Concrete cracks are a homeowner’s worst nightmare.
They can cost thousands to repair and may lower the resale value of your home by 10-15%. Cracks are more likely to happen in areas of high stress and low moisture control, like garages.
Protecting your home with a polyurea coating is a wise decision. However, you may be wondering how much maintenance your upgraded garage will require.
Read on to learn more about polyurea coating maintenance and lifespan.
Maintenance for Polyurea Coating
Polyurea garage floor coating costs can be more expensive than other options, but it is a worthwhile investment. Unlike epoxy and polyurethane, which may require re-coating, polyurea is virtually maintenance-free.
Polyurea is UV light resistant, meaning the color won’t fade or change from exposure to sunlight. Polyurea can last decades with proper care, keeping your garage looking fresh for years.
Clean your polyurea floors with a soft-bristle broom or mop. Be careful not to scratch or scrape the floor with rough tools. Keeping your floor free of dust and debris will help it last longer.
As with any floor coating, you should avoid dragging heavy objects across the surface. Put down towels or use a dolly to move large furniture or equipment. Scratching the polyurea can damage the coating and make it less protective.
What is Polyurea?
Polyurea is a substance used in coating exposed concrete, such as garage floors. The polyurea garage floor coating protects the concrete around your home from absorbing fluids and contaminants.
Excess moisture in the concrete can lead to cracks and foundation decay. Polyurea is one of the best garage floor coatings available.
Polyurea is made with two chemical compounds that become flexible, strong, and environmentally friendly once combined. Polyurea is able to flex with slight movement of the substrate, rather than crack when subjected to stress like epoxy.
Garage Floor Coating Comparisons
Epoxy, polyurethane, and polyurea are each popular floor options, but polyurea tops the list as the best garage floor coating.
Polyurea is faster to install and will cure more quickly than its competitors. Epoxy and polyurethane can take two to three days to install and up to a week to cure. Polyurea installs in less than a day and cures in less than an hour.
As epoxy and polyurethane cure, they emit noxious fumes into the environment and potentially your home. Polyurea is much less fragrant and cures quickly enough not to present a problem.
Polyurea’s bond with concrete is extremely strong, helping it to even outlast many substrates and slabs themselves. Unlike polyurethane, you’ll have the opportunity to choose your polyurea coloring to give your garage a high-end design.
To summarize, unlike epoxy and polyurethane, polyurea floors:
- Install in a day
- Cure within an hour
- Do not require regular maintenance
- Do not require re-coating
- Less odor during installation
- Offer UV protection
- Are environmentally friendly due to no VOCs
Floors for the Future
While polyurea floor coating can require more upfront investment than sticking with bare concrete, you will save money on long-term repairs. Polyurea coating is incredibly easy to maintain, requiring little more than a gentle sweeping and mopping.
Ready to invest in your garage floors? Call Garage Force at (405) 385-9885 or contact us online to get started!