Jul 13 , 2020 Anderson Painting

Whether your garage is solely used for storing vehicles, tools, and miscellaneous items or it’s a space for recreation, work, or display, you want this area to look its best and withstand the various pressures it faces. This project begins by reinforcing and enhancing your garage’s floor. A worn down, bare concrete floor isn’t just an eyesore -- it’s also susceptible to all kinds of damage. The best way to protect your floors is by properly sealing them. Of course, there are many materials and methods for these purposes, and choosing the right one can prove difficult. To help you navigate this choice, here are five garage floor sealing options to consider.

The Best Options to Seal a Garage Floor

1. Epoxy Paint for Cement Floors

A common choice for sealing garage floors (and any type of concrete floor for that matter), epoxy paint is both functional and fashionable. A sort of mix between paint and powerful glue, epoxy paint forms a strong bond with concrete while offering several aesthetic options. This option comes in three major forms: 100% solids, water-based, and solvent-based. If you want to introduce some color and sheen to your garage floors, garage epoxy paint is one way to go.

2. Urethane Cement

Urethane cement coatings have increased in popularity due to their durability, reliability, and ease of installation. Indeed, urethane coatings are generally quicker and easier to install than epoxy coatings -- they are also easier to maintain. That said, some urethane coatings do not bond quite as well as epoxy or other options. Still, a urethane sealer provides a garage floor with a glossy, chemically-resistant, long-lasting finish. For these reasons, urethane is sometimes applied over an epoxy concrete seal.

3. Acrylic/Latex Coatings

Acrylic and latex floor coatings look great, but they tend to not be as durable as epoxy and other garage floor coatings. More specifically, these sealers are often susceptible to chemical corrosion, and reapplication may be necessary every 2-3 years. On the plus side, though, acrylic/latex sealers adhere more strongly than urethane sealers, making them useful as primers if nothing else.

4. Polyurea

One of the best all-around garage floor sealing contenders has to be polyurea coatings. Polyurea is even better than epoxy for many reasons, especially because it can last for decades instead of a few years. Here at Anderson Painting, we primarily use Penntek polyurea floor coatings for all types of concrete floors (i.e. basements, garages, patios, commercial facilities, etc.). When compared to most epoxy coatings, these coatings are more durable, more flexible, and more versatile in terms of aesthetics. Penntek polyurea coatings offer superior protection against stains, chemicals, moisture, impact, thermal shock, and more.

5. Concrete Polishing

Lastly, if you’re looking for a beautiful, long-lasting solution to garage floor maintenance, consider concrete polishing. During this process, diamond tools grind the floor down, after which a concrete densifier is applied to the bare surface. This results in a high-gloss, dense, non-porous, low-maintenance concrete floor that will immediately enhance the appearance and value of your garage.

The Verdict

Each of the garage floor sealers mentioned above consists of unique pros and cons -- some are easier to apply, others are more durable, and others might simply suit your aesthetic preferences above all else. If you want more information on any of these options (or others), and/or you need help making the right call for your garage, the flooring experts at Anderson Painting are here to help. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!