Calls come in from Miami to Palm beach asking for information on concrete polishing for garage floors but few mention the other option when it comes to sprucing up your garage: epoxy coatings. But how do you know which one is appropriate for your garage? Let’s take a look and find out.

Concrete polishing and epoxy coatings are two very different approaches to the goal of improving your garage’s look and feel. Evaluating each of them side by side is the best approach to determining the right option for you. We’re going to dig in and offer our suggestions on how to decide on the right choice for your garage.

Things to consider when choosing a garage floor application:

• Desired Appearance
• Use of Space
• Pros & Cons
• Maintenance & Lifespan
• Your Budget

An in depth look questions that touch on our points to consider above.

• What kind of floor finish do you envision for your garage?

Having an idea of what you want your floor to look like is the first step.

Polished concrete maintains an industrial, concrete look but with a smooth, clean surface. You have the option to add color (dyeing or staining) to the floor by staining the concrete before polishing it. You could add geometric designs, a football logo or other creative ideas. The options are limited only by the imagination.

Epoxy coatings provide another option through the application of a surface coating on the concrete. There are a multitude of options to choose from but it’s important to note that the appearance differs from that of polished concrete. Epoxy covers the concrete and it’s imperfections creating a seamless look. Flake epoxy adds little flakes to the epoxy to give it a similar appearance to terrazzo and comes in an endless array of colors to mix, match and choose from. Metallic epoxy creates the appearance of a metallic reflection and comes in a variety of colors to mix, each creating a unique one of a kind look.

• What kind of activities, if any, will take place in your garage?

What takes place in your garage can help to determine which option is better suited to your needs. If you are a carpenter hobbyist working with paints, chemical or petroleum based products an epoxy would be better suited to handle the potential spills on the surface. Polished concrete may be suitable if you mainly use your garage for clean, organized storage and not primarily as a car park. Overall, epoxy coatings are more resilient to the a wider variety of activities that can take place.

• Evaluate your slab of concrete to determine the pros and cons.

Polished concrete is best suited for flat, non-porous concrete floors that don’t require strength testing and will not exposed to harsh chemicals, penetrating dyes, solvents or other contaminants. Existing stains, or previously removed VCT can affect the final look and should be considered when choosing this option.

Epoxy coatings work well on all concrete slabs and can conceal any existing cracks, stains or defects in the floor. It is durable and resistant to chemical spills and provides endless colors and options for customization. If the polished concrete look is absolutely your desired look but are concerned about the exposure of chemicals, a clear thin-mil epoxy coating can mimic the look of polished concrete

• Consider the maintenance and lifespan of each option.

While both products have a long lifespan, polished concrete’s lifespan can be shortened by contaminants and typically requires more maintenance than an epoxy coating.

• Determine a budget for your garage floor project and stick to it.

When it comes to costs, epoxy coatings can be more expensive than polished concrete and a quote for both options will give you a clear picture of cost comparison.

So there you have it! We hope this helps to familiarize yourself with the costs and benefits of concrete polishing and epoxy coatings.