Why do so many people coat their garages?
 

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

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

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.

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 .

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.

Winters up North are killers.

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.

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

Epoxy on garage Floors-
 

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.

[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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

who
 

who did you hire?

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.

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.

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.

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 ???

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.

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.

Never happened to us.

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

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.

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

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

Dust
 

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.)

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?

Garage or driveway coating
 

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.

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

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

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?

Water would have pooled even without the Epoxy coating. Ours is coated in NJ and TV.
 

[QUOTE=kitnhead;2139673]

Epoxy flooring
 

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.

Epoxy garage floors
 

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

drive and garage treatment
 

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!

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

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.

[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.

Polyaspartic coating
 

[QUOTE=kitnhead;2139673]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.