It may be time for garage flooring to be replaced if it is beginning to look worn or discolored. Concrete floors that are not properly sealed can crack and stain over time, which can make them look even worse.
You can seal cracks and repel water with an epoxy coating. This will add color and texture to your space. You may be surprised at how affordable this upgrade is.
How to Install Epoxy
Although it might be tempting to save money by applying epoxy yourself, a professional garage floor installer will give you better results in a shorter time. All you have to do before they arrive is to clear your garage of all your possessions.
How to Choose the Best Epoxy Coating
It is important to trust the professionals to assess your floors and guide you towards the best coatings.
Every project is unique and the floor coating that works best for you will depend on the amount of traffic it receives and what conditions it will be under.
- Two-Part Epoxy Floor Coating with 100 Percent Solids
- Epoxy floor coating that is two-parts water-based
- One-Part Floor Coating
The most expensive and most difficult choice of epoxy is 100% solids epoxy. They are low in odor because they don’t contain any additional solvents.
As opposed to one-part epoxy floors, two-part epoxy floors do not contain any conventional solvents.
Two-part epoxy coatings made with 100% solids create a thick, durable, and visually appealing concrete surface. These epoxy kits can be used with decorative chips sprinkled over the epoxy’s surface.
Two-part water-based coatings, also known as hybrid products, contain the components of epoxy but also include water as a solvent.
Water-based coatings that are two-parts water-based take longer to dry and cure, as the solvent must evaporate completely. They are much easier to work with than 100% solids epoxy floor coatings because they are water-based.
Water-based epoxy is typically two to three times cheaper than 100% solid epoxy. Solid epoxy is the best choice for flooring that lasts longer and requires less maintenance.
One-Part Floor epoxy paint consists of a latex acrylic product with a small amount of epoxy added to it to make it strong enough for light traffic on garage floors.
A one-part epoxy floor coating is fine for interior surfaces that are not subject to moisture. However, garage floors and carport slabs where cars are stored will benefit from a two-part epoxy made of 100 percent solids.
The Epoxy Installation Process
After you have chosen the type of coating, including its texture and color, the team will start the installation process by inspecting your concrete for cracks or gouges. These cracks will be filled with filler, which will give your epoxy floor a smooth finish. After the polymers have dried, the team will use a primer to seal the concrete and provide a solid base for the epoxy to adhere to. The epoxy coatings are then applied, and any texture is added.
Each coat will dry between applications in about two days. The drying time can be affected by weather conditions and humidity. You will need to wait a few days before you use your garage again. This is so the epoxy can cure or dry completely to its rock-hard finish. Your durable, new flooring will last for many years.
Factors in Calculating Epoxy Garage Floor Cost
Other than the epoxy type, there are many other factors that impact the epoxy garage flooring cost.
Prices may vary from the national average because of garage size, labor costs, and application methods.
Garage Size
The epoxy coating cost will increase if the surface is larger. The most affordable options are water-based epoxy and solvent.
Labor Cost
The epoxy garage floor should be completed with minimal labor and favorable site conditions. Remove all loose material. Clean/etch the surface and fix cracks. Mix, apply, and distribute epoxy coating. This includes planning, equipment, and material procurement, preparation, protection, and setup, as well as cleanup. Epoxy can be labor-intensive between prep work and application.
Application Method
Some epoxy applications require a roller, while others require a trowel, squeegee, or sprayer. Some methods require more work than others. The labor costs will vary depending on which method is used.
Material and Equipment Factor
Pricing will be affected by the materials and equipment used. Pricing will be affected by the level of professionalism and equipment used.
You can use power washers, shop vacuums, many power tools, special shoes, and squeegees in a variety of sizes and notches. Rollers and spiked rollers are also used to remove air bubbles. Protective gear is also available.
Epoxy Flooring Price Per Square Foot
The cost of Epoxy coatings is generally between $3 and $7 per square foot, depending on the epoxy type used and labor costs.
Depending on the epoxy type, epoxy flooring materials cost between $0.37 to $1.40 per square foot. The cost of solid epoxy is $1.40 per square feet, while water-based epoxy costs $0.37 to $1.20 for each square foot.
On average, labor costs between $2 and $5 per square foot.
The size of your floor, how many layers you want to apply, the epoxy type you use, and the condition of the floor before you begin will all impact the final.