So, it’s time to do something about this old and cracked garage floor of yours! Isn’t it? And while the methods to breathe life into the old garage flooring are plenty, you sit over there wondering what to do: paint, resurface, epoxy?
Which are the things that go through your mind now? The main considerations? Well, actually, we know. The traffic in this part of the house is beyond belief. Just the family cars alone would do, but then there’s the bikes, the 3 kids, the family’s dog, the neighborhood’s cats, friends and family – not to mention the tools, the chemicals, all good things that parade through the garage.
What do all these things have to do with your garage floor and your decision to epoxy, paint, or resurface? Everything. Why? For two reasons.
1. The heavier the traffic in the garage, the higher the possibility the floor is in bad shape. And when there’s lots of cracks, extensive damage, you need garage floor coating solutions and methods that can cover all these imperfections.
2. And then, it has to do with the longevity of the product. If your garage gets heavy traffic, you need something that will take the beating and won’t break down in a year or so.
Tough decisions. Why we pay so much attention to such things and don’t just go ahead and do what feels easier for us? Because applying any coating on the garage floor is not easy, takes some time, and is not free either. Then, the choice you make today will affect your life tomorrow. Do this part wrong and the floor may not withstand chemicals or impact. It might be hard to clean. It may degrade the home value.
Then, no method is free of disadvantages, while another factor that shapes your decision is your own needs. Sometimes, the conditions around us lead us into making a decision. Which are these conditions and factors? Your budget, your expectations, garage traffic, climate, garage size – just to mention the important ones. Let us consider the options now.
Epoxy garage floors
Epoxy coatings are actually ideal for most garage floors. But you need to remember that you need the real thing, not the paint. Pure epoxy consists of resins and hardeners, and when the layer is at least 2mm thick, the floor becomes very resistant and strong.
The pros
• Very resistant to chemicals, traffic, most temperatures
• A variety of solid colors and designs (flakes)
• Budget-friendly
• Easy to clean
The Cons
• Slippery when wet
• Not ideal for very low temps
• There’s a strong smell
• Epoxying takes some good prep work
Garage floor resurfacing
Assuming that this a concrete garage floor, resurfacing has the advantage of breathing new life into the old surface but without fixing its problems.
If there are cracks, dents, and holes, you need to fill and seal them first before you apply a new concrete coating. And so, the question here is on whether you mind the extra work or not. Also, concrete is great in terms of durability and overall resistance, but not easy to clean unless you choose polished concrete.
Painting garage floors
Painting garage floors is the least expensive method to make this part of the home elegant again in a few strokes. And although is cheap and relatively easy, the considerations outnumber the advantages. For instance, garage floors become extra beautiful with a fresh paint but that beauty doesn’t last for long. Paint coatings are thin and not resistant. So, this is more of a temporary solution, not the best method if you want the garage floor to remain elegant, easy to clean, and resistant.
