A garage is a place of fast movements and hot tires where traction is the most important safety factor. The flooring surface is the only point of contact that handles all the impact stress of the cars constantly passing. So choosing the best garage flooring material is critical for the success of the business and its customers.
In this article, we will explain garage flooring so you can make an informed decision for your business.
What is the best material for Garage Flooring?
The best material for garage flooring must be durable enough to effectively handle the mechanical pressure of so many cars. Otherwise, the garage will have many maintenance closures which is not economical for the business or its many customers. It should also be able to provide a safe surface for moving tires to have enough traction in order to prevent accidents. The flooring material should also look great in terms of aesthetics to attract customers and create a trustable environment.
Epoxy and polyurethane are the best garage floor coatings that have all the above-mentioned characteristics. They are extremely durable and long-lasting even after years of vehicle traffic. They can be made non-slippery to create safety traction and they come in many colors and patterns with safety marking capability specific to parking decks and garages. They are also anti-dusting which is shed by concrete and spread by moving cars.
Unlike floor paints which are often water-based, garage epoxy is made of 2 components: one part epoxide resin and the other polyamine hardener which acts as a catalyst and provides strength. When the low-viscosity liquid resin is combined with a curing agent, a chemical reaction causes them to bond and adhere to substrate concrete. It is applied with a roller or brush to directly adhere to the floor and create a seamless surface. The underlying concrete is often prepared before epoxy and polyurethane application to eliminate imperfections and fill the gaps and cracks. The application is done quickly but the curing process takes time depending on the thickness. Epoxy and polyurethane are effortlessly cleaned with a mild soap and water solution that is applied after a dust mop or soft broom collects the dust and debris.
Epoxy and polyurethane are often applied in several layers of a base coat which provides the adhesion, a middle coat, and a topcoat which is the toughest layer to provide thickness. It protects the concrete substrate which is actually the main structure of the building. There are many types of epoxy garage floor coating with different prices but 100% solid epoxy and polyurethane is the best.
Epoxy and polyurethane must have critical properties that are abrasion rating, adhesion rating, impact rating, moisture vapor mitigating, pot life, dried thickness, and hot tire pickup.
The industry standard Abrasion Rating or Taber C-17 abrasion test takes a coating and applies an abrasion wheel with a certain weight on it. Then it spins at a certain RPM for a certain amount of time. The amount of material that wears off is measured in milligrams which is a mimic of the actual wear and tear from vehicle traffic. The lower the result, the better the material is. The minimum rating required for garage flooring is almost 20 mg but heavy-duty places require a rating of under 10 mg. Even 1 mg difference in this rating makes an exponential difference in the properties of epoxy and polyurethane coating.
Adhesion rating should be at least 350 pound-force per square inch (psi) and the impact rating should be above 125 inch-pounds in order to prevent chips and cracks in case of tool dropping as well as protecting the workers.
The coating should also be resistant to weather conditions and fluctuating temperatures to prevent moisture intrusion that can damage the foundation of the building. There are also oil, fuel, and solvent discharges from cars that can cause stains and pollution not only to the flooring material but also into the soil and groundwater which is not good for the environment. Thus, the epoxy and polyurethane coating should be absolutely non-porous. Being waterproof is critical so high-pressure hoses can be used for cleaning purposes to significantly reduce cleaning time and energy costs in garages that are operating 24/7 on multilevel. The floor coloring can also impact energy bills as a light color can increase light reflection so less number of lights will be needed.
Pot life refers to the time you have to apply the coating once the epoxy and polyurethane components are mixed. Good epoxy and polyurethane flooring gives you less than an hour of pot life at 70 degrees to apply the material. Long pot life is a sign of low-quality material!
Hot tire pickup shouldn’t be a concern for garage epoxy and polyurethane flooring due to the high thickness that is required in the first place.
Epoxy and polyurethane coatings are the best materials for garage flooring that provide durability, safety, and aesthetics all at the same time. They can be energy efficient and budget friendly which is good both for your business and environment.
Where to find the best garage flooring?
Renodiz commercial flooring is your ideal destination when it comes to garage flooring. It is located in Coquitlam but serves customers in Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Langley, Delta, Whistler, Squamish, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack.
Garage flooring is our expertise. We know the best garage epoxy and polyurethane brands and we are masters of installation. We guarantee our work and are always available for your repair and maintenance calls.
Us in Renodiz(Flooring Design Centre) give better advice. Please Contact us.
