Update Your Garage Floor

Is your garage floor looking a little grungy? It’s no surprise! Garages are subject to extreme treatment. Pressure from your vehicles, extreme temperature swings, oil drips; your garage floor withstands a lot.

If you want to give your garage floor a brand-new look, consider applying a concrete resurfacing product. Available in different looks, textures, and colors, these products are perfect for enhancing your garage. Please note: these products are intended for use by licensed and trained professionals. You can find contractors in your area that do this type of work under the Find A Contractor tab on ConcreteNetwork.com

Before you consider a resurfacing project, ensure your garage is only suffering from aesthetic issues. Any shifting, crumbling, or cracking is a sign of structural damage and you’ll want to get those taken care of first.

Deco-Flake System by Proline

Deco-Flake is a 100% solids epoxy floor coating system. Decorative color flakes are integrated into a colored base coat and sealed with clear epoxy and/or polyurethane or polyaspartic topcoats. It’s designed for use in numerous residential and commercial applications. Deco-Flake is a decorative and durable chemical-resistant coating, so it’s perfect for garages (as well as showrooms, commercial kitchens, and more). DecoFlake is designed to be used as a medium to heavy-duty coating.

As with all coating processes, ensure that you prep your surface properly. Newer concrete should be at least 28 days old. The surface must be free of dust, dirt, oil, grease, paints, glues, sealers, or any other contaminant that may serve as a bond breaker. It should also have a porous, textured profile comparable to 60-grit sandpaper or rougher. Proline’s Dura-Clean and Dura-Etch are great products for surface prep when used with a turbo nozzle on your pressure washer.

There are several color combinations you can choose from when using a flake system. You’ll want to use a colored base coat that compliments your selection of flake colors. If you are in an area where moisture is an issue, be sure to use a Vapor Block Epoxy as a primer before applying Epoxy 100. When applying a Light to Medium broadcast of flakes, your base color will show through. In areas where direct and indirect sunlight, or fluorescent lights will hit the floor, you’ll want to use a Poly HD Color over your Base coat before broadcasting your flakes. After your flakes are set and your excess flakes are cleaned off and scraped flat, you’ll want to top with Poly HD Urethane Clear. Depending on the smoothness of the surface and look you desire, as well as, if slip resistance is a concern, your sealing process may vary. Please consult the detailed instructions on the technical data sheets created by the manufacturer for step by step instructions. Avoid traffic on floor for 48 hours and heavy abrasion or chemical exposure for 5 days once complete.

Exotic Metals by Proline

Proline’s Exotic Metals is a three-dimensional metallic epoxy system designed to create elegant, beautiful and unique seamless floors. Exotic Metals is a 100% solids, two component, epoxy formulation with high strength and excellent impact resistance.

****Important – Before applying Exotic Metals always blow the entire surface to be coated, including around all the edges, corners and under walls to be sure no loose debris will come out during the Exotic Metals application. Loose debris hidden under drywall can become embedded in the Exotic Metals if not removed.

Similar to the Deco-Flake system, you will use a primer coat. If moisture is an issue, you’ll want use the Vapor Block Epoxy rather than the Epoxy 100. After drying, approximately 12-15 hours, you’ll apply the Exotic Metals. There are several techniques to create a unique finish including Blowing and Color Blending. For a less mottled look, use the Solvent technique. For application and technique instructions, please refer to the Tech Data sheet by Proline.

100% solids epoxies are very hard and durable, but because of their hardness they scratch and dull over time. In order to keep the metallic finish, it is important to apply a thin topcoat sealer or maintain a sacrificial coat of floor finish or floor wax over the surface.