Before applying a floor covering, it is imperative to properly repair and prepare the surface first. This is most important when your garage floor is level and subject to ground movement, moisture pressure, salts in the concrete, and cracking. In cold climates, freeze/thaw problems have a significant impact on the well-being of your floor.
a longer life
Applying a floor coating or paint to a concrete floor is not like painting the side of your house. Even houses need to be repainted every few years. A concrete floor needs to be etched or mechanically polished or shot blasted first. This preparation removes bond-breakers like oils from the floor and adds surface area for your epoxy coating. If you are using one of the newer polyureas on the market, grinding the floor first will open up the pores in the concrete so the coating can absorb into the surface. When repairing cracks, the best filler is a polyurea that will flow to the bottom of the crack, usually four inches, and dry below grade. Too often, cracks are filled only on the surface with a product that will never dry out.
Saving money
The biggest expense is doing it wrong. Over the years, I have seen countless times that a property owner did not do the proper research for a DIY project or did not ask their contractor the right questions. It’s surprising that a successful executive asks tough questions when interviewing a prospect for a job, but he only looks at the price of a contractor’s proposal without asking what he’s getting. The best solution is to find out about the flooring project and then invest in the right solution. The right professional with the right tools and equipment can fix a floor that seems hopeless.
durability guarantee
Most concrete garage floors have problems. You may notice dark spots that may be caused by moisture under the tile. You may also notice that your floor has perpetual dust on the surface. That’s efflorescence, or actually salts being pushed to the surface by moisture vapor pressure. Make sure you have a surface prep solution and use a floor covering that can handle this problem. Consider etching your concrete with an acid gel or grinding down the floor and then applying a coating of polyurea that will absorb into the concrete rather than just stick to the surface. Beware of coarse crack fills that do not flow to the bottom of the crack.
Where to find garage floor repair
Make sure you know the right questions to ask before interviewing a professional. Just because someone is in construction doesn’t mean they know the correct solution. Even going to your local masonry or home improvement store doesn’t mean they have the answer. These sources may know everything about a home, but when it comes to concrete floors, they’re a different animal. Many concrete repair products do not work. They may seem to work initially, but all of the factors I mentioned will nullify repair efforts with the wrong products and installation methods. Polyurea products are extremely effective at repairing chips and cracks. These products are often available online from companies that specialize in repair products.
