Staining and Sealing a Garage Floor: New Options and Finishes with Epoxy
If you’re considering sealing the garage floor, you’ve got several options. The material you use to seal the floor will depend on several factors: appearance, durability, necessity, and cost. One of the most common ways to stain and seal a garage floor is by using epoxy floor paint. If you choose to go this route, it’s important to know the different types of epoxy coatings and how they differ.
Completely Solid Epoxy Floors
For the most durable epoxy floor, you’ll want to use a 100% solid formula. The “100% solid” refers to the thickness of the coating when wet and when dry. At 100%, the thickness remains the same in both wet and dry states. That means you’ll only need to put down a single coat for this type of garage epoxy paint. That’s good news because this material is typically a bit pricier than other types of epoxy coatings. If done correctly, this fast-drying seal could last up to 20 years, protecting your garage floor for quite some time.
Water-Based Epoxy Floors
For a less durable and thinner seal job, you can use water-based epoxy. While not as heavy-duty as some other materials, water-based epoxy is one of the more environmentally-friendly garage floor sealing options. Plus, this material still protects the floor from moisture and chemical damage. You’ll end up with a glossy finish that was simple to achieve.
Solvent-Based Epoxy Floors
Solvent-based epoxy coatings are about as durable as their water-based counterparts and also end up looking nice and glossy. This material has been falling out of popularity as it’s been discovered that it can give off harmful chemical fumes. So, aside from solid garage epoxy paint, many people opt for water-based coatings if they have a choice between the two.
Gravel Epoxy Floors
For a different, more textured finish, you can also mix gravel and other small particles into your epoxy mix. The process involves putting down an initial epoxy primer coating, then mixing gravel with the epoxy mixture and laying over the first layer. Once that dries, go over the middle layer with another coat of epoxy sealer. This will result in a floor that’s still glossy and smooth but textured and very durable.
Non-Epoxy Options
Of course, other materials can be used for garage floor sealing, and some are even more durable and pleasing to the eye than an epoxy coating. For instance, polyurea floors are easy to install, eco-friendly, look as appealing as gravel epoxy floors, and tend to last up to four times as long as any epoxy floor. You can choose from a variety of textures and colors. This flexible material also helps prevent cracking caused by temperature changes and shifts in the earth.
Anderson Painting specializes in installing beautiful, durable polyurea garage floors. We offer our clients free on-site estimates so you can choose the right materials and look for your garage floor. We also offer interior and exterior painting services, power washing, siding installation, and more. Call us at 919-610-1855 or send us an email at info@www.andersonpaintingnc.com for more information!
