Tips for Care and Maintenance for Your Garage Floor Coating

Quality garage floor coatings can last a long time without much upkeep. Fortunately, you can take a proactive role in prolonging their lifespan.

As experienced refinishing contractors, we at EMC Concrete Coatings know a thing or two about garage floors. Our experts are here to give you some tips on how to care for your new coating and make it last as long as possible.

Sweep or Vacuum Regularly

Keeping your garage floor coating in good shape begins with sweeping or vacuuming it regularly. Doing so will remove any dirt, dust, or debris that could damage the coating.

We recommend keeping clutter to a minimum to make your work easier. Decluttering your garage also helps you cover more areas when cleaning.

Clean Up Spills Right Away

One of the most important things you can do to prolong the life of your garage floor coating is to mop up any spills immediately. These spills often include oil, grease, antifreeze, and other liquids that might degrade the surface. If left unchecked, these spills can lead to staining and fading.

It’s also a good idea to mop the floor regularly as a habit. Mopping keeps the surface clean and free of dirt and debris.

Need a Bit More Cleaning Power?

If plain water doesn’t do the trick, don’t worry. Here are some common problems and how to solve them:

Heavy grime. Use a 1:3 solution of Windex and water to remove built-up grime. The chemicals in Windex effectively cut through the dirty layers without leaving an unsightly film on your surfaces.
Stubborn dirt. Does your floor have specks of dirt that won’t budge no matter how much you sweep or vacuum? You can gently spot-clean by using a soft scrub pad (but don’t scrub too hard to avoid de-glossing the surface).
Rust stains. Use a 1:1 solution of calcium, lime, and rust (CLR) cleaner and water. Apply a small amount on the spot, rub it gently with a soft scrub pad, then rinse with cold water. Don’t let it sit on your floor for more than two minutes.

Keep Up with Winter Maintenance

Road salts and other chemicals used to de-ice roads in the winter can be tough on your garage floor coating. If you frequently drive your car in and out of the garage, clean the floor regularly during the winter months. A simple soap and water solution can effectively remove the film left behind by these chemicals.

Don’t Use These Cleaners

Many DIY cleaners might seem like they’d be effective on garage floors. In reality, they can do more harm than good. For example, citrus-based or vinegar solutions contain acids that may dull the finish of your coatings over time.

You should also avoid soapy cleaners. These products can leave ugly films and streak marks. They can also make your floors more slippery when wet.

Inspect Your Floor Regularly

It’s a good idea to inspect your garage floor coating regularly for any signs of damage. This damage includes cracks, chips, or other surface imperfections. If you notice any imperfection, reach out to a professional refinishing contractor like EMC Concrete Coatings right away.

These defects can let moisture and dirt seep into the coating, causing it to deteriorate faster. We can quickly and easily repair any damage, keeping your floor looking its best. Our experts can also provide you with a quote for a brand-new coating if your surface is beyond repair.

DIY Repairs

If you want to try fixing the damage yourself, follow these steps:

Thoroughly clean the area to remove any dirt, grime, and grease.
Fill the gouge or scratch with an epoxy filler designed for concrete. You can find these items at your local hardware store.
Sand down the damage with 100-grit sandpaper and feather the edges until even.
Rinse your floor and allow it to dry.
Apply the original coating material to the damaged area. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Your Trusted Concrete Coating Contractor in San Antonio

We hope these tips keep your garage floor coating in tip-top shape. If you ever need more assistance, don’t hesitate to contact EMC Concrete Coatings. We’re the leading concrete coating contractor in San Antonio, and we’re always happy to help.

Our decades of experience in the industry mean that we can provide you with the best advice and service.

Call today at (210) 430-4181 to schedule a free consultation in San Antonio, TX, and the surrounding areas. We look forward to serving you!

What are the benefits of coating my garage or patio floor?

There are a multitude of benefits to coating your concrete surface. Our prep phase will eliminate high spots or surface deficiencies through diamond grinding or shotblasting. In addition, our trained technicians will fill in any cracks, holes, or spalls on your concrete surface prior to any coating being placed. This ensures a smooth and uniform appearance throughout your slab. Concrete is very porous and can make stain removal difficult. With a high-performance coating installed, you will be able to remove otherwise tough stains with a spray of your water hose. And lastly, our floors look amazing! The garage is often overlooked when it comes to renovation/upgrades, but a professionally installed resinous coating will add $$$ to the value of your home.

How long does a typical installation take?

In most cases, our highly trained technicians can wrap up your residential project in as little as 2 days. We do offer a state of the art 1 day system, where you can walk on your new floor the next day, but we do not recommend these rapid cure systems during the summer months. Commercial projects and larger residential projects (1K sq. feet or more) can certainly take more time to complete. As always, our sales team will visit your site to take accurate measurements and offer a realistic timeframe.

Do you offer free on-site quotes?

Yes, we do. EMC Concrete Coatings always prefers to visit you at your project site to take
measurements and go over your coatings/color options. Our quotes are valid for 90 days and there is never any pressure. We are not here to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured. Our process is smooth and easy for everyone involved.

Can you give me a “ball-park” price over the phone?

Yes. However, this is not the way we prefer to quote jobs. Each project is unique and a
“standard 2 car garage” is going to be different for every homebuilder in town. Square footage’s, linear walls, garage aprons, and condition of the slab all play a very important role in providing you with an accurate quote. This simply cannot be done in a matter of seconds via a phone call or messenger.

How much does it cost to install a decorative coating on my garage floor?

A typical 2 car garage coatings installation in the greater San Antonio area will cost between $2’400 and $3’000. Our pricing is based on square footages and other aspects of the project, including the linear footage of any stem walls, aprons, or repair work.

Oversized or multi-car garages, patios, or other areas will result in higher priced estimates.

Do you use epoxy or polyurea for garage coatings?

We use all the above. Resinous coatings do not come in a one size fits all application. The
details and specs of each project will help our trained technicians determine what coating is best for your project. Typically, we use polyurea coatings for our garages and patio installations. However, shop floors and other commercia/residential spaces will call for epoxies, urethanes, or water-based materials. Rest assured, no matter which products we use, they are from reputable coatings manufacturers and TDS sheets are always available to our customers upon
request.

Is this service affordable?

We are not the lowest priced team in town. We are also, certainly not the most expensive outfit on the block. Our pricing is determined by the costs of materials, inflation, demand, labor, and level of service. When choosing EMC Concrete Coatings, you have done yourself a great favor by hiring the best in the business. EMC does run specials throughout the calendar year for discounted floors and we always honor first responders, military, and front-line workers discounts.

Our team is always mindful of our customer’s budget. We are a locally owned and operated
small business, and we know the value of our hard-earned dollars and how much they mean to each one of us. We strive to provide our customers with the best possible pricing throughout the year. EMC honors our warranties, we show up on time, every time, and will go above and beyond to ensure you are 100% satisfied at the end of each project. If we miss the mark, we will rectify it. Simple as that.

Does my new floor come with a warranty?

Yes! We offer an excellent written warranty with all our floor coatings installations. Depending on which option you choose (stain, seal, epoxy/flake, solid color, or polish) the length of time will vary from 5 years to a limited lifetime homeowners’ warranty. We HONOR our warranties.

Who am I hiring if I choose EMC Concrete Coatings?

The best crew in town. From our brand-new trucks, wrapped-trailers, uniformed employees, and state of the art equipment – we are the best. Our technicians are certified and experienced installers. EMC is bonded, commercially insured, and experienced. Multiple professional references are available for commercial projects at any given time and our online reviews speak for themselves when it comes to our residential portfolio. You have made the right choice by calling the team at EMC Concrete Coatings. Most importantly, the owner of the company, Eric Calderon is personally involved in every project that comes through our door. Generally, Eric and his sales team will be the person you meet with at your project walk thru. You will then see Eric and his crew upon the day of installation. We never sub out our projects, our employees are in-house guys and Eric is there each step of the way to ensure maximum customer satisfaction!

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