In a lot of Arizona homes, the garage is more than a place to park. It is a workshop, a home gym, a storage room and sometimes the main way in and out of the house. So it makes sense that more homeowners are asking about epoxy floor coatings.
Is an epoxy garage floor worth it here in Pinal County? For most people who use their garage every day, the answer is yes. Here is what you should know before you decide.
What is an epoxy floor coating?
Epoxy is a two-part coating. When the two parts are mixed, they react and harden into a tough, glossy layer. It bonds to your concrete slab and seals it.
Many epoxy floors also include colored flakes spread across the wet coating. The flakes add texture, hide dust and give the floor a finished look. A clear topcoat goes over everything to protect it.
The benefits
It is easy to clean
Bare concrete is porous. It soaks up oil, spills and dust. Epoxy seals the surface, so most messes wipe right up. Sweeping is faster too.
It keeps dust down
Plain concrete slowly wears and creates fine dust. That dust ends up on your car, your tools and in your house. A sealed floor cuts way down on it.
It resists stains
Oil drips, coffee, paint and other spills sit on top of the coating instead of soaking in.
It looks great
A clean, glossy floor makes the whole garage feel finished. If you ever sell your home, it is a nice feature buyers notice.
The downsides
To be fair, epoxy is not perfect.
- It can be slippery when wet. Flakes help, and some systems add grit for more grip.
- It costs more than paint. Garage floor paint is cheaper, but it often peels under hot tires in a year or two.
- Prep is a must. If the floor is not cleaned and profiled correctly, epoxy can peel. This is the number one reason epoxy floors fail.
How Arizona heat affects epoxy
Heat matters in two ways.
First, during install. Epoxy cures by a chemical reaction, and heat speeds it up. In a hot Arizona garage, the working time gets shorter. An experienced installer plans the job around the temperature, often starting early in the day.
Second, after install. Hot tires can lift cheap coatings off the floor. This is called “hot tire pickup.” A properly installed epoxy system with good surface prep holds up much better than a paint-on kit from the hardware store.
What a good install looks like
When we install epoxy floor coatings, the steps look like this:
- Inspect the slab. We check for cracks, old coatings and moisture.
- Clean and profile. We remove oil and dirt and roughen the surface so the coating can grab on.
- Repair cracks. Cracks and chips get filled so the floor is smooth.
- Apply the base coat. Then we broadcast flakes if you want them.
- Apply the topcoat. This protects the floor and gives it its final look.
Most garage floors can take foot traffic in about a day. We will tell you how long to wait before parking your car.
Is it worth it for you?
An epoxy floor is a great fit if you:
- Use your garage as a workshop, gym or hobby room
- Want a floor that is easy to clean
- Are tired of dust and oil stains
- Plan to stay in your home for a while, or want to boost curb appeal before selling
It may not be worth it if your garage is only used for storage and you rarely walk on the floor.
Garage epoxy is especially popular in San Tan Valley and Maricopa, where many families use the garage as extra living space. We also install it in workshops and commercial spaces in Casa Grande.
Get a free estimate
Every floor is different, so the best way to know your cost is to have us take a look. Duran’s Quality Coatings is licensed, bonded and insured under Arizona ROC# 327161, and our estimates are always free and in writing.
Call (520) 709-8678 or send us a message to schedule your estimate.