garage flooring system Archives

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

Winterizing 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

There 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

A 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

Polyaspartic 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

Alternately, 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

The 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.

Frigid winter temperatures can wreak havoc in and around your garage. More than a mere inconvenience, freezing temperatures can drain the energy efficiency of your home, putting a sizable dent in your wallet. Preventive maintenance in your garage will save you time and heating energy while preventing expensive repairs. Consider four ways you can reduce costs by winterizing your garage.

Organize Your Garage

Avoid the frustration of rummaging through the garage to locate the window washer fluid or a shovel when it’s icy outside. Organize your garage for the most efficient use during winter (and throughout the year). A complete garage renovation during a bitter cold Toronto winter isn’t feasible. However, the following steps will help you organize your garage for winter:

Group items into task-related zones. Create zones for winter sports, automotive care, winter yard care, tools, household items and the garbage and recycling. You can quickly locate the item you need when it’s stored in the same place every time.
Store chemicals, household products and other items in garage storage cabinets. Tall, locked, vertical cabinets keep dangerous chemicals beyond the reach of pets and small children. Horizontal cabinets create hidden, accessible storage. Countertops double as project workspace. Relocate paint and fuel gels, which can freeze, inside during winter.
Reclaim floor space with a garage slatwall organization system. Lockable hooks, shelves and baskets provide flexible storage for ice skates, sleds and hockey sticks. Shelves, hooks and baskets can be quickly and easily moved. High hooks and shelves keep items out of little hands. Low baskets enable small children to store and retrieve their own winter toys and gear.
Store out-of-season items or those infrequently used on overhead garage storage Overhead storage racks are ideal for storing outdoor furniture cushions, holiday decorations and bulky items that take up too much space.

Garage organization doesn’t have to be daunting. Keep it simple until you’re prepared for a more ambitious garage renovation.

Weatherproof Your Garage

The harsh Canadian winter is tough on garages. Heat loss during cold weather wastes energy and significantly increases heating costs. Take an hour or so to care for the tasks below. You’ll reduce energy costs and prevent costly repairs.

Seal garage door and trim. Reduce drafts in your garage by applying weatherstripping around the sides and bottom of the garage door. Caulk the leading edge of the newly-installed weatherstripping. Fill gaps in garage door trim using foam or caulk backer rod (for larger gaps). Finish up with a quality indoor/outdoor caulk.
Insulate the garage door. Heat loss via your garage door can lower the temperature inside your garage (and the vehicles stored there) considerably. A single or double layer of foam board installed between the garage door frames reduces heat loss.
Fix or replace weather stripping around doors and windows. A tight seal is the key to keeping warm air inside and cold air out. Weatherstripping around windows and doors compresses over time and deteriorates due to age, exposure to the elements and other damage. Do a visual inspection of weatherstripping around windows and doors. Look for obvious damage. Close the door and check for gaps. Repair or replace weatherstripping as needed.
Insulate older, less efficient water heaters. Newer water heaters are insulated for cost-effective operation during brutally cold winters. Older tanks with an R-value rating of less than 24 must work harder to heat water and keep it warm, especially when located in an unheated space. Reduce heat loss by up to 45% and cut your heating costs by as much as 9% by draping the water heater with a water heater insulation blanket.
Insulate outside wall light switches and electrical outlets. As much as 5% of outside air that seeps inside your home each year enters via exterior wall light switches and electrical outlets. Reduce drafts and heat loss with inexpensive foam insulation designed for electrical covers.

Prevent Pipes from Freezing

Frozen water pipes and spigots can cause costly damage to your home. To prevent damage:

Drain, remove and store garden hoses. If left connected, ice can form and create pressure in interior water lines. This could lead to an expensive water line break. Instead, remove the hose, drain it and store it.
Turn off outside water sources during the frigid winter months. If there is an interior shut-off valve, cut off the water to exterior water spigots. Allow water to drain from faucet to prevent freezing.
Insulate pipes. An insulated faucet jacket will protect your exterior water spigot and connected interior pipes from frigid temperatures.

In addition to preventing damage and costly repairs, you’ll prevent accidents that could occur when dripping water freezes, creating a slippery surface.

Seal Garage Floors

A polyaspartic flooring system is a tough, durable floor coating with the look of granite. It seals floors, keeps moisture out, reduces dust, provides non-slip grip and is easy to clean. This professionally-installed flooring system includes a ten-year warranty and is available in a wide range of colours.

This winter, your garage will take a beating from cold temperatures, ice and snow. Lessen the impact of harsh winter weather by organizing your space with a garage wall storage system and garage cabinets; weatherproofing your water heater, windows, doors and electrical outlets; turning off exterior water sources; and sealing garage floors.

Ready to improve the look and function of your garage? Garage Tailors Garage specializes in custom garage renovations designed to maximize storage and make your garage the envy of the neighborhood. Request a consultation and reserve your space today on our spring garage renovation schedule.

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Winterize the Garage Floors