How You Should Treat Your Garage Floors
Garage floors are pretty tough. They support tons of weight and last for what seems like an eternity.
But there are ways to make your garage floor tougher. And if you value your garage floor, you should want to do everything you can to make it last.
And if your garage floor does crack, don't dismiss it as aging or structural settling. Get it fixed and then coat that floor.
Coat it with what? You might ask. Well, with an epoxy industrial coating.
And we're here to tell you what to do to prepare for that.
Industrial coatings are made through a chemical reaction. After the reaction, the resultant coating cures. As it cures it hardens and becomes a solid.
It has strong mechanical properties and it's typically resistant to high temperatures and corrosive chemicals.
These kinds of coatings are popular, especially for garage floors. They are quick-drying and extremely protective.
Unlike heat-cured powder coatings, you can easily apply a polyurea coating to your garage floor in a very short amount of time.
Other uses for industrial coating are steel and metal can coatings. And these are typically in the industrial, marine, and automotive sectors.
So, if you're looking for something to protect your floors that's durable, easy and water and chemical resistant, apply an industrial coating on your garage floors.
There are a few major benefits to using industrial coating instead of a light acrylic sealant.
First Durability
While contemporary concrete structures are designed to last at least 60 years. And Roman concrete lasted about 2000 years. Your concrete floor is a thin sheet compared to most structures.
While it's designed to take the weight of your vehicles for several years, weather and chemicals and shifts in soils will damage the floor.
It's a wise thing to coat your flooring due to durability.
Adding a strong layer to the top of your floor adds tension and strength to the surface. This will increase the lifespan of your floor and keep it from chipping or corroding.
Aesthetics Are Another Benefit
Your concrete flooring may look amazing when you first pour it in.
But after a while it gets stained and the sheen wears off.
It begins to look dull and dirty.
If you care about how your garage looks and you spend a decent amount of time there, you probably want it looking nice.
Not only does the coating create a nice shine on the top of your floor, it can color it as well.
Floor coating is a kind of paint. And it's possible to add pigments to the coating so that you can paint your garage floors whatever color you like.
This can also improve the perception of space in your garage.
The sheen of the polyurea will reflect light and illuminate the space. And if you choose the right color, it could make the place feel open and airy.
Low Maintenance
Floor coatings make it much easier to clean your garage floors. The surface is no longer porous like concrete.
And you can wipe up any spill with ease.
It's A Safer Floor With Polyurea
Industrial coatings are a slip resistant surface.
Most industrial locations have to follow standards for preventing slip/fall accidents.
And floor coatings are essential to preventing workplace accidents.
And, an added bonus is that the coating is fire-resistant. Which aids in the integrity of your building.
Now that you know the benefits of industrial floor coatings, you can now apply your coating.
One of the biggest reasons why floor coatings fail is a lack of preparation.
Cleaning your garage floor in preparation is a must in coating application.
For every industrial coating job, you have to clean the surface you're going to coat.
Read through the application instruction of your coating. Make sure you understand the instructions thoroughly before you begin.
Because the second reason floor coatings fail is user error. The application has to be done right or it won't work.
Test For Sealers
If you floor is already sealed or painted, the coating won't work.
If you do have sealer or paint on your garage floors, you will have to grind it off.
Test for sealers by sprinkling water on your floor.
If it beads up without turning the surface dark, then you have a sealer on your floor.
If the water soaks in, then you don't have a sealer.
If you just recently poured your concrete, it needs to cure for a full 30 days before you can place a coating.
Inspect For Cracks, Divots, And Moisture
You want to inspect for any defects in the concrete such as cracks or divots. These need to be fixed before you apply the coating.
These need to be fixed before you apply the coating.
And you should check for moisture that's soaked in or signs of efflorescence.
Efflorescence is the white residue from excess lime and salts in the concrete.
If you do find moisture in your concrete, make sure you get a calcium chloride test done by a professional.
Clean The Floor And Profile It
Remove any white residue and stains.
If stains are not present, then just sweep well, and you're golden.
Lastly, you need to profile your garage floors.
Profiling simply means exposing the pores. This allows the coating to make a solid bond with the floor.
There are two ways to profile, acid etch or grind.
The best way to profile is through a good grinding. But most of the time an acid etch is sufficient.
Once done, shopvac the floor thoroughly until your finger doesn't pick up white dust when you run it over the concrete.
And then treat it like a crime scene. Let no dirt or contaminates touch the concrete.
Preparing your concrete floors for industrial coating is a bit of work. But once you apply the coating you will be highly satisfied.
If you're interested in industrial coatings, contact us for more information.
But there are ways to make your garage floor tougher. And if you value your garage floor, you should want to do everything you can to make it last.
And if your garage floor does crack, don't dismiss it as aging or structural settling. Get it fixed and then coat that floor.
Coat it with what? You might ask. Well, with an epoxy industrial coating.
And we're here to tell you what to do to prepare for that.
What Is Industrial Coating For Garage Floors?
Industrial coatings are made through a chemical reaction. After the reaction, the resultant coating cures. As it cures it hardens and becomes a solid.
It has strong mechanical properties and it's typically resistant to high temperatures and corrosive chemicals.
These kinds of coatings are popular, especially for garage floors. They are quick-drying and extremely protective.
Unlike heat-cured powder coatings, you can easily apply a polyurea coating to your garage floor in a very short amount of time.
Other uses for industrial coating are steel and metal can coatings. And these are typically in the industrial, marine, and automotive sectors.
So, if you're looking for something to protect your floors that's durable, easy and water and chemical resistant, apply an industrial coating on your garage floors.
What Are The Benefits Of Applying Industrial Coating To My Garage Floors?
There are a few major benefits to using industrial coating instead of a light acrylic sealant.
First Durability
While contemporary concrete structures are designed to last at least 60 years. And Roman concrete lasted about 2000 years. Your concrete floor is a thin sheet compared to most structures.
While it's designed to take the weight of your vehicles for several years, weather and chemicals and shifts in soils will damage the floor.
It's a wise thing to coat your flooring due to durability.
Adding a strong layer to the top of your floor adds tension and strength to the surface. This will increase the lifespan of your floor and keep it from chipping or corroding.
Aesthetics Are Another Benefit
Your concrete flooring may look amazing when you first pour it in.
But after a while it gets stained and the sheen wears off.
It begins to look dull and dirty.
If you care about how your garage looks and you spend a decent amount of time there, you probably want it looking nice.
Not only does the coating create a nice shine on the top of your floor, it can color it as well.
Floor coating is a kind of paint. And it's possible to add pigments to the coating so that you can paint your garage floors whatever color you like.
This can also improve the perception of space in your garage.
The sheen of the polyurea will reflect light and illuminate the space. And if you choose the right color, it could make the place feel open and airy.
Low Maintenance
Floor coatings make it much easier to clean your garage floors. The surface is no longer porous like concrete.
And you can wipe up any spill with ease.
It's A Safer Floor With Polyurea
Industrial coatings are a slip resistant surface.
Most industrial locations have to follow standards for preventing slip/fall accidents.
And floor coatings are essential to preventing workplace accidents.
And, an added bonus is that the coating is fire-resistant. Which aids in the integrity of your building.
How to Prepare The Garage Floors For an Industrial Coating
Now that you know the benefits of industrial floor coatings, you can now apply your coating.
One of the biggest reasons why floor coatings fail is a lack of preparation.
Cleaning your garage floor in preparation is a must in coating application.
For every industrial coating job, you have to clean the surface you're going to coat.
Read through the application instruction of your coating. Make sure you understand the instructions thoroughly before you begin.
Because the second reason floor coatings fail is user error. The application has to be done right or it won't work.
Test For Sealers
If you floor is already sealed or painted, the coating won't work.
If you do have sealer or paint on your garage floors, you will have to grind it off.
Test for sealers by sprinkling water on your floor.
If it beads up without turning the surface dark, then you have a sealer on your floor.
If the water soaks in, then you don't have a sealer.
If you just recently poured your concrete, it needs to cure for a full 30 days before you can place a coating.
Inspect For Cracks, Divots, And Moisture
You want to inspect for any defects in the concrete such as cracks or divots. These need to be fixed before you apply the coating.
These need to be fixed before you apply the coating.
And you should check for moisture that's soaked in or signs of efflorescence.
Efflorescence is the white residue from excess lime and salts in the concrete.
If you do find moisture in your concrete, make sure you get a calcium chloride test done by a professional.
Clean The Floor And Profile It
Remove any white residue and stains.
If stains are not present, then just sweep well, and you're golden.
Lastly, you need to profile your garage floors.
Profiling simply means exposing the pores. This allows the coating to make a solid bond with the floor.
There are two ways to profile, acid etch or grind.
The best way to profile is through a good grinding. But most of the time an acid etch is sufficient.
Once done, shopvac the floor thoroughly until your finger doesn't pick up white dust when you run it over the concrete.
And then treat it like a crime scene. Let no dirt or contaminates touch the concrete.
Conclusion
Preparing your concrete floors for industrial coating is a bit of work. But once you apply the coating you will be highly satisfied.
If you're interested in industrial coatings, contact us for more information.