Author: Brian Ashworth December 14, 2023

Guest Post by Elisaveta Doncheva

More often than not, focusing on finding ways to increase a home’s resale value leads to obvious alterations and upgrades, such as furnishings that freshen up the interior and landscaping that gives the outdoors a nice finishing touch.

And yet, something as simple as treating the concrete floor of the garage with a little TLC could be the change that brings about the biggest impact.

In addition to the functional purpose this home’s feature has, which is handling the pressures from heavy-duty use from your vehicles or machinery, it also has an undeniable aesthetic role which may be somewhat understated.

To avoid deterring future buyers, or even an eyesore for yourself that could also be dangerous and risky for you, your vehicles, your machinery, tools, and what is not present in the space, it’s time to make some improvements.

Don’t worry, it’s as simple as adding durable epoxy coating for concrete to get the desired makeover.

You’ve got a range of versatility available, differing not only in price but carrier agents too, giving you the chance to choose from solvent, solid, and water based.

Is It a Good Idea to Put Epoxy On the Garage Floor?

It’s a type of coating that’s meant to last for years and years, and it truly can with proper floor maintenance.

If it’s good for commercial purposes in industrial applications that require the best of the best in terms of floor protection, why should it be any different from residential applications?

When applied, there’s a specific permanant chemical reaction happening which gives this material some exceptional qualities for the surface it’s added to.

To give you an idea, the following are just some of the benefits you can expect to reap once you treat your floors with the suitable resin and hardener mix.

The Smooth and Shiny Appearance

The floor can make or break the space’s appearance, and all it takes to get it from drab to fab is a nice layer of epoxy coating for concrete to get smooth and seamless elegance.

Even though elevated aesthetic may not be your goal, least of all for a utilitarian area like the garage which serves as a parking area, workshop, and storage for your seasonal equipment or home-brewing equipment, the sleek and elegant touch would surely increase the overall curb appeal.

And, you can have fun choosing the coating – for a polished ambience, why not pick one of the eye-catching metallic mixes?

A mixture with details from mica or quartz equally makes for a unique aesthetic that additionally doubles for better traction of the floor too, so you amp the look without sacrificing the function or convenience.

The Increase in Protection

Instead of serving as the base, the garage floor epoxy is a layer added over the already sturdy concrete floor, taking up the role of protector for the underlying surface, shielding it from impact as well as wear and tear that might result in cracking and crumbling.

Since there’s more than one layer added, usually you get a thick coating that covers your precious concrete flooring, giving it an increase in durability.

This explains why upon application the possible defects of the floor might have magically disappeared with each and every layer of the coating, offering a sleek and smooth finish.

It’s exactly this that gives you peace of mind since usually defects can be the opening points for moisture to make its way through and damage the concrete little by little.

The Increase in Strength

Impacts, shocks, extra weight – you name it, the coating can handle it all.

Unlike other coatings, epoxy stands out from the rest with its incredible tensile strength, and the secret lies in the addition of the hardener, specifically the polyamine material.

Depending on the type of epoxy and hardener you choose, you can significantly increase the concrete’s ability to stand up to all the pressure you’d put it through.

If the bonding with the underlay surface is good, you can expect there to be strength in the resistance to peeling and tearing too so you won’t have to worry about those heavy loads.

The Increase in Safety

The garage that doesn’t have windows or proper illumination can easily become a place that compromises the safety of anyone going inside, but this too could become a thing of the past with the simple addition of a few layers of an epoxy concrete floor coating of your choice.

This is due to the material’s ability to reflect the light, which results in the brightening up of the whole area.

Moreover, with certain mixes of epoxy and hardener, it’s possible to increase the safety to reduce the danger from slipping accidents.

If a slick surface isn’t your thing, and you wish to further boost the safety, you could add your own ingredients to the mix, including polymer grit, gravel or sand.

The Resistant Properties

It is more than resistance to water and moisture.

It is also resistance as well as heat, chemicals, and even impact, it’s an investment that more than pays off in the long run.

The thicker the layer of coverage, the more of these incredible properties you can expect.

The Long-Lasting Result

As mentioned, this is a covering option that keeps on giving time and time again if we keep its resistance properties, strength, and durability in mind.

As such, it’s a much more reliable and convenient option than other covers in the likes of concrete paint, or tiles, especially if we consider the lack of need to redo the epoxy layering for many years.

The Eco-Friendliness

Sure, it’s a chemical, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be eco-friendly in its own way.

As it’s not that difficult to install, needing only a few essentials, and it doesn’t need to be recoated that often, it’s more helpful for the environment than other alternatives.

If you think about it, it’s quite cost-effective too so your budget won’t be significantly impacted once you take care of the proper installation.

How Do You Take Care of Epoxy Floors?

We’ve already discussed the outstanding properties of epoxy, including its durability, but it wouldn’t hurt to get in the habit of maintaining it to ensure it lasts as long as you expect it to, or even more.

Sweeping to get rid of dirt, dust, and debris is the basic step you should implement, followed by mopping.

Getting rid of stains should be done immediately after they occur, with an emphasis on using epoxy-suitable products, from cleaners to the right tools for the job, to avoid scratching the coating yourself.

Also, remember that prevention is better than cure, and in the case of the coating, it’s advisable to protect it from heavy objects by using the appropriate mats and furniture pads. A little care goes a long way!