners are unaware of the difference between epoxy coatings and paints, however, the two are very different from each other.

Epoxy coatings create an extremely strong surface as a result of a chemical reaction between the epoxy resin and the polyamine hardener. These surfaces can be styled in a great number of colors and beautiful finishes, and generally offer incredible protection from spills, stains, dents, and other garage floor damage.

100% solids epoxy is the superior application type. This type dries faster and is harder to apply than lower-quality, lower percentage solids, which is why its generally only applied by experienced professionals. This percentage produces a thicker, higher-quality flooring that will last much longer and look better over time.

Paint and Epoxy Paint

For many homeowners, the garage floor is synonymous with oil, rust, and grease buildup over the years. This results in a concrete floor that lacks life or appeal. The good news is that new life can be breathed into the floor through the use of floor paint. Floor paint can be either latex or oil-based, and when combined with a satin non-slip finish is perfect for withstanding hard traffic. Plus, the protective finish also aids in resisting damage from caustic materials such as salts and solvents.

Some paints will contain a small amount of epoxy resin for slightly increased resistance. Epoxy ingredients which further hardens the finish and improves upon its ability to resist stains. Before buying your floor paint, consider the look you want to go for and be sure that the paint selected is listed for use on concrete floors.

Tiles for the Garage

Concrete flooring makes for a great base. It does not make for a naturally attractive or comfortable floor to walk on. That's where floor tile comes in. It's true that you could use vinyl floor tiles like what you may find in other rooms of the house. However, the garage is built for heavier traffic, which naturally requires a more durable tile for optimal performance.

The most common tile options for the garage include wood composite, rubber, or plastic tiles.

Polyurea

You might have heard of epoxy coatings before, but chances area that polyurea isn't yet on your radar. Polyurea is growing fast in terms of popularity among homeowners, and widely thought to be superior to epoxy coatings in strength and durability. While both are excellent options, epoxy does have a few issues—mainly, it's not 100% stainproof, as it can be damaged by some chemicals like oil, gas, and salt. Also, epoxy can melt in very high temperatures, which means that your car wheels can stick to the floors if they're running hot. Polyurea, however, is resistant to chemicals and abrasions, so gas, oil, and salt won't damage it. It's a lot more durable than epoxy coatings, and won't fade in the sunlight. Best of all, the installation is faster because it sets quicker than epoxy.

Getting Started With Your Floor Renovation

No matter what option appeals most to you, the first thing to do is consider the starting point of your concrete floor. If the concrete floor is damaged or contains multiple grease stains, then no amount of epoxy or floor paint is going to do the job you need them to do for you.

Also, if the floor is cracked, then you likely will have moisture problems to consider. Before pursuing new flooring options, it's mandatory to repair and correct the problems since even the best floor tile won't cover up water damage that's been left unchecked for so long.

Premium-Quality Garage Floor Coatings in the Midwest

While garage floor coatings are one of our top specialties, our product line extends across all residential, commercial, and industrial applications. By choosing ETEK Custom Coatings, you'll receive:

  • Personalized Service and Support
  • Free On-Site Estimate and Consultation
  • Affordable Pricing
  • Competitive Limited Lifetime Warranties
  • Top-Quality Products
  • Custom Colors, Styles, Textures, and Designs
  • Fast Installations

If you're ready to explore the types of garage flooring available, give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our epoxy coating solutions or fill out our online form to schedule your free, in-home assessment.