Garage Floors: Polished Concrete vs Flake Epoxy
Craftsman Concrete Floors specializes in the installation of commercial-grade concrete coatings, including epoxy garage floors. These floors endure extreme conditions and require a long, uninterrupted service life. As one of the largest installers of specialized commercial concrete coatings in the nation, we have the expertise to provide coating systems that offer reliable, long-term concrete protection for builders and homeowners companies.
Are you planning to upgrade your garage? Transforming your plain, hard-to-clean concrete floor with an epoxy flooring system can significantly enhance its appearance and functionality. Epoxy garage floor systems are known for their durability, ease of cleaning and maintenance, and exceptional resistance to chemical spills.
In this article we will explore the costs associated with epoxy garage floors, highlighting the various price factors and the benefits of different epoxy systems.
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Polished Concrete vs Flake Epoxy
When you’re trying to decide between polished concrete and epoxy for your garage floors it pays to understand the primary differences between the strength and longevity of both flooring options as well as the price comparisons so that you can make an informed decision on what’s best for your garage floor needs.
The decision between polished concrete vs epoxy floors for a garage or residential property generally comes down to how the area will be used and how much the property owner wants to invest (or what’s within the flooring budget and available to spend). Certainly a polished concrete garage floor has benefits over epoxy flooring applications, but for many homeowners, use cases largely dictate the flooring choice that’s right for the consumer.
Top Reasons to Choose Polished Concrete for Garage Floors
If potential cost savings have you leaning more toward polished concrete floors for your garage a look at how you intend to use the garage is the next step in deciding between epoxy flooring vs polished concrete. in a garage that will be subject to light traffic and minimal use that does not include auto repairs or the parking of older model vehicles, lawn equipment or other machinery that may leak gas, oils or other chemicals, you might be able to safely choose polished concrete floors.
In fact, there are several reasons to go with a polished concrete garage floor vs epoxy finishes:
REASON 1: NEW CONSTRUCTION
Polished concrete is generally only suitable for residential garages in new construction projects. In renovation projects, previously untreated garage floors are often already oil-stained or otherwise damaged: making them unpolishable. Therefore, for renovation garage floor applications, when choosing between polished concrete vs. epoxy, we recommend a flake-epoxy garage floor system.
If you’re installing a polished concrete garage floor in your new residential construction, your builder or general contractor should plan for this installation ahead of time. Protecting the concrete slab is essential to achieve a superior polished concrete floor finish. It’s often best to install the polished concrete floor as early as possible in the project, and since concrete polishing can take place while other contractors continue working within the home, polished concrete probably more convenient than you realize. Once the concrete polishing is complete, your floor can easily be covered with protective paper until your house is move-in ready.
REASON 2: YOU DON’T WORK ON CARS
While polished concrete floors can be resistant to oils and other spills, they can not stand up to repeated exposures to brake fluid or gear oil. If you’re a hobbyist mechanic, there’s no better garage floor system than a flake epoxy floor. Even fluid spills that sit on a flake epoxy floor for days will not discolor or damage a luxury flake epoxy floor.
REASON 3: YOUR GARAGE IS A LIVING SPACE
We have plenty of customers who use their garage to park cars and as a space to work out, entertain, or even as an office. If your garage is truly an extension of your house, you may prefer the look and feel of a polished concrete floor to a flake epoxy system.
There are many benefits to polished concrete floors, including their high level of reflectivity. This reflectivity will better showcase your car collection while making your garage feel more open and spacious.
REASON 4: YOUR CARS ARE NEW AND WELL MAINTAINED
As discussed above, the main issue with installing polished concrete floors in a residential garage is that exposure to vehicle fluids such as motor oil will damage your floor. If you own new cars or cars that are unlikely to leak fluids, a polished concrete floor can be a modern-looking, attractive installation for your new construction.
REASON 5: ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Polished concrete floors stand out for their environmental benefits, particularly because they contain no petroleum-based products, unlike epoxy floor coatings. This eco-friendly attribute makes polished concrete an increasingly popular choice in residential construction, appealing to homeowners focused on sustainability. As the most environmentally green flooring option available, polished concrete is an ideal solution for projects with a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.
REASON 6: Uv Stable
Flake epoxy floors, while durable and visually appealing, are not UV stable and can discolor or yellow over time when exposed to direct sunlight. In contrast, polished concrete floors are completely UV stable, maintaining their color and appearance even with significant sunlight exposure. If your garage is likely to receive a lot of direct sunlight, polished concrete is a better choice, offering long-lasting aesthetics without the risk of UV-induced discoloration.
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Top Reasons to Choose Epoxy Flooring for a Garage
Reason 1: High Slip Resistance
The decorative polyurethane flakes create a textured, “orange peel” surface that significantly improves traction, even in wet conditions. This helps prevent dangerous slips and falls. While polished concrete is slip-resistant, a flake floor will provide better performance in wet conditions.
Reason 2: Industrial-Grade Durability
Flake epoxy flooring systems offer exceptional resistance to abrasion, impact, chemicals, and heavy loads, making them perfect for the high-demand environment of a garage. With outstanding chemical resistance, these floors can withstand prolonged exposure to common vehicle fluids without sustaining damage. For hobbyist mechanics or anyone using their garage for heavy-duty work, flake epoxy floors provide the durability and resilience required for a long-lasting, low-maintenance surface.
Reason 3: Customizable Aesthetics
Flakes come in an almost endless variety of colors, allowing you to customize the look of your garage floor to match the aesthetic of your house.
Reason 4: Hides Imperfections
The flake texture in our flooring effectively camouflages minor cracks, stains, or uneven areas in the concrete, creating a uniform finish. This feature is especially valuable for older garages with worn or imperfect concrete.
Reason 5: Easy Maintenance
Flake epoxy floors are low-maintenance and easy to clean, requiring only sweeping, mopping, or even pressure washing, depending on your installation details.
Reason 6: Long-Lasting
When properly installed, flake epoxy garage floors can last for 10-20 years with minimal wear and tear, providing excellent long-term value.
REason 7: Professional-Grade Finish
Flake epoxy systems are the preferred choice for commercial and industrial settings, ensuring a high-quality, durable flooring solution for your home garage.