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!
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