If you neglect to care for your garage floor, you may find that over time it starts to show its age. Whether you’ve just bought a new house and need your floor up or you’re ready to do some DIY, you’ll find everything you need to know below.
If you’re ready to learn how to treat your garage, how to repair any cracks, and how to clean it, you’ll find that all below.
Decide how you’ll treat your garage floor
Treating your garage floor will help protect the concrete for years to come. If you leave your concrete bear, you may find that over time it starts showing its wear. When you decide on treatment, think about what you use your garage for.
If you have heavy traffic and are in your garage all day long, it may make sense to spring for an epoxy or polyurea coating. These coatings can be expensive but will give you up to ten years of protection and peace of mind.
Another option would be to seal your concrete. Sealing your concrete gives you the ability to protect your concrete from moisture and freeze/thaw damage. You have several options of concrete sealers to choose from as well. You can preserve the natural look of your concrete with a penetrating concrete sealer or go with a topical concrete sealer that will give you a “wet” look in your garage.
The best all-around option would be to seal your concrete. It can last for up to 10 years, you will protect it against damage during the winter and it’s cost-effective. If you want your garage to look like a professional workshop, then it may make sense to go with a coating like epoxy.
You can learn more about taking care of your garage here.
Cleaning your concrete and removing stubborn stains
Over the years, your garage’s concrete floor can get stained from a variety of different spills and mishaps. One common stain is oil and grease. If you’re finding that you can’t take the sight of your spoiled garage floor, then you can take the actions below to clean it right up.
If you have a degreaser, simply apply it to the stains on your concrete floor and let it sit for a while. After it’s been applied, you can hose it off with a high-pressure hose. I recommend getting a non-toxic degreaser to make cleanup easier and safer.
Another option would be to utilize a pressure washer on your garage floor. If you don’t have one, you can rent one from a big box store for the weekend. You will be able to get off years of grime and rust without any issue. You can also utilize the pressure washer outside as well.
You have the option of renting one or you can hire a professional service to do it for you. Unless you use a pressure washer often, it doesn’t make sense to pay a ton of money to purchase one.
Repairing your concrete floor
If your garage has holes, chips, and cracks, it isn’t the end of the world. Instead of paying to get an entirely new concrete floor, you can do your own repair. The reason your concrete is cracking is because the temperature fluctuations cause the concrete to crack. This is inevitable if you don’t treat your concrete or keep the temperature in your garage regulated.
The best compounds to use when filling a hole or crack would be epoxy, polyurethane, or polyurea-based crack repair. You want to ensure that you can sand down the area afterward without any issue, otherwise, it may make your concrete unsightly.
It’s highly recommended that you do not use water or latex-based crack fillers. If you do, you may find that the results of the repair are not satisfactory when after a year or two. You get what you pay for, so make sure you invest in the best repair product you can afford.
Conclusion
Your garage floor does not need to be an eyesore. We recommend going with a concrete sealer as it will help your garage floor maintain its shape and not succumb to temperature changes. It’s a good idea to install it correctly with a chemical sprayer so you can get an even coat on your concrete. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can always hire a professional.
The best way to clean your concrete floor is also with a pressure washer. It’s easy, but it will cost a bit more than utilizing other methods. If you have many stains on your concrete, then you can go ahead and invest in a degreaser that will remove the stains with ease.
You also don’t need to hire someone to repair your cracked garage floor. If you use the right products, you’ll be able to repair it yourself. It is recommended that you learn how to do it properly otherwise you may end up doing more harm than good.
