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You are here: Home / Archives for concrete floors

Winterize the Garage Floors

January 26, 2017 by Rick Scully

We seldom think about the garage floor. However, this important surface undergoes continuous abuse. It must bear the weight of vehicles, withstand damage caused by debris tracked in on tires and shoes and hold its own against leaking automotive fluids. Fluctuating temperatures of sweltering summer heat and frigid Canadian winters cause concrete floors to expand and contract. Then there is the battle of the elements: rain, sleet, snow and salt that gets tracked in on shoes and tires.

Protect the Garage Floor from the Elements

1 car garage, toronto - garage flooringWinterizing your garage floor may not be the first thing on your garage renovation list of to-do’s, but it is important not to be missed. Your car and your family will undoubtedly track snow and salt into your garage this winter. Ensure the protection of your floor from road salt and other damaging de-icers. Road salt on an untreated concrete floor can easily be absorbed and within a few years, it can destroy an unprotected floor.

By preparing your garage floor now, you can reduce the inevitable damage to your floor this winter. Consider applying a durable waterproof and stain-resistant protective floor coating to prevent harsh damage and preserve the life of your garage floor.

Prepare the Garage Floor

washing garage floorThere are several reasons why durable garage flooring is a key part of a long-lasting garage renovation. Concrete floors are vulnerable to degradation caused by the elements including salt and oil. Thus, concrete floors often become pitted, which is not only unsightly, but generates dust causing the concrete to become more difficult to keep clean and maintain.

Bare concrete floors generate dust and are susceptible to staining and cracking that gets worse with moisture. Garage floor coatings and coverings are not only beautiful, but functional. They protect concrete floors from stains and other damage.

Refinishing your floor will protect it from the elements, while at the same time reducing the dust which covers your tools, bikes, garden equipment and other items. The household items and tools stored in the garage become easy to appreciate when you’re reducing the concrete dust that can affect the operation of work and garden tools or that can give your belongings a prematurely aged look. Of course, garage floor coatings or floor tiles look great too!

Painted Garage Floors Peel Up After Just a Season or Two

2 car garage willowdale showcase - painted garage floor, cement block floorA lot of people consider painting floors. The issue with paint is it only coats the top layer of your concrete. Whether you prepare a concrete floor or not, paint based materials sit on the top of concrete which means that paint doesn’t protect or enhance the concrete floor unlike some other options.

Because paint sits atop the concrete, it’s not forgiving when the concrete floor expands and contracts with the changing seasons. Whether we know it or not, our garage floor is subject to thermal expansion and contraction.  This means that the concrete swells up and expands in the heat. In cool weather, the opposite effect occurs; your concrete floor shrinks or contracts. Often times, it is these expansion and contraction cycles that tend to lead to cracking and peeling of painted floors.

 

Polyaspartic Floor Coatings are Durable and Last

2 car garage etobicoke polyaspartic floor coating tile baseboards after 1024x768Polyaspartic flooring is always a great choice for any garage, but especially those with drywall that extends down to the floor. A polyaspartic flooring system is a tough, durable floor coating with the sophisticated look of granite. Unlike paint which sits on top of the concrete, the polyaspartic coating seals concrete and keeps moisture out to prevent the garage floor from cracking. Not only does a polyaspartic floor coating reduce concrete dust, it provides a non-slip grip to make the garage a safer place for little ones during wet and slushy weather.  All the snow and mud of the various seasons get tracked into the garage by everyone in the family but having a floor coating makes the garage easy to keep clean and dry.  

A professionally installed polyaspartic flooring system includes a ten-year warranty and is available in a wide range of colours. The colours of the floor can be selected to match the exterior brick, siding or trim of your home for a matching look and feel as seen from the sidewalk or edge of the property.  The variety of coloured flakes makes it possible to transition from exterior house colours to interior colour schemes.

The granite arrangement of colour flakes also camouflage the dirt, dust and debris left behind! You’ll be glad to know that this system also protects concrete floors from corrosive elements including winter’s biggest culprit – salt.

The quality of a polyaspartic floor coating system is in the preparation of the concrete floor before applying the polyaspartic coating.  By grinding and preparing the concrete floor, any application of the polyaspartic floor coating bonds to the concrete for lasting results.

Challenges of Other Floor Coatings

Other types of floor coating include epoxy which is also applied concrete floors. While it is sold in big box stores, homeowners run into problems when applying epoxy because they miss the importance of surface preparation. More than a simple, weekend DIY project, applying epoxy to a garage floor still requires several steps and specialized equipment.

Unlike polyaspartic floor coating, epoxy floor coating can take a few days to cure and it tends to be more brittle the polyaspartic. On the other hand, the 100% UV resistant polyaspartic floor coating doesn’t yellow with time.

PVC Garage Floor Tiles

2 car garage, stouffville, left rear door, pvc floor tiles, punched aluminum baseboard, slatwall, custom overhead platform, shelves, bike rack, bicycle storageAlternately, a garage floor made of an interlocking PVC tile floor will hide imperfections and protect floors from further damage.

Interlocking PVC tiles are sturdy, attractive and chemical-resistant. They can easily be adapted to fit any garage configuration. Since no adhesive is used, simply remove and replace a single tile in the event of damage. PVC tile can be hosed down, pressure washed, mopped or hand scrubbed.

A variety of floor designs can be accomplished with a series of coloured floor tiles.

Baseboards in the Garage Protect Walls, Brick and Concrete Blocks

2 car garage, stouffville, pvc garage floor tiles, punched aluminum baseboardThe baseboard in your garage serves a couple of functions. Perhaps the most important function is that of protection. If your baseboard is installed properly, it protects the interior of your garage from small animals from making a home in your garage. Baseboards also provide protection from dust, dirt and water seeping behind the drywall or slatwall and into the exposed brick or concrete.

Another function of your garage baseboard is aesthetics.  Some of the baseboard finishes include a polyaspartic finish, vinyl baseboards or even, punched aluminum wainscoting or baseboards.  With a garage flooring makeover, many homeowners choose to finish the floors with a baseboard trim.

Planning You New Garage Floor This Spring

There are several factors to consider when selecting the best garage flooring system. Budget and personal preference play a major role. However, the condition of your garage floor is also a factor. Substantial pitting or cracking requires that voids be filled before any coating is applied.

Consult with a garage renovation specialist and then plan the de-cluttering of belongings so there is unrestricted access to the entire garage floor space to apply a new floor to your garage.

Filed Under: Garage Floors Tagged With: Baseboards, coloured floor tiles, concrete dust, concrete floors, concrete pitting, garage floor coatings, garage flooring system, garage renovation expert, garage renovation specialist, Painted Garage Floors, Polyaspartic Floor Coatings, Punched aluminum wainscoting, PVC Garage Floor Tiles, road salt, stain-resistant floor coating, UV resistant, waterproof

Three Ways to Make Your Garage Floor Look Great and Withstand Use and Harsh Weather

August 23, 2016 by Rick Scully

We seldom think about the garage floor. However, this important surface undergoes continuous abuse. It must bear the weight of vehicles, withstand damage caused by debris tracked in on tires and shoes and hold its own against leaking automotive fluids. Fluctuating temperatures of sweltering summer heat and frigid Canadian winters cause concrete floors to expand and contract. Then there is the battle of the elements: rain, sleet, snow and salt that gets tracked in on shoes and tires.

Examine your garage floor. Is the surface beginning to show wear? Bare concrete tends to crack, stain or become pitted with age. Cracks and stains not only diminish the beauty of your garage floor, they can compromise the surface, making it vulnerable to degradation. A garage floor coating or covering can preserve the surface and add instant pizzazz. Let’s examine three different garage flooring system options that will enhance the look of your garage and reinforce your floors to better withstand use and harsh weather.

Cover and Protect with PVC Tiles

2 car garage, stouffville, left rear door, pvc floor tiles, punched aluminum baseboard, slatwall, custom overhead platform, shelves, bike rack, bicycle storageThere are several factors to consider when selecting the best garage flooring system. Budget and personal preference play a major role. However, the condition of your garage floor is also a consideration. Substantial pitting or cracking requires that voids be filled before coating is applied. Alternately, an interlocking PVC tile floor will hide imperfections and protect floors from further damage.

PVC tile offers a less permanent solution. Individual 19 5/8” x 19 5/8” square tiles lock together like puzzle pieces. Available in a range of colors, this modular flooring system can quickly and easily transform the look of your garage while hiding stains and imperfections. Choose tiles in a smooth, matte finish or select a raised medallion surface for additional skid prevention.

4 car garage, greater toronto area - garage floor tiles, slatwall organizer, hooks, shelves, overhead storage, bike rackInterlocking PVC tiles are sturdy, attractive and chemical-resistant. They can easily be adapted to fit any garage configuration. Since no adhesive is used, simply remove and replace a single tile in the event of damage. PVC tile can be hosed down, pressure washed, mopped or hand scrubbed.

The area where drywall meets the floor is susceptible to damage caused by moisture or abuse—like dents from scooters or bicycles. Protect this vulnerable area of the wall by finishing off the look off with six-inch vinyl baseboards. This prevents water damage to the wall and stops water from seeping beneath the tiles, creating mildew.

Seal the Deal with Epoxy Coating

Epoxy is a floor coating that is applied directly to concrete floors. While it is sold in big box stores, consumers run into problems when applying epoxy because they dismiss the importance of surface preparation. More than a simple, weekend DIY project, applying epoxy paint to a garage floor requires several steps in order to achieve the very best results.

washing garage floorProperly applying epoxy to a concrete floor can require three or four days—during which the garage must remain empty. Major cracks must be repaired to create a smooth finish. Most importantly, the moisture level of the concrete must be checked to determine if a barrier is needed. Skipping this step is the critical mistake most DIYers make. If too much moisture is present, it will seep through the concrete, preventing proper adhesion of the product. When applied under such conditions, the coating begins to flake or chip within a year.

Next, a professional garage floor installation team will use a commercial grinder to remove 1/16th of an inch of the uppermost layer of concrete. This opens the pores of the surface and prepares it to accept the coating. Some may consider bypassing professional installation and using muriatic acid to clean and open the pores of the surface. We do not recommend the use of this hazardous chemical, which isn’t always effective on older concrete surfaces.

Once the surface is properly prepared, a moisture barrier must be applied if the concrete has a high moisture content. After application of the water seal, the epoxy is rolled onto the surface. It must cure before the surface is used.

Epoxy coats the top layer of the surface, sealing it. This stain-resistant coating causes water and oil to bead on the surface, so it can easily be wiped away. Epoxy comes in a wide range of colours and provides some skid resistance. The look is finished with vinyl baseboards in a complementary colour.

Epoxy provides a great, water-resistant coating that can give your garage floor a new look. While it costs much less than polyaspartic coating, application takes at least twice as long. Since the coating sits atop the surface, it is vulnerable to cracking and fading over time due to thermal expansion and contraction of the concrete. However, an epoxy coating application can provide a beautiful, stain-resistant floor for many years.

Polyaspartic Coating—Beautiful, Flexible and Long-lasting

1 car garage, toronto - garage flooringAt Garage Tailors Garage, polyaspartic coating is the preferred garage floor coating. The same preparation steps described above, are required. However, since polyaspartic coating doesn’t take as long to cure, it can be applied in as little as one day. It can also be applied over minor cracks in concrete flooring.

Water-soluble polyaspartic coating penetrates the concrete, providing better surface protection than coatings which only coat the top layer. The water-soluble nature of polyaspartic coating makes it fluid, allowing it to shift with the concrete through the expansion and contraction caused by hot and cold temperatures.

Polyaspartic coating is available in an array of attractive colours. A professional garage floor installation team can even create a custom colour for you. To achieve the look, a base coat is applied to the floor. A specified combination of colour flakes is sprinkled over the base coat and allowed to cure. Excess chips and sharp edges are shaved off and vacuumed away before the final sealant is applied. This textured coating looks great and provides excellent skid resistance.

polyaspartic flooring over stairsStandard vinyl baseboards can complete the look. However, polyaspartic coating affords an additional baseboard option that gives a garage a more polished finish. The thicker consistency of polyaspartic coating is ideal for creating a seamless baseboard or wainscoting effect. Plywood is attached to the walls. Then the coating is applied over the wood to create a unified baseboard.

Polyaspartic coating is versatile and provides a durable, attractive finish that is guaranteed for the life of your garage floor. To maintain it, simply clean the floor with soap and water or pressure wash it twice a year.

Bare concrete floors generate dust and are susceptible to staining and cracking that gets worse with age. Garage floor coatings and coverings are not only beautiful, but functional. They protect concrete floors from stains and other damage. While garage floor covering or coating is an investment, it can protect floors indefinitely while improving the look and value of your home. Prepare your garage floor to withstand the beating of heavy use and thermal expansion and contraction. Request a consultation to review the available garage flooring systems and see which one is right for you.

 

Filed Under: Garage Floors Tagged With: chemical-resistant garage flooring, concrete floors, epoxy floor coating, garage floor coating, garage flooring system options, interlocking PVC tile floor, modular flooring system, moisture barrier, muriatic acid, professional garage floor installation, stain-resistant floor coating, water-resistant coating, water-soluble polyaspartic floor coating

Garage Flooring – Prepare & Protect

May 7, 2013 by Rick Scully

concrete floor preparation grinderSpring has arrived and we’re looking at everything in a new light.  That includes the garage. Time to pull out the broom and give the floor a much-needed sweep to rid it of the debris collected over the winter. But does that sweep reveal issues that cannot simply be removed with a broom?  Bare concrete floors are prone to cracking over time as well as pitting from the effects of our Canadian climate.  Cement is a natural dust generator.  As often as you sweep, the dust will just keep returning with a vengeance.  Maybe it’s time to look at options for garage flooring?

The big box stores carry various floor coatings and some of my clients have been tempted to go with an inexpensive, do-it-yourself option.  While many of these coatings are fine, the downfall is the concrete floor must be properly prepared in order for the product to adhere well and last.  And unless you have access to a professional floor grinder to smooth out the concrete, you will never achieve a satisfying result.  Coatings applied to floors that are not properly prepared are likely to flake and peel.

Moisture is also an issue. If the moisture in your concrete floor exceeds 70%, any floor coating will be prone to peeling.  And if you choose a rolled rubber or vinyl flooring, you’re creating an environment under the flooring that traps the moisture and it will be constantly dirty and smelly.  The advantage of having a professionally finished garage floor is it is a one-time investment that will last indefinitely.

 

How to choose flooring that’s right for you

1 car garage, toronto - garage flooringFirst, take a look at the state of your cement floor.  If there is excessive cracking and pitting, the holes will have to be filled before a coating can be applied.  In this situation I recommend a pvc tile that will protect the floor while hiding those imperfections.

If you’ve got some minor cracking (most cement floors do), you can choose to go with a coating.  My coating of choice is polyaspartic.  It’s a little more expensive than epoxy but its more durable and far more versatile.  If you’d like one of the baseboard or wainscoting effects we talked about in last month’s blog, polyaspartic is the only way to go.

 

How we make your garage floor beautiful with polyaspartic coating

polyaspartic flooring over stairsFirst we’ll test the moisture level and, if the moisture level is more than 70 per cent, you will need a water barrier.  Then we repair any cracks and grind the floor down to get rid or minor imperfections and open the pores in the cement for proper penetration of the coating.  We’ll also apply a moisture seal if necessary to prevent water from coming through the surface of the floor.  You can then choose from myriad colour choices to complement the rest of the garage. We can even custom mix colours to match other design features.  A base coat is applied and a combination of colour flakes are sprinkled on and left to cure.  We then remove the excess flakes, chip off sharp edges, vacuum and apply a top sealer.  The whole process can be completed in less than a day.  Then all you need to do to maintain it is to clean it with soap and water or hose it down with a power washer a couple of times a year.

If you choose to do just one thing in your garage this season, think about flooring.  It’s an easy fix that makes a big impact.

Filed Under: Garage Floors Tagged With: 1 car garage, 2 car garage willowdale, Canadian climate, Cement, cement block floor, chip off sharp edges, Coatings applied, concrete floor, concrete floors, custom mix colours, environment, excessive cracking, floor coatings, garage, garage floor, garage flooring, grind the floor, How to choose flooring, make your garage floor beautiful, Moisture, moisture level, moisture seal, myriad colour, painted garage floor, polyaspartic, polyaspartic coating, polyaspartic flooring over stairs, power washer, Prepare & Protect, professional floor grinder, proper penetration of the coating, protect the floor, sweep reveal issues, think about flooring, toronto - garage flooring, vacuum, versatile, vinyl flooring, wainscoting effects

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