Recommendation On The Best Garage Floor Coating
There are many different opinions as to what is the best garage floor coating, however most people agree that simply painting your floor with an oil-based paint is not highly effective nor very long lasting. Two options which seem to be the most durable and worthwhile are using an epoxy formula or masonry stains.
No matter what method you choose, some groundwork must be done first in order for the treatment to be successful. The floor must be cleaned and degreased and it must be totally dry before you apply treatment.
There are many new formulas on the market that provide you with a kit that includes all that you need to totally redo your garage floor. Most popular formulas include a combination cleaner and degreaser, and then epoxy and acrylic resins that are mixed together once the concrete is dry and applied to the garage floor. Some kits include additional plastic non-skid chips that are scattered over the floor while the final coat is still wet. These kits are fairly inexpensive, and a regular kit that costs around $60-$75 should provide you with enough to cover the floor of a one or two car garage.
If you do not want to buy a kit you can buy the necessary items separately. First you will need to visit your local paint or hardware store and pick up some solvents and cleaners. Next you will need epoxy, which you can also find at paint and hardware stores, or at some car supply stores. To ensure that the epoxy will last, it is suggested that you invest in commercial grade epoxy. It may cost a little more, but it will be much more resilient and longer lasting that regular epoxy.
Another method that is very successful is painting your floor with masonry stain. These stains, once painted onto the floor, actually seep into the concrete itself yet do not make the floor slick and shiny like enamel paint or some epoxy coverings do. As with the epoxy coating, you will need to thoroughly clean and degrease the garage floor first, before applying the stain.
Of the two methods, the cheapest and least time consuming method is to stain your concrete. One of the advantages of this method also is that if one section begins getting more wear you can simply reapply the stain to that section; you do not need to re-do the entire floor. Also, stain does not bubble up or peel, nor is it damaged by heat or water vapor.
The epoxy kit, though slightly more expensive, provides you with everything you need to do the entire job. It also gives your garage floor a nice sleek finish which looks great. But in the end, choosing the best garage floor coating is a matter of personal preference.
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