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Professional Garage Floor Coatings – Not Just Lipstick on a Pig

garage coatings - not just lipstick on a pig

I was driving past a condo building where new siding was being applied the other day. Since the old siding was removed from many areas, issues with the underlying wood were obvious.

But, instead of making repairs to the damaged wood, the new siding was being placed right over it to hide the issues. The phrase “Lipstick on a pig” immediately came to mind.

Just superficial or cosmetic changes - not a real solution.

The same phrase often applies to "do-it-yourself" garage floor paint. Sure, it looks a little better than plain concrete, but that big box store’s DIY coating is just cosmetic and will not last. Most DIY solutions lack adhesion to the concrete, chemical & scratch resistance, and longevity.

Professional Garage Floor Coatings Offer Much More

Professionally installed, commercial-grade garage floor coatings offer so much more than a DIY kit.

Professional installer applying the clear coat of polyurea

A professional installer applying a polyurea clear coat to a garage floor.

  1. The professional surface preparation increases the mechanical bond between the coatings and the concrete. Instead of just cleaning, pressure washing, acid etching, or sanding, professional coatings installers will mechanically diamond grind the floor.
  2. Surface imperfections and cracking is properly addressed before coatings are applied. Whereas most DIY kits are applied directly over the cracks and surface imperfections, leaving it all visible (and often highlighting those imperfections).
  3. The first layer of coatings provides superior adhesion to the concrete surface. No hot tire pickup. No paint flakes coming into the home on the bottom of shoes.
  4. The coatings used provide excellent scratch and chemical resistance. No damage from road salts, acids, or petroleum products. No breakdown of the concrete’s cream layer from abrasions or chalking/dusting (the formation of loose powder resulting from disintegration of surface of hardened concrete).
  5. Professional coatings deliver years of service, instead of requiring a new layer each year like most kits. The coatings typically come with long warranties (STRONGHOLD FLOORS provides a limited-lifetime warranty).
  6. Garage floor coatings increase curb appeal during sale of the property.
  7. Cleaning and maintaining the commercial-grade coatings is easy. Even paint or road tar can be safely removed.

A garage using our decorative chip flake floor coatings.

If you're considering a professionally installed garage floor coating and you don't know where to begin, here is a step-by-step guide:

  1. Garage Floor Coatings Criteria Part I: Evaluating the Current Floor Condition
  2. Garage Floor Coatings Criteria Part II: Determine the Performance Requirements
  3. Garage Floor Coatings Criteria Part III: Choosing the Desired Look
  4. Garage Floor Coatings Criteria Part IV: Selecting the Coating System

If you read Part IV (above), please note that Metallic Epoxy is no longer recommended for garages. That system is too quick to show dirt, debris, scratches, streaks (from cleaning), and imperfections in the concrete slab.

Alternatively, if you think you're ready to begin, start by requesting a free quote today!

Before and After of a MD garage floor.

A before and after of a garage floor coatings project in Maryland.

After the Floor Coatings, What’s Next?

When your coatings installation is complete, there are numerous things you can do to make the garage a more useful room. Some of those possibilities are outlined in the following articles: