The floor of a garage needs to endure substantial wear and tear – from car tires to heavy footfall and oil spills as well. Opting for a floor coating that is strong and last longer can prolong the lifespan of the floor and significantly cut down on the expense of maintenance and repairs. Installing an epoxy floor is a comparatively less expensive and long-lasting approach to coating the floor of the garage. This guide has been created by the specialists at Garage Tailors to help you find out whether epoxy garage flooring is worth investing in or not. Let us take a quick look at it.
What is epoxy flooring for a garage?
Epoxy is a kind of resin that, when blended with hardeners, cures to create a durable and sturdy material for coating the floor of a garage that needs to endure heavy usage. In general, the thickness of the epoxy coating is two millimeters or so. In addition, it bonds firmly to the floor substrate.
There are quite a lot of steps included when it comes to the process of installing an epoxy garage floor. First, in order to create a rough surface for the epoxy to stick to, an etching chemical is applied. Next, the rinsing and priming of the flooring will be done by the installer. This is followed by the application of epoxy in two or more coats. The majority of the types of epoxy coating can be done with the help of a roller, and there are a few brands that are self-levelling.
After this, the epoxy is required to be cured, and one can normally start making use of the floor as usual after about three days. In order to get cured completely, around seven days are required for the majority of epoxy floors.
There is a wide variety of decorative epoxy alternatives to choose from, including terrazzo epoxy and blends containing decorative flakes. You can even stumble on a few epoxy mixtures that contain quartz sand or gravel in order to create a beautiful finish and provide the floor with a non-slip quality.
Pros and cons of an epoxy floor
When it comes to a good solution for garage floors, the majority of people always think about epoxy floors. However, they are not appropriate for every type of scenario. Understanding the benefits and limitations of epoxy can help you make an informed decision about whether it is the right flooring choice for your garage.
Pros
- Reflect light to improve the visibility in the garage
- Safeguards the substrate from humidity and damage
- Longer-lasting and stronger as compared to the majority of other types of floors, aside from
sealed concrete - Very effortless to clean and maintain
- Can endure getting in contact with oil
- A plethora of decorative alternatives are available
- Comparatively reasonably priced to buy and install in contrast to other heard-wearing types
of flooring
Cons
- Does not permit humidity to go out from the substrate, which could result in bubbling or
buckling of the application surface is not totally dry - Smells strongly at the time of application and curing
- Time-consuming and tricky to get rid of and swap
- Is required to be applied correctly in order to keep away from weakness and adherence
problems - Lengthy substrate preparation and application process
- When wet, it turns out to be extremely slippery, unless you opt for a non-slip epoxy
containing sand or gravel
The average cost of getting epoxy flooring for your garage
On average, the cost of the epoxy flooring for a garage is somewhere between $4 and $15 per square foot to install, including the cost of labour as well. The overall price of the project depends on the areas of the floor of the garage, how much labour costs where you live and the kind of epoxy you choose to make use of. In contrast to solid epoxy, water-based epoxy comes out to be significantly inexpensive. If multiple coats will be required on the floor, the overall project will turn out to be more expensive.
How long does epoxy garage flooring last?
In general, you can look forward to the epoxy garage flooring to last somewhere between three and five years on average. However, there are a few premium brands that last significantly longer than this as well. The floor is supposed to maintain its appearance without chipping during its anticipated lifespan, even if you drive cars over it or spill oil on it.
However, if you do not follow the application instructions correctly or apply it to a moist substrate, the epoxy floor could wear prematurely. Driving over the floor with hot tires could even result in damage, so if you live in a hot climate, it is worth investing in epoxy made to endure this.
If you are in search of investing in a promising garage flooring solution, look no further than Garage Tailors. We have a wide variety of epoxy options to choose from, to suit every space. Feel free to give us a call today at 416 617 7551 to get your quote. Our team is always ready to help you experience the difference that practical storage and flooring solutions can make and answer any questions you may have. Let us help you keep your garage looking fantastic for years to come!