Do you cringe and sigh every time you open your garage door and see the floor? Is it stained, full of hairline cracks and pockmarks? Do you want to turn your garage into a man cave but are reluctant because of how bad the floor looks?
A quick and affordable solution is to use a new type of polyurethane-type garage floor coating. We’ve put together the basics of these innovative floor coatings below. After reading this, you should have the basic knowledge to make a decision about whether or not you want to put one in your garage.
What Exactly is This Type of Floor Coatings?
A subgroup of polyurethane, polyurea is a two-component product, consisting of parts A and B. When mixed, the two parts “cure” and create a mixture that will harden quite quickly. In addition, the mixture becomes incredibly hard in just a few minutes. This is one reason that it is best applied and installed by professionals. The other reason you should not install it yourself is that it requires specialized equipment for application.
Polyaspartic is actually polyurea, but the rate at which it hardens is much slower. This means that professionals can apply it in a way that gives them time to ensure that the floor is evenly covered and the correct amount of product has been applied.
Can I Put One in My Garage?
The simple answer is yes, you can put one in your garage. This product can be applied within a wide range of outdoor temperatures.
This floor finish can be applied over concrete, whatever level of moisture it has. The installers will test the moisture level of the concrete and adjust the mixture of the product accordingly. It will cover stains without pulling away from the floor in the future. It even erases cracks in your concrete, as well as small pockmarks.
The best part is that the finish will last for years. It won’t yellow. It is also impervious to scratches, high heat, chemicals, high-impact incidents and is also moisture-resistant.
This product can even be repaired in the unlikely event that the surface is damaged. Re-coating it or replacing it completely is not necessary.
It also comes in different textures, from smooth as glass to orange peel-like, to help you keep your footing. You can also choose how thick you want the application to be. And it comes in a variety of colors.
Preparation
For the homeowner, preparation is simple. You’ll need to completely empty your garage. It is convenient to have a place to store your belongings where they will be safe from inclement weather, if they are not weather-resistant. Then sweep the floor in your garage to remove all the surface debris.
Also make sure that you can ventilate the garage for 24 to 72 hours after the application is complete. Some vapors will cause an unpleasant smell during this time; this is essential if you have an attached garage.
Installation
The crew will arrive first thing in the morning, ideally about 7:00 AM. They will immediately begin preparing the floor by grinding down any uneven parts of the surface. By 9:00 AM, the crew will begin to repair the concrete, providing you have not done it yourself. About an hour later, they will begin to apply the base coat and the “chips” that give the surface its color and character.
They will break for lunch and allow the base coat to set up for an hour or two. In early afternoon they will begin scraping to ensure the surface is flat, level and consistent throughout. By mid-afternoon they will begin applying the top coat. Expect them to be finished well before dinnertime.
How Long Until I Can Use My Garage?
It cures fast—in most cases the entire operation can be completed in just one day. By the end of the day you can move your stuff back into the garage. The following day, you are clear to park your car on your new garage floor coating.
If you want to replace your hot mess of a garage floor with something beautiful that is also harder and more impervious to damage than epoxy, call Solid Custom Floor Coatings at (303)209-6536 for a free estimate. We will gladly help you decide what color, pattern and finish is best for your new garage floor coating.
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