The Many Benefits of Applying Epoxy to Your Garage Floor
There was a time when a garage served mainly as a dark, dirty space for parking and stowing away extra storage and trash bins. These days, the garage is a source of pride for many homeowners and an extension of their living space. Installing an epoxy floor can be the perfect finishing touch for those ready to take it to the next level.
What is floor epoxy, and is it worth the investment?
Epoxy is a thermosetting floor system made of resin and hardener. It’s a popular floor coating system used for residential and commercial purposes. The rugged and durable finish can transform your garage floor into something equally elegant and functional. In addition, epoxy flooring is exceptionally long-lasting, making it an excellent investment for industrial spaces, garages, basements, and more.
Epoxy floor coating offers extra protection from harsh elements
Your garage floor is exposed to water, oil, dirt, and more daily. With a car (or two) constantly coming in and out of it, there is a lot of wear and tear. The strength and durability of epoxy will help protect your floor from extensive damage and preserve it for the long term. On its own, it is very durable. However, we always recommend putting a sealer on top. By sealing your flooring, you protect the epoxy and the floor from damage and scratching. Proline’s Poly HD sealer works great for epoxy flooring, which covers both the floor and the epoxy to offer protection from scratches.
Brands like Proline offer different types of epoxy to fit your project needs. Exotic metal epoxy is a 100% solids, two component, epoxy formulation with high strength and is used specifically for metallic flooring. Not only does it create a unique and seamless floor, but it also has excellent impact resistance.
What are the benefits of epoxy coating?
Chemical resistant: Epoxy is resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including acids, fuels, and solvents.
Heat resistant: One incredible benefit to epoxying your garage floor is that it can withstand high temperatures without losing its structural integrity. Making it ideal for use in environments with high temperatures.
Impact resistant: Epoxy is a strong and durable material that can withstand impact and heavy traffic without cracking or chipping.
Water resistant: Epoxy withstands exposure to moisture without breaking down. This makes it the perfect choice for outdoor and indoor environments where water is present, especially if your washing machine is in your garage.
Epoxy coating is a safe and sanitary flooring option for your home
Your health and safety are always number one, which is why an epoxy floor can be an intelligent choice. Not only is epoxy very easy to clean, but it’s non-porous and resistant to moisture, making it a nearly impossible environment for bacteria growth.
With epoxy, you can be confident that it will consistently look crisp and clean, and you won’t have to worry about constantly cleaning it. However, it is vital to ensure that the epoxy is installed correctly and well-maintained to ensure its continued safety and sanitation.
Adding epoxy to your floor is relatively simple with some knowledge and preparation
Epoxying your garage requires far fewer materials than other types of flooring. Whether you are a professional or a DIY-er, you’ll have less stress about the difficulty of installing it with the proper tools and knowledge of the process. It can be installed relatively quickly, and its flexibility allows it to be added to your existing floor or used for entirely new flooring.
Epoxy tends to set very fast in the heat and typically takes someone with experience to apply it. If applied to a pre-existing floor, you will need to remove the previous color and then go over it with acetone or alcohol to help clear the surface. If epoxy isn’t mixed correctly or spread too thin, the surface can become tacky and sticky.
Proline Epoxy is a quick-setting, self-leveling epoxy
In general, self-leveling epoxy is easy to apply because it self-levels and spreads out across the flooring surface. It quickly creates a single seamless surface across the floor. Self-Leveling Epoxy does have a few challenges, however, because it:
- Requires you to pour the proper amount for the square footage.
- Needs special tools — most people will use a prong squeegee to help with appropriate leveling, and a skilled contractor might use a flat squeegee instead.
- Sets quickly, and there is not much working time when it’s hot.
- When the epoxy isn’t mixed correctly, it will not set right.
- Will pit and leave massive holes if the floor is not properly prepared and dusted in advance.
- Requires a drill mixer and must be mixed for at least four minutes before pouring. Note: Metal epoxy plays by its own set of rules when it comes to preparing for application. Follow the directions carefully!
Epoxy coating is customizable to suit any design preference and functional needs
When it comes to appearance, epoxy goes above and beyond. You’ll get a shiny and smooth surface that will always be a pleasure to look at. You can customize the floor with your choice of color or pattern, giving it an added layer of personality. One option you can explore is the Proline exotic metal epoxy. It is designed to create elegant, beautiful, and unique seamless floors while offering high strength and excellent impact resistance.
Add flare to a plain or dull concrete surface with Proline’s DecoFlake
If you’re planning to epoxy your garage floor, Proline’s DecoFlake may offer the unique appearance you want. DecoFlake is a blend of colored flakes that can be added to epoxy to create various visual effects. It’s a great and customizable option! To incorporate, dust the flakes onto poured epoxy until you achieve the perfect look.
Check out our entire concrete resurfacing page to find some other Proline products that can help with your seamless epoxy installation.
Interested in more? Check out our Pinterest board for more great epoxy garage ideas! If you’re ready to update your garage floor, contact us today. We’re standing by to answer your questions! Just give us a call at 800-221-9469.
Categories: Concrete Sealers