Pros & Cons of Popular Garage Floor Coating Options [2023]
Whether you realize it or not, you spend a lot of time in your garage. In fact, 55% of Americans spend around three hours each week in the garage doing hobbies and other activities. Your garage is easily one of the hardest-working spaces in your home. From oil changes to tire wear to spilled chemicals, your garage floor bears the brunt of that wear and tear. With so much being asked of your garage, the protection of a customizable concrete coating is essential to the longevity and durability of your garage floor.
Investing in a new garage floor coating is a big decision. Do you do it yourself? Hire a professional? How do you want your new space to look? Do you need to consider the current state of your concrete? From appearance, to protection level, to cost, there are several important flooring aspects to consider. Concrete coating services turn your stained, marked, cracked concrete into a surface you can be proud of, but there are a few key questions to ask yourself and options to think through along the way.
We’re covering the pros and cons of the top garage floor coating options for 2023, and giving our best recommendations for your space. The options we’re outlining today are:
- Epoxy
- Polyurea
- Cementitious Urethane
- Polyaspartics
Pros & Cons of Epoxy, Polyurea, Cementitious Urethane & Polyaspartics
Epoxy: Pros & Cons
Epoxy floor coating systems are a type of synthetic resin that is laid on top of concrete as a form of protection and to improve the overall appearance. Epoxy coatings have been the best available option for concrete floors for a long time. They’re definitely a fine solution for a lot of situations, offering some solid benefits that are tough to ignore.
Pros:
- Resistant to stains and chemicals
- Easy to clean
- Affordable
- Available in a variety of colors
Cons:
- Can yellow or fade over time
- Prone to hot tire pick up
- Requires regular maintenance
- Range in product quality from DIY kits to professional products
- Performs poorly in comparison to other options, like polyurea
Polyurea: Pros & Cons
Polyurea is a material that is a subset of polyurethane. It is a coating that bonds to the moisture in your concrete garage floors to create a protective barrier that prevents scratches, stains, and other threats to your garage floor. It is a very durable material that is used to coat and seal garage floors. Because it is durable, it lasts longer than traditional coatings, is scratch-resistant, great for protecting against spills.
Pros:
- Durable and long-lasting
- Resistant to stains and chemicals
- Easy to clean
- Fast-drying
- Available in a variety of colors
Cons:
- Cost more up-front
- Requires professional installation
Cementitious Urethane: Pros & Cons
Composed of cement, water, aggregate, and different additives, Cementitious Urethane is designed for excellent adhesion and durability. This floor coating option was originally developed to meet the challenging needs of food and beverage facilities, but quickly became a great flooring solution for warehouses, manufacturing, commercial kitchens, and other high traffic areas.
Pros:
- Seamless, self-leveling, and wear-resistant
- Resistant to stains and chemicals
- Easy to clean
- Available in a variety of broadcast materials
Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires professional installation
- Limited color options
- Webfoot recommends cementitious urethane for commercial applications, not garages
Polyaspartics: Pros & Cons
A polyaspartic floor system consists of a colored base coat, vinyl flake layer and a clear top coat for shine and durability. The surfaces are layered by spraying, painting or plastering to prevent corrosion and erosion. Polyaspartic coatings are very hard and tough which enhance protection but may hinder repairs and modifications.
Pros
- Durability
- Fast-Drying
- Available in a variety of colors and finishes
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Only form a surface-bond that causes weak adhesion as a basecoat
The key factors to consider when selecting the right garage floor coating are durability, aesthetic appeal, price, and compatibility with your garage. When it comes to how you use your garage, you are truly the expert. Whether you go with epoxy, polyurea, cementitious urethane or polyaspartics, we hope we can help guide you in choosing the right garage floor coating for your home.
Choose Webfoot for the Best Garage Floor Coating - Book a Quote Today
Webfoot coatings are made by flooring professionals for flooring professionals; we think you’ll take notice we use only the very best products in our industry. With over 1200 satisfied customers, 40+ installations a week, and a 4.9 Google Rating, our team of highly qualified craftsmen are ready to help you take your garage to the next level, no matter what option you choose. Get excited about the benefits of a garage floor coating.