In Part 1 of our series on Disastrous Solutions for Garage Floors, we began by discussing two very poor choices for garage floor solutions: stamped concrete and overlays (including epoxy stone and cementitious overlays). We still have three more poor choices to discuss.
The Final Three Disastrous Garage Floor "Solutions"
Before we jump in, let me state that we are not picking on these five flooring solutions. They each have their place, but our experience shows that it's not in a garage.
Garage Floor Coverings + Mid Atlantic Garage = 1 Stinky Garage
Typical Time to Issue: Less than 1 Year
Garage floor coverings are a category name applied to flooring solutions such as PVC garage floor tiles and garage floor mats. Garage floor coverings, like garage floor paints and cheap epoxy kits, are often the domain of the Do-It-Yourself homeowner. Many outlets (online and brick & mortar) sell PVC garage tiles and the garage floor mats are often sold online and in garage catalogs.
While easy to install, the tiles allow water and other materials to get under the them. Over time, odors from those materials, decay, and mold can begin to stink up your garage. Other issues exist as well, outlined in the following articles:
Garage floor coverings such as floor mats lead to the same moisture issues. We've installed coatings in several garages that had mats down before we arrived. At first, we didn’t advise the homeowners to air out their garages. Because of this, we arrived to some seriously smelly garages and concrete that was too damp to coat. Now, we ask homeowners to remove the mats one week prior to our arrival and to air out the garage during that week.
Professionally installed floor coatings avoid the issues associated with their cheaper counterparts, such as floor tiles or mats.
Q: Are properly installed, professional garage floor coatings by STRONGHOLD FLOORS subject to the same problems as garage floor coverings?
A: No. By their nature, garage floor coatings don't allow moisture or any other substances to penetrate the concrete. With no pores, mold and odors cannot build up within the coatings. Regular cleaning ensures no odors are present from the flooring.
Acid Stains and Dyes? Short-Lived Art.
Typical Time to Issue: Less than 3 Years
While not common in Maryland and Pennsylvania, STRONGHOLD FLOORS occasionally sees garages where a new contractor tried their hand at acid staining or dying the floor. Because stains and dyes must be protected by sealer, these garage finishes suffer from the same problem as stamped concrete.
The sealers don't hold up to the wear & tear, nor do they tolerate chemical exposures typical of residential garages in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
If the sealers aren't maintained, the compromised areas will incur discoloration and the acid stained (or dyed) concrete can be worn away. Additionally, some dyes don't tolerate natural light and areas that receive daily sunshine through the windows will fade until the dyes no longer show in those areas.
Q: Are properly installed, professional garage floor coatings by STRONGHOLD FLOORS subject to the same problems as stains & dyes?
A: No. Our garage coating system utilizes polyaspartic top coats that are extremely wear resistant, chemically resistant, and UV resistant.
Save yourself the headache these garage floor "solutions" cause and consider a professionally installed coating.
Polished Concrete in a GARAGE? Terrible!
Typical Time to Issue: Less than 3 Years
Polished concrete can be stunning. If the concrete is ground to expose the aggregate, the result can be a very natural looking finish of color stone. However, polished concrete is NOT very resistant to staining. To ensure it doesn’t wear and stain, the polished concrete must be properly maintained.
Proper maintenance of polished concrete requires frequent cleaning with a walk-behind or ride-on auto-scrubber with densifier/sealer solutions. Homeowners cannot properly maintain polished concrete in a daily use garage.
If the look of polished concrete is desired, the concrete can be ground to expose the aggregates. Clear epoxies, urethanes, or polyureas can then be applied to create a maintainable, unique garage floor (see: Clear, Thin-Mil Floor Coatings).
Q: Are properly installed, professional garage floor coatings by STRONGHOLD FLOORS subject to the same problems as polished concrete?
A: No. Properly designed and installed garage floor coatings are non-porous and require little regular maintenance.
Final Thoughts on Finishes for Concrete Floors
While this article concentrated on five poor choices for garage floors, there are plenty of additional bad choices. These include garage floor paint, cheap DIY garage floor kits, and carpet (yes, we really see carpeted garages).
While there are many good coating solutions for garage floors, the following resources may help to make an informed choice:
Q: Do we have any experience with the 5 solutions we deemed disastrous for garages?
A: Certainly, we do. We've polished over 20,000 square feet of concrete. We've also acid stained and dyed concrete. We have training in overlays, including systems similar to Nature Stone.
