The Ultimate Guide to Garage Flooring

The process for coating you garage floor is complex and tends to confuse many people when they are in the consideration phase. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive guide that will teach you everything you need to know about the garage floor coating process.

The Basics

Why get a new epoxy garage floor coating?

Safe

Our floor coatings offer good slip resistance even when wet.

Seals in concrete dust

Dirt and dust particles are not tracked into the home.

Easy to clean

Simply spray with a hose or a mop!

Environmentally friendly

Epoxy is non-porous and has low VOC content; therefore it does not allow harmful contaminants and odors to seep in.

Aesthetics

The garage has become the new “front door.” You want yourself, and your guests, to walk through an aesthetically pleasing space to enter your home. Remember, first impressions are the most memorable.

What happens if I don't get an epoxy floor coating?

Safety hazards: Unprotected cement increases risk of slipping.

Cracks: In Pennsylvania, the temperatures vary dramatically. This allows the concrete to shrink and expand, causing cracks. Cracks are an eyesore (remember, we typically use the garage as a “front door”) and they allow harmful contaminants to seep in, further degrading the concrete.

Greater deterioration: Unprotected concrete exposed to elements deteriorates at a greater rate than a sealed and coated floor.

  • Surface wear through dry attrition, resulting from traffic on the exposed area
  • Process starts from the surface and can work its way through the concrete
  • Erosion from absorption of harmful contaminants

 

Harmful contaminants and elements: Garage floors are subject to harmful elements like:

  • Automotive gas
  • Hot tires
  • Grease
  • Oil
  • Road salt
  • Sand
  • Water/moisture

What is epoxy?

At Philadelphia Garage we have 6 different types of floor system combinations depending on the conditions and intended use. However, most garage flooring projects utilize one or two systems.

Clear seal topcoats are added at a very high-build layer to fully entrap media and protect the coating system. This is proven to be a better process than many separate layers of thinly applied material. Formulated for UV stability; topcoats protect against abrasion, chemicals, stains, and skid marks.

If one of the decorative floor options is selected, we will then spread out or broadcast into a wet and uncured basecoat layer, allowing the media to absorb and lock into the basecoat. Media layer options include decorative flake, quartz, silica, aluminum oxide, glitter, and metallics.

High-build basecoats allow the product to fully bond to the concrete substrate or prime layer, thus, alleviating hot-tire peeling that is so prevalent with DIY kits.

Most concrete in New England garages require a concrete primer because of their soft condition. This allows the material to fully penetrate the concrete slab and cure to a rock hard consistency, creating an inseparable bond.

Types of Flooring

Common Garage Floor Systems

Solid Color

Monolithic-solid color floor systems are a perfect choice for those looking for a clean, high-gloss floor with low maintenance and low costs. You can choose between a glass finish or anti-skid surface.


  • High-build, thick layer system that chemically bonds to each other and substrate for an unbreakable bond
  • Stain-resistant
  • Will not peel
  • Offers a contemporary, high-gloss, attractive finish
  • Commonly installed in labs, warehouses, and airplane hangars
  • UV stable; will remain looking like new for many years to come
Decorative Chip

This variety is a monolithic composition that permanently bonds to the concrete for ultimate strength and durability.


  • Gives the look of stunning granite or terrazzo with unmatched durability
  • Will not wear through or peel
  • High-build layered system
  • Offers a contemporary, high-gloss, attractive finish
  • Available in hundreds of various flake combinations
  • UV stable; will remain looking like new for many years to come
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Preparation

How do you prepare the floor?

01.

First, using the proper tools and materials, we restore and repair cracks.

 

02.

Prepare the concrete mechanically using diamond tooling on a commercial grinder or abrasive blasting. This removes the top surface and “opens the pores” of the concrete. This allows our base coat to penetrate deeply for excellent adhesion.

 

03.

We attach HEPA filtered vacuums to our grinders so that the dust and any contaminants are contained and don’t become airborne.

 

04.

Final repairs as needed to concrete imperfections.

 

05.

Final sand and vacuum of entire surface.

Why don't I just do it myself?

Compared to DIY kits, our coatings…

Plus, DIY paint and epoxy kits peel!

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the answers to all of your burning questions.

We have a different number of resinous polymer formulations of epoxies, polyaspartic, polyurea, and polyurethanes. This allows us to address various concrete, temperature and humidity conditions as well as offer different aesthetic attributes in our decorative coating systems.

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to remove all contents. There are a few options: a tarp, using the side or backyard, or a POD. Another option, for a nominal fee, we can empty the garage for you and even arrange for a storage unit.

Our coatings are solvent free. They are not flammable and although there is a minimal odor, it is non-hazardous to people, pets and the environment. LEED certified products available.

The floor install typically takes 2 days. You can return to your garage between 12-36 hours depending on the weather conditions. This will ensure the best outcome.

Five years against delamination, staining or defects in material.

Under normal use and care, 15-20 years.

Contact us today!

We’d love to work with you on your next garage flooring project or simply answer any questions you might have.

Call us at (610) 788-2242 or use our online calendar tool to request a free quote. During your free consultation, our team will:

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