Why do so many people coat their garages?

[bsloan1960]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

[retiredguy123]

There is no reason for me to coat my garage or my driveway. I like the bare concrete.

[Kenswing]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

For appearance as well as ease of cleanup. Heck, they totally finish the garage complete with paint and baseboards. Might as well finish off the floor as well.

[Michael G.]

A sealed garage floor, patio, or driveway cleans up better than plain concrete.
The worst for me is decaying leaves that stain plain concrete.
Cosmetic wise, to each their own .

[villagetinker]

Just be careful of the coating you use. I have a working garage, and I made the mistake of using the wrong coating, so now the typical automotive fluids can damage the coating I used, H&C CLEAR sealer, it was a DIY project.

[dewilson58]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

Winters up North are killers.

[PJ_Smiley]

Three things I would never buy to upgrade home: 1)solar tube, 2)plantation shutters, and 3)sealed/painted garage floor.
Sold single-family home and bought home with solar tube in kitchen, plantation shutters, and sealed/painted garage floor.
To quote the Monkeys, "I'm a believer!" I would add them to next home if we would move.

[Garywt]

We did ours for appearance for the most part. Have never had a garage up north.

[pokeefe45@aol.com]

I too, have come from Massachusetts, and if I ever move back, I'm starting a service to epoxy garage floors. Had mine done here in TV and it's now a heck of a lot cleaner looking than it ever was. Easier to keep clean, and dirt doesn't seem to build up at all. Looks as good as the day it was painted. Had mine done in grey, with black speckles. I'm in Polo Ridge-happy to show anyone who is thinking about doing it.

[kitnhead]

[QUOTE=bsloan1960;2139516]I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks[/QUOTE

There was a coated floor at our rental home when we first moved to TV. It rained and the water from the car pooled in the garage. We both slipped and nearly fell on our behinds. We are younger (in Villages terms) so thankfully this was not serious, but I believe it would have been very injurious to an older individual. Once we experienced that, we decided it was a truly unnecessary expense.

[Graspher]

New concept for me when I first arrived in TV. Liked the idea - after I locked on a house we had the garage floor coated with a blue tint and highlight flakes. We were living on a boat prior to TV so every time I see the garage floor it reminds me of the ocean. And there is a side benefit - I now walk on water.

[bobeaston]

VERY much easier to keep clean. My woodworking hobby is in my garage and I can clean up in just minutes with a simple straw broom. Liquid Floors (https://liquidfloorsusacfl.com/) was the very first upgrade, before we moved anything into the garage.

I had an epoxy coating in the garage in NY, but it didn't hold up nearly as well as the polyaspartic Liquid Floors coating here.

[richardc1947]

Mostly for appearance, but it does keep the concrete dusting down and is easier to clean.

[Rwirish]

No reason, people like the look and have extra retirement dollars.

[jedalton]

I too, have come from Massachusetts, and if I ever move back, I'm starting a service to epoxy garage floors. Had mine done here in TV and it's now a heck of a lot cleaner looking than it ever was. Easier to keep clean, and dirt doesn't seem to build up at all. Looks as good as the day it was painted. Had mine done in grey, with black speckles. I'm in Polo Ridge-happy to show anyone who is thinking about doing it.
who did you hire?

[skippy05]

Retirees in The Villages have a lot of money saved up and like to spend it in ways that create impressions for their neighbors to see. This is the reason.

[Dusty_Star]

This is a follow-up question to those that have coated garage/patio floors: in post #10 kitnhead said that the coated floor was very slippery when wet. I followed the link provided by post #10 bobeaston and the Liquid Floors site said 'slip resistant'. Are coated floors more or less slippery or does it depend on which coating is used? I presume some of the floors (like patio) would frequently be wet. Thanks in advance, any advice you have would be appreciated.

[mskaggs]

There is an additive called shark bite that gives the floor grit and it helps. But it’s not fool proof! This fool still slipped and fell. But it was because I was rushing —now I have adjusted and I haven’t fallen again. That was over a year ago. Generally the grit works well.

[nancyre]

Shutters - got them with the house - they drive me crazy because I like to open the windows so because of the height of the windows I can't put furniture in front of the windows, which I could with blinds. I would never spend that $$ on my own. Solar Tube - LOVE them purchased 2. Garage ???

[tvbound]

Although the custom of attractively coating garage floors (and driveways) is something that we liked when we first came here, as noted by some there are certain coatings that can be very slippery when wet so care must be taken when bringing in a car after raining outside (or even condensation dripping from the A/C). While I recognize that there isn't the problem here of snow/ice melting off of a vehicle when parked in a garage, I still miss the fact that very few (any?) garages in TV have drains. I became spoiled being able to wash/wax my vehicles, during winter, while being inside in my oversized, heated 3 car garage - with a large drain.

[LuvNH]

Retirees in The Villages have a lot of money saved up and like to spend it in ways that create impressions for their neighbors to see. This is the reason.

I think this post is correct to a point. I am inclined to think that many of the people that spend outlandish amounts of money on their home have sold their family home in another State and now have time to play for probably the first time in their lives. When you first move to TV you are bombarded with ads and sales people trying to sell their product and the great majority of those products to make your home look like a show house and in the euphoria of moving to TV they fall for it. We are lucky, none of our neighbors fell for the bells and whistles being offered.

[dewilson58]

When you first move to TV you are bombarded with ads and sales people trying to sell their product

Never happened to us.

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

Too much extra money burning holes in their pockets. It is after all just a garage.

[Bay Kid]

When I bought my home it was a ugly, stained garage floor. It is now beautiful w/matching painted walls. Easy to clean and looks great.

[RICH1]

The Epoxy coatings are nice for the poor , but I spent my money on Karastan Carpet. The cart and automobile tires seem to love the plush feel! It’s all about keeping up appearances! Mrs. Bucket

[Xavier]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

The never ending dust the concrete gives off is tracked into the house on your shoes.

[srswans]

This is a follow-up question to those that have coated garage/patio floors: in post #10 kitnhead said that the coated floor was very slippery when wet. I followed the link provided by post #10 bobeaston and the Liquid Floors site said 'slip resistant'. Are coated floors more or less slippery or does it depend on which coating is used? I presume some of the floors (like patio) would frequently be wet. Thanks in advance, any advice you have would be appreciated.

I had mine coated to keep down the concrete dust and for appearances. I had flake laid in the polyaspartic coating which does make it less slippery. I also had grit laid on garage threshold for the same reason. Note that water, from a wet car and from the car’s A/C, does pool on coated floors and that is slippery regardless. The garage is much cleaner with the coating.

(I know ppl up North that have gotten their garage floors coated.)

[retiredguy123]

I don't understand this "easy to clean" argument. I park my car in the garage. Every month or so, I use a broom to sweep the tire dirt and leaves from the concrete floor. Are you saying that, if I coat the concrete I won't need to sweep the floor anymore?

[nsantelli]

There was a coated floor at our rental home when we first moved to TV. It rained and the water from the car pooled in the garage. We both slipped and nearly fell on our behinds. We are younger (in Villages terms) so thankfully this was not serious, but I believe it would have been very injurious to an older individual. Once we experienced that, we decided it was a truly unnecessary expense.[/QUOTE]

When using a polyurethane clear coat for a garage floor (or driveway for that matter) I would add Shark Grip powder to the top coat. It makes a tremendous difference when walking on the surface, especially when the floor is wet. Its like walking on regular concrete. The contractor that upgraded our driveway showed me that technique. Be sure to follow the recommendations as to the amount of powder to add per gallon of polyurethane liquid.

[skyking]

I suspect that they didn't coat or paint their driveways either. We just bought a house that has both. We like it.

[augustnotes]

Also many have their washer and dryer in the garage, so having a finished floor makes it nice to do laundry.

[3105boy]

Most garage floors in my Massachusetts neighborhood were epoxy coated. It cleans up the salt and dirt well. Paint chips (double recommended) keep it from getting slippery. Better question: Why is the quality of many concrete floors so bad in Massachusetts?

[SBerson1948]

[QUOTE=bsloan1960;2139516]I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks[/QUOTE

There was a coated floor at our rental home when we first moved to TV. It rained and the water from the car pooled in the garage. We both slipped and nearly fell on our behinds. We are younger (in Villages terms) so thankfully this was not serious, but I believe it would have been very injurious to an older individual. Once we experienced that, we decided it was a truly unnecessary expense.

[SBerson1948]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

Epoxy floors are more than great looking:
Very easy to keep clean.
Water proof.
Non-slip surface.
Enhances the value of ones home.
We coated our garage and Lanai floors and receive endless compliments.

[SBerson1948]

who did you hire?

Who did we hire? ..... Me, of DeSoto.

[Bfdretiref]

There is no reason for me to coat my garage or my driveway. I like the bare concrete.

I grew up north snow ice and SALT...are tuff on coatings here in the villages no snow salt or ice......but after 3 years i found bare concrete is porous....it holds dirt and stains....treated concrete i found is easier to take care of...looks good and i believe adds value.......

is it mandatory NO....but i like it!

[JMintzer]

Retirees in The Villages have a lot of money saved up and like to spend it in ways that create impressions for their neighbors to see. This is the reason.

Nice to know that you know what people are thinking...

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Three things I would never buy to upgrade home: 1)solar tube, 2)plantation shutters, and 3)sealed/painted garage floor.
Sold single-family home and bought home with solar tube in kitchen, plantation shutters, and sealed/painted garage floor.
To quote the Monkeys, "I'm a believer!" I would add them to next home if we would move.

Our bathroom had a sunroof in it already (we bought pre-owned), and I absolutely LOVE it. I'd love one in the kitchen.

We don't have a garage, we have a carport. The entire driveway including the carport surface is painted a pale grey-blue to coordinate with the house (it's not a perfect match but it doesn't clash either). It protects the concrete from the sun and other weather conditions.

Why so horrible in Massachusetts? Shoveling, equipment being brought in and out (lawn mowers etc), and salt from the tires of your car in the winter.

[rogerk]

[QUOTE=bsloan1960;2139516]I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks[/QUOTE

There was a coated floor at our rental home when we first moved to TV. It rained and the water from the car pooled in the garage. We both slipped and nearly fell on our behinds. We are younger (in Villages terms) so thankfully this was not serious, but I believe it would have been very injurious to an older individual. Once we experienced that, we decided it was a truly unnecessary expense.
Properly done the coated garage floor and driveway are NOT slippery when wet. Too many people do their own or use a contractor who doesn't know what he's doing.

[Snowbug]

[QUOTE=bsloan1960;2139516]I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks[/QUOTE

There was a coated floor at our rental home when we first moved to TV. It rained and the water from the car pooled in the garage. We both slipped and nearly fell on our behinds. We are younger (in Villages terms) so thankfully this was not serious, but I believe it would have been very injurious to an older individual. Once we experienced that, we decided it was a truly unnecessary expense.

I had an epoxy paint put down, with a polyaspartic coating over it. It is not slick when wet and looks great! Granite Floors Inc, from Orlando.

[kkingston57]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks


My opinion: Coating makes the floor more slippery.

[BlueStarAirlines]

My opinion: Coating makes the floor more slippery.

Yes, when not done correctly.....

[rschwan9]

Cannot do it up north! Road salt and chemicals are killer. See then all the benefits including aesthetics.

[InnovativeConcreteCoatings]

1. Improved Appearance, your home is a showcase of you so why not add to the showcase with a beautiful garage floor.
2. Protection of the concrete, concrete is susceptible to staining and wont be able to be cleaned. Coating your garage floor makes for easy maintenance!
3. The coating will protect the concrete from damage. if you drop things the coating will take the brunt of the impact and usually the concrete wont crumble or chip underneath it.
4. A coated garage floor will give great curb appeal when the garage door is open and can increase the value of the home!
5. Helps keeps the garage looking tidy. thus making you feel good when walking through your garage!
6. Who doesn't love a finished garage floor..... it will always make you smile, especially when its been done By Innovative Concrete Coating

[DAVES]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

I think it is becoming more common everywhere. I recall roughly ten years ago the place where I was getting my car serviced had his entire service section done.

Like everything else endless debate. We had ours done when we bought our then new home. It was done almost 10 years ago and still looks new. Far easier to have done or do yourself before all your junk is in the gargage. Far easier to keep clean. We have a gas golf cart. People with electric carts if they spill acid on the floor, it will damage the paint. The paint is epoxy BUT the clear coat on top is ????? polyurathane and can be damaged. It is not epoxy, I think because epoxy turns yellow.

We did not. You can add a grit to the top coat to prevent slipping. When you spill oil on the floor it is really slippery. I would expect adding the grit makes it more difficult to clean.

[InnovativeConcreteCoatings]

This is a follow-up question to those that have coated garage/patio floors: in post #10 kitnhead said that the coated floor was very slippery when wet. I followed the link provided by post #10 bobeaston and the Liquid Floors site said 'slip resistant'. Are coated floors more or less slippery or does it depend on which coating is used? I presume some of the floors (like patio) would frequently be wet. Thanks in advance, any advice you have would be appreciated.


It truly depends on the coating, we offer slip resistant concrete coatings. check us out, we do lots of Garages, patios, lanai's, Driveways.

[rpalumberi]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

all we can say about it is we like it more than we thought we would - in addition to housing our vehicles, its like my basement area that we had up north but so much nicer, its also how we 1st walk into our home generally

we used HD Hand Designs Corp, thought they did a really nice job to epoxy seal our garage floor

good luck

[IADCathy]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks
Cement "dusts", plus washing a coated floor is easier than washing concrete as concrete absorbs water.

[retiredguy123]

Cement "dusts", plus washing a coated floor is easier than washing concrete as concrete absorbs water.
My bare concrete garage floor does not "dust". I don't wash it, I just sweep it with a broom.

[Driller703]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

Mass would have been a great place to seal the floor. Any oil drips, spills, dirty, salty snow dropping off the car all winter, it all cleans right off. Otherwise, over the years, the unsealed cement just soaks it up, and it’s not coming out.

[laboutj]

I epoxied my floor in Mass about 5 years ago. Still looks like the day I finished it and that's with it being coated with road salt and sand during the winter. All I do is rinse it down and use a giant squeegee to push the water out. The house we purchased in the villages has an epoxy floor and I plan on doing it over again. Whatever was used was a fairly cheap product, the clear coat has yellowed badly.

[DaleDivine]

[QUOTE=kitnhead;2139673]
Properly done the coated garage floor and driveway are NOT slippery when wet. Too many people do their own or use a contractor who doesn't know what he's doing.

Yep, the guy here that did mine did not know what he was doing and did not apply an epoxy.
Any kind of rubber left on the floor just melted into the paint.
:swear::swear:

[DaleDivine]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

Probably depends on whether or not it's self rising flour.
:a20::a20:

[DaleDivine]

I had my garage floor done in Virginia and loved it.
Should have gotten a different contractor here. But it was done before I knew about ToTV..
:grumpy::(:(

[rmd2]

I had my garage painted and they also used heavy shard to make sure it was not slippery. My garage floor was so smooth that when a little water got on it I slipped (it was like GLASS) and almost fell on the concrete. I was lucky I didn't get really hurt.

[mhonard]

I too, have come from Massachusetts, and if I ever move back, I'm starting a service to epoxy garage floors. Had mine done here in TV and it's now a heck of a lot cleaner looking than it ever was. Easier to keep clean, and dirt doesn't seem to build up at all. Looks as good as the day it was painted. Had mine done in grey, with black speckles. I'm in Polo Ridge-happy to show anyone who is thinking about doing it.
All coatings I tried up north can not withstand the salt/warm tires

[laboutj]

All coatings I tried up north can not withstand the salt/warm tires

The one that I used in Mass does withstand the salt and warm tires. I'm actually thinking about doing garage floors in the villages. Going to re-do mine here as whatever was used when it was put down has now yellowed and it doesn't look good at all.

[Retoline]

I too, have come from Massachusetts, and if I ever move back, I'm starting a service to epoxy garage floors. Had mine done here in TV and it's now a heck of a lot cleaner looking than it ever was. Easier to keep clean, and dirt doesn't seem to build up at all. Looks as good as the day it was painted. Had mine done in grey, with black speckles. I'm in Polo Ridge-happy to show anyone who is thinking about doing it.
Who did your garage floor?

[Freehiker]

Looks nice, money to burn

[Michael G.]

I was told when we had our Lani and patio coated not to use mats with rubber backing.
Have anyone been told the same.
The reason rubber will stick to the surface over time.

[Byte1]

[QUOTE=bsloan1960;2139516]I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks[/QUOTE

There was a coated floor at our rental home when we first moved to TV. It rained and the water from the car pooled in the garage. We both slipped and nearly fell on our behinds. We are younger (in Villages terms) so thankfully this was not serious, but I believe it would have been very injurious to an older individual. Once we experienced that, we decided it was a truly unnecessary expense.

First home I lived in, here had a floor that was sealed. When a puddle of water got on it, I fell and nearly broke something. The second home I purchased had a large grease and oil spot on it that I couldn't clean up so I had someone come in and clean and paint it. They painted it with epoxy and then laid down some paint chips and then urethane coated it. Looks great, cleans up easily and the paint chips are prominent enough to give me traction even when wet. Never fall or slip on it. I get compliments all the time.

[BrianL99]

I've never seen a coated garage flour in Mass. I assume there is a reason to do this in Fla rather than just appearance? Thanks

Simple answer to a reasonable question.

The wear and tear on a garage floor in MA, is significantly different than in Florida. The mud, oils, salt, etc from MA roads, will eat away at most any type of "coated garage floor".

If you go back to MA and want to do something with your garage floor, use a process called "Retroplate", which is essentially a "polishing" process. Unfortunately, it can get a little slippery when wet. The other choice, is "dyed concrete", but that obviously only works when building a new garage.

I build automobile dealerships in MA and I can tell you, I'd never put an expoxy or any other applied finish to a Service Department floor. If you notice, some of the M-B, BMW, Lexus dealerships are now using a "tile" floor in service departments .... maintenance nightmare.

[Whitley]

Up North, where it gets very very cold, you almost never see a garage with a coat. Down here where it rarely gets below 30 they are more common. Go figure. People just do not want to see their garage shiver.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

I’ve owned and sold many homes in Florida and never once has someone said ,oh you have a beautiful home but you haven’t painted the garage floor or driveway , so we won’t be interested. A garage is a place to park my car and leave the trash and where I spend about 5 minute a day in , there’s no wall of tools , ladders or even a golf cart in the golf cart garage part , sometimes a garage is just a garage

[Garywt]

I never had a garage in Massachusetts so in Florida it was out first garage and we had it painted along with the lanai, our entire outside patio going the length of one side and across the back and our front entry way. Mostly we did it for looks and cleanup. We have not done the driveway and front walkways yet but we plan to to keep them clean.

[Byte1]

Why does it matter to anyone what someone else does, as long as it has no effect on them? I like my finished floor. Did I have the garage floor painted up North? Nope, but I may have painted it eventually. I like my garage floor here. It looks great and that's all that matters to me. Whether or not someone else likes it, means nothing to me. I painted my patio in back of my home, too.

[Bay Kid]

Because it looks GREAT! I like my things to look nice.

[Laker14]

a driveway is just a driveway, and a garage is just a garage. Why spend good money to make them look nicer?

And a car is just a means of transportation, used to get from point A to point B. Why do people spend good money for Mercedes, a Cadillac, a BMW, a Lexus, or even a new Toyota, when a 10 year old KIA would do the same job?

[JMintzer]

a driveway is just a driveway, and a garage is just a garage. Why spend good money to make them look nicer?

And a car is just a means of transportation, used to get from point A to point B. Why do people spend good money for Mercedes, a Cadillac, a BMW, a Lexus, or even a new Toyota, when a 10 year old KIA would do the same job?

https://media1.giphy.com/media/r5Laua4IPpvzy/giphy.gif

Because they want to?

[Bay Kid]

a driveway is just a driveway, and a garage is just a garage. Why spend good money to make them look nicer?

And a car is just a means of transportation, used to get from point A to point B. Why do people spend good money for Mercedes, a Cadillac, a BMW, a Lexus, or even a new Toyota, when a 10 year old KIA would do the same job?

Because I like nice things. Some people don't. And a car is not just a car.

[JMintzer]

Because I like nice things. Some people don't. And a car is not just a car.

https://media.tenor.com/k4shZ1qoqg0AAAAC/sarcameter-sarcasm.gif

Just in case your meter is broken...:D:D:D

[Laker14]

Because I like nice things. Some people don't. And a car is not just a car.

Pretty soon, people will be planting pretty plants, just because they look nice.

[Bay Kid]

https://media.tenor.com/k4shZ1qoqg0AAAAC/sarcameter-sarcasm.gif

Just in case your meter is broken...:D:D:D

There are days I wonder the same. Could be I just have a loose screw?

[beckylou152]

We did ours and we love it. Your garage here is on the same level (no steps) to your house. You just walk right in. The epoxy is easy to clean or mop, so I can walk out there barefoot and get what I need any time (we store lots of things in garage). Also clean keeps the bugs out. So it isn’t because we have lots of money laying around, we want to keep up with our neighbors, or any of those ridiculous reasons lol. For us it is functional. Ours is not slippery at all.