A garage floor coating can transform an old, beat-up concrete slab into a showroom-worthy space. While many homeowners love garage floor coatings, they are ideal for commercial and industrial spaces, too. They make the floor easier to clean and maintain while resisting stains, spills, chips, and cracks. There is a reason so many Colorado property owners are opting for floor coatings in their garages, warehouses, basements, and more. Most people will choose between a DIY epoxy, industrial-grade epoxy, or polyaspartic for their garage floor coating. But which one is right for your space? Learning the differences in cost, performance, and installation will help you choose the coating that's right for your home or business.

What to Look For in a Garage Floor Coating

You'll want a cost-effective solution that still delivers all the benefits of a great garage floor coating. These are five factors you'll want to keep in mind as you research your different coating options:

Appearance

You want your garage floor to look good. Garage floor coatings are available in a variety of colors and finishes. You can customize the appearance and get something that looks amazing in your space or even matches your brand colors. Industrial coatings will offer more options than epoxy coatings you buy off the shelf. The finish matters here, too. You'll want to make sure whatever coating you choose will look great along the edges as well as in the middle of your floor.

Stain Resistance

One of the big benefits of garage floor coatings is their ability to stand up to spills and stains, even from oil-based products. That means you can just wipe the floor clean instead of worrying about liquids seeping into the porous concrete. This can be a big benefit for commercial spaces where appearance and safety are a big deal.

Durability

Not only should your coated garage floor stand up to spills, but it should stand up to dents, dings, and scratches, as well. You don't want a floor that chips when you drop a screwdriver or scratches when you roll across it in an office chair. Look for something that's tough enough to stand up to use in a busy garage space.

Longevity

The garage floor coating you choose should last for years. The longer it lasts, the more cost-effective it is. You don't want to replace your floor coating every year, after all. Make sure the product you choose has a good lifespan for the amount of traffic it will experience on a daily basis.

Ease of Application

Some floor coatings you can apply yourself, and some are best applied by a professional garage floor coating team. You'll want to think about whether you have the time and tools to take on a project like this yourself or if you'd rather leave it to the pros.

Garage Floor Coating Options

Consumer Grade Epoxy (DIY)

This is the least expensive option of the three. You can pick up DIY epoxy floor kits in your local hardware store for between $100 and $150 that will cover a standard two-car garage floor. While the low cost is appealing, there are some things to keep in mind. The chemicals used in DIY epoxy floor kits aren't going to be as high of quality as what's used by professionals. So you aren't going to get the same kind of durability or longevity out of the coating. For best results, you should etch the concrete floors before applying the epoxy coating to create a stronger bond to the flooring. This can be a dangerous process if you are doing it yourself, as it requires using strong acids. It's not something most homeowners or inexperienced professionals should try to take on. The process of prepping, coating, and drying the floors can take several days, too. Prepare to give up at least a weekend of your time to the project, and even more time to let the coating cure properly.

Pros:

• Can pick up supplies at most local hardware and DIY stores
• Inexpensive option

Cons:

• Inferior chemical components mean your coating may not last as long
• Prepping the floor for the coating may require the use of dangerous acids
• DIY may not look as good as a professionally applied garage floor coating will

Industrial Grade Epoxy

[caption id="attachment_3859" align="aligncenter" width="702"] Interior of a double garage with new epoxy coating.[/caption] If you like the thought of an epoxy floor coating but don't want to do it yourself, then a professional can apply an industrial-grade epoxy floor coating. Industrial-grade epoxy will use a better, stronger chemical mixture that lasts longer than the stuff you buy off of the shelf at the store. Professional installers will also know how to apply the epoxy coating so it bonds to the concrete. They'll start with diamond grinding the surface of the concrete, creating the proper surface profile that allows the epoxy to adhere to the concrete. That will create a long-lasting coating. There are some drawbacks to industrial-grade epoxy floor coatings, though. These floor coatings can become slippery when they are wet. They can also yellow when exposed long-term to UV rays. If you are installing them in areas that could get damp, you may want to invest in texturizing the floor with traction additive flakes or another aggregate to provide more grip. Also, no matter how great an epoxy floor might be, it won't last forever. You'll eventually need to have a new coating of epoxy applied to the surface, especially in high-traffic areas of the floor. Epoxy takes a long time to cure, too. You may need to give up your garage space for about five days in total.

Pros:

• Professionally installed by an experienced floor coating team
• Lasts longer than DIY epoxy floor coating kits
• Mechanical floor preparation creates a better, longer-lasting finish

Cons:

• Epoxy floor coatings can be slippery without traction additive
• You will eventually have to reapply the floor coating, sooner in high traffic areas
• Takes about five days to cure
• Most epoxies will turn yellow when exposed long-term to UV rays

Polyaspartic

Polyaspartic is a newer product on the market. It looks identical to an epoxy floor coating, but with some important differences. First, it's much more durable than an epoxy coating. That means it's great for floors that could see a lot of heavy equipment or dropped tools. The surface of the polyaspartic floor is very tough, so you won't be able to scratch or chip it easily. The mixture exhibits a lower odor and usually dries in less than two hours, so the installation process is more pleasant for both homes and commercial spaces. Our Colorado garage floor coating team can apply a polyaspartic floor in less than a day. This coating is also great for areas that get a lot of sunshine, as it won't fade or yellow from UV exposure like an epoxy coating is prone to do. Polyaspartic can be slippery, but you can easily overcome this by application a traction material in one of the final coats of the material. That will give shows more traction as they move across the floor, even when they are wet. Polyaspartic is more vulnerable to battery acid than epoxy, so that's something to keep in mind if you anticipate a lot of exposure to that chemical in your space.

Pros:

• Almost odorless so no stinky application process
• Dries very quickly, so you can move back into your garage within a day
• More durable and longer-lasting than industrial-grade epoxy

Cons:

• Can be slippery without added traction
• More expensive than epoxy options

What Garage Floor Coating Do We Recommend?

Our team is happy to work with any floor coating material our customers required. We'll work with your budget and timeline to find you the best solutions that deliver a great-looking garage floor. When you ask our opinion, though, we'll tell you polyaspartic is the way to go. While it may cost more than epoxy floor coatings, you'll end up paying less over time because polyaspartic lasts longer and is more durable. The finish of a polyaspartic floor is gorgeous, too. The high-shine and various color options mean you get a professional-looking floor that can hold up to almost anything you throw at it. The installation process is much faster than an epoxy floor. Because it dries quicker, we can apply multiple coats in a single day to get the perfect finish. In many cases, you can be moving your equipment and vehicles back into your garage on the next day. No need to wait days for the floor to cure and finding off-site storage for your stuff in the meantime. Plus, we can apply polyaspartic floor coatings in almost any weather, which makes them great for Colorado's unpredictable seasons.

Find the Right Garage Floor Coating for You

If you'd like to learn more about having the right floor coating installed in your Denver or Front Range area property, call us. Our polyaspartic flooring comes with a lifetime warranty for garage floors, and they are ideal for home, commercial, and industrial use. Get a free estimate on the best garage floor coating installed in your space today. We'll help you find the right solution for your space and your budget.