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.
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