Everything You Need To Know Before Installing Epoxy Floors In A Residential Garage

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If you dream of turning your home's garage into an amazing workspace, then installing epoxy flooring is a must. Epoxy floors not only look amazing but are also very durable.

In case you aren't familiar with epoxy flooring, here is everything you need to know.

Epoxy Flooring Installation Basics

Your garage's epoxy flooring will be applied to the existing concrete slab. The concrete will be machine-polished to remove as many surface imperfections as possible. 

Once the concrete slab has been polished, then a primer is applied using a roller. While some epoxy flooring products claim to be self-priming, applying a primer results in a better final finish. 

When the primer has dried, then the epoxy is mixed and quickly applied to the floor using a roller.

Epoxy comes in two parts: resin and hardener. Once the resin and hardener are mixed together, the flooring contractor will have a limited amount of time to get it onto the floor and smoothed out before it starts to harden.

Once the epoxy has had time to dry and cure, then a clear urethane topcoat is installed. The topcoat makes the flooring very durable and provides UV protection. Flooring under a window that has UV protection will not fade.

Epoxy Flooring Allows You to Be Creative

Epoxy floors are unique and each one looks different depending on the installer and what design choices the homeowner made. 

For example, you have the option of adding:

  • metallic flakes to reflect light
  • paint chips to help visually hide concrete slab imperfections
  • glitter for an extra glamorous look

In addition, the flooring can be installed with swirls or other designs. And, if you want a 3D look, this can be achieved by installing a high-gloss topcoat.

The Advantages of an Epoxy Garage Floor Over Bare Concrete

There are many advantages to installing epoxy flooring in your garage.

For example, when you get down on the floor to work on your car or another project, sitting on epoxy flooring is so much more comfortable than cold bare concrete.

In addition, there are many other advantages, including:

  • a unique custom look
  • durability for decades
  • no chipping, cracking, peeling, or staining
  • impervious to mold, mildew, chemicals, and water
  • strong enough to withstand heavy vehicle traffic

Also, epoxy floors are the easiest to clean, only requiring occasional mopping with soap and water.

Epoxy Flooring in a Garage is Not a DIY Project

Finally, it's important to note that installing epoxy flooring in your garage is not a DIY project. While you can purchase kits to install this type of flooring, they often contain latex paint and other additives that decrease the lifespan of the floor over professionally applied epoxy flooring. 

For more information on epoxy floors, contact a company near you.

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9 February 2022

The Underfoot Blog

There are some things you don't want to walk on, like ants or hot coals. But do you know what you do want to walk on? A comfortable floor. Of course, everyone has a different idea of what qualifies as a comfortable floor. To some, this suggestion evokes images of a carpet. To others, a comfortable floor is one made from luxury vinyl tile. The good news is that there's room for all opinions in today's wide and wonderful world of flooring. Whatever your favorite type of floor may be, we welcome you to read more about flooring and floor-related topics on this blog.