Detached homes and many condos come with a garage unit for parking at least one vehicle or a standard-size pickup truck. However, because these spaces are typically associated with a car and tools, they are almost always left unfinished aside from some basic drywall on the sides and ceiling. The floor is literally a smoothed-paved segment of two or four concrete slabs with expansion gutters and that’s it. As a result, without any treatment, over time these areas age with dirt, residue from tires, drippings from engines, and general neglect. No surprise, the oil stain is as synonymous with a garage floor as cold temperatures and utility storage. However, by simply upgrading the flooring with epoxy layering, a garage can be so much more.
Cement is not Impervious to Damage
A clean garage floor is a perfect subflooring for a finished layer product like epoxy flooring in Chesapeake. Epoxy flooring comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and finishes, not only boosting the look of a garage immediately with installation but also protecting it as well. Unlike the common myth that cement might be indestructible, the compound is actually easy to destroy with constant water and other chemicals as well as dropped heavy materials like metal. When cracks, damage, and chemicals break the surface, cement starts to degrade in those locations first, practically turning to powder and crumbling. However, with a protective epoxy layer applied, much of that damage can be avoided outright.
Fundamentally, cement is a compound mix of stone, bonding agent, water, lime, silica, alkaline, and various metals. Most of the powder that we see and pour out of a bag is clay and lime. When water gets mixed with those ingredients, it turns into a paste which can then be poured and formed. As the water evaporates out of the mix, the cement hardens, forming a very durable surface. As a combination, it can be very hard, but at the surface, it can also be brittle and prone to cracking if it cures badly. As the water dries out, curing, the cement binding makes a difference in how well it forms. Ideally, the surface should then be protected with a vapor barrier below over the rock and gravel bed it lays on, as well as on top with a finished floor. This is the missing element in a garage.
The Benefits of Epoxy Flooring
When epoxy garage floors in Chesapeake are installed, the best results come with a combination of flooring products and experience in installation. While it is absolutely true that one could go to a big box hardware store and buy DIY floor production or garage floor paint, a lot of mistakes can happen, especially if it’s the first time someone is installing the flooring.
Instead, by having a professional installation take care of the epoxy flooring work, the results come out as desired or even better, and, more importantly, rookie mistakes are avoided. How much of a difference does it make? Common problems with home jobs tend to be peeling, misalignment, poor application and separation from the cement, and flooring damage. Again, it’s not that the product installation is rocket science; installation experience just makes a huge difference in the finish.
Doing More With Your Garage
When complete, epoxy flooring produces an amazing transformation for a home garage. It also gives you more of a reason to want to be in the garage for more than just a carport location. Add in a workbench, and you might find yourself spending an enjoyable afternoon in an open garage watching the ball game on TV and cleaning your car or organizing your tools and camping gear. In short, flooring helps make your garage usable for far more than just a parking spot.
