Garage Floor Paint – How To Choose The Best
By: Tom "The DIY Guy" WesleyGarage floor paint selections are vast. Some are easier to work with than others. Some last longer than others. Some are more dangerous than others. There are different grades to choose from. Many variables are presented that need to be considered once you’ve decided to apply paint and protect your garage floor for the first time.
Garage floors are often overlooked when homeowners start to jot down their list of decorating and home improvement projects. But there are two important reasons to paint the garage floor, especially if it is made of porous concrete. Painting the garage floor seals the concrete to prevent unsightly cracking at the same time it eliminates the problem of dust by giving the floor a nice polished finish.
What is the best garage floor paint to accomplish this? Epoxy paints and latex paints both have decided advantages. And having a painted garage floor makes oil and grease spill clean-ups much easier because they can’t soak directly into the concrete and make a permanent stain.
Epoxy paints are proven winners in providing excellent and durable garage floor coverage. Because epoxy paints are water-resistant, there will no trouble having them adhere to the concrete, enabling the paint to do an good job of completely sealing the surface. Epoxy paints have a smooth finish with an attractive luster to them that also allows for easy clean-up either using a broom or a damp mop. Covering the garage floor with an epoxy paint can also stand up to the punishment of kids playing ball or the normal wear and tear of heavy work boots. Even oil stains are a quick fix using an anti-grease based detergent cleanser.
The second best garage floor paint option, latex paint, is less expensive than epoxy paint. Some people like the fact that it can easily be made to resemble a more expensive stone floor finish. Unlike epoxy paint, however, you need a protective coating over the paint to provide a permanent finish. An application of latex paint requires up to three full days of drying time before your move your car and storage boxes back into place.
If your garage has a skylight or gets a fair share of direct sunlight, latex paint will tend to fade quickly due to sunlight exposure. After an application of latex paint, it’s important to run a brush or broom over the drying paint to texture the surface so that it is not slippery when fully dry.
Whether you opt for latex or epoxy garage floor paint, be sure you start with a clean, dry floor as your canvas. Having a painted garage floor will provide a more pleasant environment whether you use your garage as a workshop , play area or strictly for storage.
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Tags: garage floor coverage, garage floor paint, garage floor seals, garage floors, painted garage floor