What Is Epoxy?
Epoxy is a viscous resin that can be applied to numerous surfaces as a protective layer. Once it cures, it becomes hard and resistant to chipping, solvents, chemicals, scuffing, mold, and moisture.
Does Epoxy Flooring Increase The Value Of Your Home?
Adding epoxy to your garage floor will absolutely increase the value of your home. While concrete can handle some abuse, epoxy is much stronger and will protect your garage floor much better.
Looks Great
Epoxy comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns that are much more aesthetically pleasing than plain old concrete. These include solid colors, metallic finishes, wood patterns, stone textures, checkered designs, and more. If you prefer the look of natural concrete, you can even apply a clear coat to preserve that classic garage floor look.
Inexpensive
Epoxy flooring is a great option for increasing your home’s value without breaking the bank. Whether you choose to hire a professional to install an epoxy floor or you want to DIY, epoxy is an affordable option.
On top of this, maintenance is cheap and easy. If you happen to crack or damage your epoxy, you can patch the abrasion easily to bring your floor back to its former glory.
Durable
Ask any homeowner, and they will agree less maintenance is a good thing. Epoxy is durable enough to last for decades. There aren’t many other options that can stand up to this. It can withstand rain, snow, oil stains, chemicals, fuels, paints, chips, and other physical abrasions.
Whether you use your garage for storage, as a workshop, or to work on cars, epoxy can hold up to just about anything you can throw at it.
Eco Friendly
Epoxy flooring is an environmentally friendly option for protecting your garage floor. It doesn’t contain any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and won’t release any toxic fumes when it gets hot.
Cleaning epoxy doesn’t require volatile chemicals to clean. Simply grab a wet mop to clean dirt and other stains to make your floor look brand new.
How Can I Add Epoxy To An Already Finished Floor?
You can add a fresh layer of epoxy to an already finished floor, but if the floor is showing signs of delamination or peeling, then it’s going to take some extra work before you can lay down a new layer of epoxy.
Prepping A Damaged Floor
Attempting to apply fresh epoxy to old delaminated epoxy will create more problems, so make sure that you take the time to prep the floor before pouring a new layer.
To maximize the longevity and appearance of your new floor, you will need to remove the old damaged layer of epoxy and concrete sealers first. This can be done by scraping the old epoxy off or by using an angle grinder or a heavy-duty concrete grinder.
Concrete grinders are great for covering large distances in a short amount of time, but you can accidentally damage the concrete underneath the epoxy, so it may be a better idea to call in a professional for this job if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.
Angle grinders are more forgiving than large concrete grinders and are easier to strip old epoxy in smaller spaces and in corners. The downside is that they will take much more time to strip an entire garage than with a concrete grinder.
Once the old epoxy is removed and the floor is cleaned, then it is time to pour a new layer of epoxy.
Applying A Fresh Coat Of Epoxy
If the existing layer of epoxy on your garage floor is still in good condition, it will take much less prepping than it would to remove an old, damaged layer of epoxy.
Your main goal in correctly applying a new layer of epoxy is to roughen the surface of the existing layer. This will create a surface that the new layer of epoxy will fully adhere to.
One way to do this is to use gritty sandpaper (~120 grit) with a pole sander or floor buffer to roughen the surface. You can also use an orbital sander, but this will be harder on your back and knees.
After sanding, sweep and vacuum as much of the leftover dust as you can. You will want to use a cloth with denatured alcohol to finish collecting the remaining particulates.
Once your floor is prepped, you can go ahead and apply a brand-new layer of epoxy to make your garage floors look like new.
Final Thoughts
Applying epoxy to your garage floor is a great way to increase the value of your home. It is an easy process that is inexpensive, durable, customizable, aesthetically pleasing, and low maintenance.