After years at the top, garage door replacements have finally sunk to the second spot on the annual cost-v s-value report. That doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy a handsome ROI when you replace this fixture, though.

With all the focus on garage doors, homeowners often forget about another part of their garage that undergoes a huge amount of wear and tear. Even the latest custom door design can’t make up for a cracked and stained garage floor.

So, if you want your garage to look its best, inside, and out, you should consider upgrading this eye-catching element, too.

These are the things to consider when you select garage floor coating for your home or business.

Decide on a Budget

Depending on the size of your garage and the condition of the floor, garage floor coating can cost anything between $750 and $6,000.

Crack fillers, sealers, floor coverings, and paints are the most affordable options, and easy to DIY, but they don’t offer the good looks and durability of more expensive options.

Epoxy, polyaspartic, polyurea, and epoxy are far better options, offering long-lasting appeal and protection for your garage floor. While you can opt to install some of these coatings yourself and save some money, a qualified professional will do a much better job.

Cheap, inferior products aren’t a good option for a garage floor that undergoes heavy wear.

With this in mind, figure out how much you’re prepared to set aside for your garage floor refurbishment. This may rule out some of the more expensive options.

Establish Your Needs

Once you know how much you can afford to spend, it’s easier to narrow down your choices and find the best solution for your home while comparing floor coating costs.

Follow these steps to figure out what you’re looking for before you start your search:

1. Assess Your Garage Floor

Take a critical look at the current condition of your garage floor. Is it made of wood, brick, or concrete? This will affect the steps you can take to improve it.

It’s vital to address any moisture issues with your floor before installing any coating. Moisture will affect the longevity and appearance of all garage floor coatings.

Secondly, it makes sense to replace the entire floor instead of replacing it. If you haven’t refurbished the surface in a long time, or if it has extensive damage, a complete replacement is always best.

This will cost more at the outset, but it will save you from having to refurbish another area in a short while and you’ll get more aesthetically-pleasing results.

2. Calculate the Square Footage

Size counts when it comes to garage flooring, as floor installers price their products per square foot.

Measure the surface of your garage floor, including spaces under shelving or other storage areas. It’s easy to calculate the square footage by measuring the length and width of the garage and multiplying the two measurements by each other.

For example, 12 ft (width) by 9 ft (length) equals 108 sq. ft.

4. Consider Color Options and Extras

Nowadays, you’ll find a considerable range of colors to choose from while searching for your desired floor coating. Some things to consider when choosing a color include:

• How easy is it to keep clean?
• How long will it last before fading?
• Will it suit the overall look of your home?

Some floor coating materials offer limited color choices, such as white, gray, or black, while others like polyurea garage floor coating come in a variety of color options to add new life to your garage floor.

You can also choose between matt, glitter, or high-sheen options for your garage floor.

Compare Materials Before You Select Garage Floor Coating

Use your budget and requirements as a guideline while researching garage floor coating materials. These are the most widespread options for floor coatings available today:

Paint as a Floor Coating

Paint is ideal for a short-term quick fix if your garage floor doesn’t have noticeable cracks and pitting. It’s easy to apply and available in a wide variety of colors.

A painted floor won’t keep its appeal for long, though. Paint wears off easily, and is vulnerable to stains, chips, and fading.

Sealers for Garage Floors

Sealers are only a good choice if you have a new floor. They won’t do much to disguise cracks and holes in your floor and can’t resist stains or fading.

Epoxy Resin Floor Coatings

Epoxy resin is a well-established product for refurbishing garage floors and it’s available as a DIY paint-on coating. It takes at least a week for an epoxy coating to cure enough to stand up to foot traffic.

Another drawback of epoxy flooring is that the color soon fades or develops a chalky appearance when exposed to sunlight.

Polyaspartic and Polyurea Floor Coatings

These modern, high-end floor coatings are the most expensive variety. Yet they pay off with the following benefits:

• High durability
• Fade and stain resistance
• Quick installation time

Before applying floor coating, you should spend time reading online reviews about different floor coating brands, manufacturers, and installers.

This is the best way to get first-hand information to guide your final decision.

Get Help Choosing Garage Floor Coatings

If you want to take all the hard work and uncertainty when you select garage floor coating, it’s best to get in touch with a qualified floor coating provider or installer to discuss what’s best for your floor.

They’ll consider all the above aspects to come up with a long-lasting, durable, and attractive solution for your garage.

Are you interested in more ways to improve the look and value of your home? Browse our website for more interesting snippets from the world of real estate.

Published by HOLR Magazine.