Being environmentally friendly is becoming increasingly important as climate change’s impacts make themselves known. There are all sorts of different ways to go green, from installing energy-efficient windows to ensuring that you recycle whatever you can and more. If you’ve been eyeing your garage and wondering whether or not having a garage floor coating installed is a good move, environmentally speaking, this is the blog for you.

Here’s what you need to know about whether or not having a garage floor coating installed is an environmentally friendly choice to make for your home. 

Do Floor Coatings Negatively Impact The Environment?

This depends on a wide range of factors. It’s important to note that some floor coating options are more environmentally friendly than others, so if going green is a priority for you, you’ll want to ensure that you opt for one of these options. Generally speaking, though, professional floor coatings do tend to be environmentally friendly, especially those that utilize the highest quality products. 

This is rather a complex issue, though, as whether or not floor coatings are harmful can depend on individual choices, the same as whether or not you choose to recycle something is. For instance, while the floor coating itself may not harm the environment while on your garage floor, if you remove it, how it is disposed of can greatly impact how green it is. 

The Impact Of VOCs On The Environment

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) can be quite harmful to human health, which is why PPE (personal protective equipment) is an absolute necessity when applying garage floor coatings. Did you know that these VOCs aren’t just bad for you, but also for the environment? These toxic chemicals can lower air quality and lead to all sorts of health problems, such as respiratory issues.

This is where our aforementioned point about the type of garage floor coating that you choose comes into play. The more VOCs a floor coating has, the more of a danger it poses, both to human health and to the environment (though in truth, if it poses a danger to the environment, that in turn can negatively impact human health in and of itself). 

Fortunately, floor coating manufacturers are aware of this problem. More and more, floor coatings are engineered to have low levels of VOCs, to make them better for people and for the environment. The levels of VOCs your floor coating has can very much depend on the manufacturer.

Here at Solid Custom Floor Coatings, we use RESINWERKS polyaspartic floor coatings. These are made to have little to no VOCs, making them an ideal coating for those who prioritize health, wellness, and the environment. 

What About When Floor Coatings Are Dry?

Once your garage floor coating has dried and the VOCs have dissipated, you may wonder whether or not the floor coating still has the potential to contaminate the environment. Again, this can vary depending on the type of floor coating that you obtain.

For instance, professional polyaspartic and epoxy floor coatings are the most environmentally friendly, polyaspartic especially. This is because they are long-lasting and keep your concrete protected. Other floor coating options, like garage floor paint, as less so, as they can flake and peel, which creates problems that go beyond poor aesthetics.

Proper Disposal Is A Must For Environmental Safety

This is the biggest factor in whether or not your pretty new floor coating will harm the environment or not. Floor coatings typically are not made of biodegradable products, which means that disposing of them properly is essential. If they are not disposed of properly, they can create environmental hazards, especially if they get into natural water sources. 

Coatings can sometimes be reused or recycled. However, if this is not the case, you will want to follow the requirements of your local Department of Sanitation or Department of Public Works in order to ensure that you dispose of them properly.

Long-Lasting Floor Coatings To Bring Your Dreams To Life

The longer your floor coatings last, the less you will have to worry about proper disposal. Thus, rather than opting for a DIY epoxy kit or garage floor paint, polyaspartic floor coatings are your friend. These durable coatings can last up to 30 years with proper care and are engineered to have little to no VOCs.

Solid Garage Floor Coatings can provide you with stunning garage floor coatings that are made to last. To learn more about our floor coating services or to obtain a quote, please do not hesitate to contact us today!

So, you’re ready to take the plunge and get that garage floor coating you’ve been yearning for. You’re sick and tired of your dull, drab garage floor, and you want something more aesthetically pleasing, more you to look at. You’re also worried about potential damage and want to ensure that your garage floor has a protective coating that you can rely on to keep it safe and in good condition for years to come. From cleanliness to damage protection to enhanced aesthetic appeal, the time has come to reap the benefits of installing a brand spanking new garage floor coating – or has it?

Should you worry about the time of year? Would it be better to install your garage floor coating in the summer or the winter? Does the weather make a difference at all? Are garage floor coating services even available all year round? Do you actually need to wait until the best time of year to install a garage floor coating rolls around again before you can make your dream floor come to life?

Here is what you need to know about the best time of year to install a garage floor coating and what you can expect throughout the changing seasons and weather conditions. Let’s dive into it and get you your answers!

Is There A Best Time Of Year To Install A Garage Floor Coating?

To cut to the chase: you can install a garage floor coating any time of the year, whether it be in the heat of the summer or in the dead of winter. There’s no need to worry about having to wait months on end before you can get your garage floor coated, unless you were needing to save up to have it done or there was some other issue that needed taking care of first, whatever it may be.

That said, it truly depends on the type of floor coating that you want. Epoxy floor coatings, for example, need specific temperature ranges for optimal installation. This can limit the time of year you could get an epoxy coating. This is because it needs to be above a certain temperature, about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, in order for epoxy to set properly. 

Polyaspartic coatings, on the other hand, can be installed in virtually any temperature range. Thus, if you have your heart set on getting a garage floor coating in the winter months, you’ll want to opt for polyaspartic. In general, the ideal seasons for installing floor coatings are when the concrete temperature is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit – so, spring, summer, and fall – but with experienced professionals and the right type of floor coating, you could get a winter floor coating too. 

Considerations For Installing Garage Floor Coatings

There are some factors to consider when planning your floor coating installation. 

The Type Of Floor Coating 

As we discussed above, polyaspartic coatings can be installed year round. However, if your heart is set on another type of floor coating, like epoxy, you’ll probably be better off waiting until it’s a bit warmer out before scheduling your installation. 

Not only does concrete itself need to be a specific temperature for epoxy to set properly, but external temperatures can also affect the cure time of epoxy floor coatings. Typically, it should be between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for epoxy to cure in a normal length of time.

If you opt for a polyaspartic coating, these can be installed in a much broader temperature range than their epoxy counterparts, so these generally aren’t concerns with this type of floor coating.

The Installation Time

Again, this factor applies more to epoxy coatings than to polyaspartic. Epoxy coatings can render your garage unusable for days at a time as they cure, which isn’t ideal in the colder, rainy months or when your car is sitting out in the blisteringly hot summer sun. If this is the type of floor coating you want, you would likely find it easier to schedule the installation for when the weather is clear and nice.

Polyaspartic coatings cure in a day, so this is not nearly as much of a concern with them. Perhaps if it’s going to be rainy one day, you may want to schedule for a sunnier day so that you aren’t risking your car’s paint by having it out in the rain, but given that it would be a mere 24 hours, this isn’t much of a concern.

The Weather

The weather can impact your coatings. In order for a floor coating to be properly applied, the concrete surface must be completely dry. Thus, if it’s rainy out, this could put your floor coating at risk. Humidity can impact the dry time, as well.

Professional garage floor coating experts have the knowledge and expertise in order to work with you to schedule the optimal time to install your garage floor coating. Depending on the type of floor coating you want and the specifications of your project, one time of year may be better than another. Contact us here at Solid Custom Floor Coatings to learn more about the optimal time to obtain your specific floor coating.