The affordability and long-lasting durability of concrete
makes it an excellent material for garage floor construction, but there are
ways to make concrete flooring even better. For example, a protective coating
on the surface of a concrete floor can improve the finished floor in a number
of ways, but only if you choose the right coating for the task at hand.
Polyurethane and acrylic coatings have their merits, but
epoxy coatings are often more useful and versatile, and they are ideal for use
in both residential and commercial settings. If your concrete business
regularly creates garage flooring, here are six ways epoxy coatings can take
your newly laid flooring to the next level.
1. Improved Durability
Epoxy coatings are applied in liquid form and bond closely
with the porous surface of the concrete as they dry. This process makes
epoxy-coated concrete more resistant to heavy impacts, which can cause
untreated concrete to shatter or crumble.
The flexibility of epoxy also helps to distribute the weight
of vehicles and other heavy objects across a wider area, improving the floor's
long-term resistance to wear. This makes epoxy coatings particularly suitable
for commercial garage flooring, which must stand up to the weight of dozens of
vehicles passing in and out of the garage on a near-constant basis.
Concrete is also chemically reactive, and petroleum
products, lubricants, and other corrosive liquids can weaken and damage
unprotected concrete floors. An epoxy coating on the concrete creates a
watertight, chemically inert seal, providing much-needed protection against
accidental spills.
2. Easier Maintenance
Concrete's porous surface readily absorbs liquids, and the
concrete can permanently stain if it comes in contact with transmission fluid
or other pigmented substances. Concrete that has absorbed moisture may also
become contaminated with mold or bacterial growth, which can be hazardous in
the cramped, poorly ventilated confines of an average garage.
The watertight seal created by epoxy coats will prevent
spilled liquids from being absorbed into the concrete itself, and this makes
the concrete floors much easier to maintain. You can also clean dirt and grime
away with a simple mop and bucket. Or you can use harsher cleaning chemicals to
safely remove more stubborn stains, such as tire marks.
3. Attractive Looks
An uncoated concrete floor can look rather drab and
utilitarian. But an epoxy coating can make any concrete-floored garage look
more inviting, and they are available in a wide variety of colors. As an added
bonus, the glossy surface of a dried epoxy coating is reflective and will help
to increase ambient light levels in the most cramped and dimly lit garage.
4. Hot Tire Pickup Resistance
Vehicle tires can become very hot after extended periods of
driving. When a vehicle is parked on a garage floor after a long drive, the
heat of the tires can damage certain types of concrete coating, such as acrylic
paints. This phenomenon is known as hot tire pickup.
Epoxy coatings are just as resistant to high temperatures as
they are to harsh chemicals, and they will not melt or delaminate when exposed
to hot tire rubber.
5. Environmentally Friendly
You might assume that epoxy concrete coatings are bad for
the environment, since they are made from synthetic plastic polymers. However,
because epoxy resins are resistant to heat, they will not create any noxious
vapors while they are heated prior to application, unlike many polyurethane and
acrylic coatings.
If you want to make sure your epoxy floor coatings are
eco-friendly, make sure to use water-based epoxies instead of solvent-based
alternatives. Unlike many concrete coatings, water-based epoxies do not contain
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to people and the
environment.
6. Cost Effectiveness
Despite these useful advantages, epoxy coatings for concrete
are also reasonably priced, and their durability makes them an excellent
long-term investment for any garage floor. They can be particularly cost
effective if you use them to recoat aging concrete floors, since they can be
applied without having to spend time and money removing the original coating
first.
If you have any more questions about how epoxy coatings can
benefit concrete garage floors, contact the epoxy coating specialists at Mikro Corporation
for advice and product
recommendations.
