If you have a garage, your garage floor’s surface layer is most probably just bare concrete without a top seal. Concrete is a building material that expands when it gets hotter and contracts when it gets cooler. It is a natural process that will eventually cause your garage floor to start cracking.
While it might not seem like a big deal, it will lead to major foundational deterioration once winter comes around. Water coming from melting snow will start seeping into the concrete through the cracks and begin going through repeated thaw and freeze cycles. Soon enough, longer and deeper cracks will form on the surface of your garage floor. Does not sound great, does it?
If you want to prevent that from happening, start by making sure that your garage door is weatherproof. Better yet, hire a professional who will do it for you! For instance, if you live in Arizona, you should consider contacting a company specializing in garage door repairs in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. That way, you will keep water from leaking under your garage door.
Next, invest in winter protection for your garage floor. To make it easier for you, we made a list of all of the options you might want to consider. Take a look!
Polyaspartic Floor Coating
Polyaspartic floor coating is the best garage floor protection option on the market. It consists of an adhesive base coat, making it form a stronger bond with concrete than any other coatings ever will. Consequently, it is more resistant to all kinds of things that can potentially cause damage to your garage floor.
Moreover, you can apply it in really low temperatures. The same can not be said for other floor coating types, which need to be applied in very specific temperatures. It is incredibly convenient if you had not managed to invest in any sort of floor coating before winter came around.
Epoxy Floor Coating
Epoxy coating is cheaper than polyaspartic coating, and for a good reason. First of all, it is not equally effective. Second of all, you can not apply it in extreme hot or cold temperatures, which can really get in the way of finishing your garage flooring project.
Nevertheless, it is quick and easy to install, and it adds a top coat seal that will protect your garage floor from all kinds of damage. It requires little to no maintenance, which is a huge plus if you do not have that much time or energy to devote to home improvement projects.
Garage Floor Tiles
PVC or plastic floor tiles are yet another way of going about garage floor protection. They have plenty of benefits, such as cost-effectiveness and quick installation. There is a wide range of designs that you can choose from, too!
If the floor tiles you decide to go for are all solid, the moisture will collect on their surface, and it will effectively protect your garage floor from getting damaged. However, it might also become a bit of an issue if all of that water does not evaporate. It might freeze over, which will transform your garage floor into a slippery mess.
Winter Snow Mats
Buying a winter snow mat is the cheapest way to protect a garage floor in winter. Also known as water containment mats, they come in a variety of different sizes. As a result, you are guaranteed to find one that will be the perfect fit for your car in no time!
How do they work? They are typically made out of either durable rubber or vinyl, which can effectively hold entire gallons of water. It is worth noting that emptying them out can be a bit of a chore since they can get heavy and make a mess once you move them.
While it might be tempting to go for the cheapest mat that you can find, it would be best to buy a more expensive one instead. It will be more durable and will not tear after a week, which is a risk that you will have to take if you decide to cheap out.
Floor Paint
Floor paint is more of a last resort than a viable protection option. Why is that the case? It does virtually nothing to protect your garage floor. Once it has been applied and dried, all you are getting is a cosmetic upgrade to your floor. In spite of that, it has quickly become one of the most popular floor improvements of all time.
But just because it is popular does not mean that it is good. It will quickly start chipping and flaking. Consequently, it will need to be touched up or reapplied after a really short amount of time. You can remedy this by utilizing concrete sealer instead. Choosing a high quality option will last you for years and won’t chip or flake if applied correctly.
Your Garage Floor Needs Protection!
All in all, your garage floor needs proper protection. Concrete is not as durable as it seems, and there are numerous ways in which it can be damaged. This is especially true if you have not used a topcoat. Luckily, there is a wide selection of protection options that you can choose from.
While some are much worse than others, they are still better than nothing. Additionally, at least one of them should prove to be affordable even if you are on a tight budget.
Once you make a purchase, you will not have to worry about the long-term damage winter can have on your flooring anytime soon. And the benefits do not end here! Your garage floor will become easy to clean and will make your garage look good, no matter the weather. Sounds good? If so, start looking into protection for your garage floor as soon as you possibly can!
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