Are you thinking about starting a Houston TX garage floor resurfacing project? Perhaps you do want to resurface the concrete in your garage, but you’re not sure where to start. Or are you still debating whether or not resurfacing your floors is worth it?
Despite being one of the most durable materials out there, even concrete can’t last against the test of time. After years of vehicular and foot traffic and maybe the occasional chemical mishap, your garage floor’s original sleek look will disappear.
Old concrete floors show their age with cracks, discoloration, or eroding surfaces. It doesn’t make the best visual schematic and can cause discomfort or issues while crossing over it. If your residential or commercial garage is experiencing any of those, you may want to start thinking of resurfacing it.
You can transform your garage by resurfacing its flooring. Resurfacing is perfect for fixing cracks, addressing discoloration, covering eroding and ugly concrete, or updating outdated designs. Not to mention, it’ll help your floors last another decade.
Houston TX Garage Floor Resurfacing
Resurfacing concrete, like other flooring options, is an arduous process. You must have ample preparation before you can start. The first step is usually cleaning your garage floor.
The concrete needs to be rid of dirt, oil and grease stains, coatings, sealers, and paints. You’ll need to remove anything that can inhibit the new layer. This process is usually done with a high-pressure power washer. If the tougher stains don’t wash away, you may need to resort to a chemical solution.
Now that your floor is clean, you can see the extent of any damage. If there’s any unsound concrete, you’ll need to level it down to solid concrete. You’ll also need to repair and patch any untended cracks and holes; otherwise, they’ll mirror into the new layer.
Once the prep work is complete, then the actual resurfacing process happens. This includes laying down a few new coats of a polymer mixture. It’ll bond with the surface of the old concrete, creating a smooth layer on top.
Allow the new layer to cure for a day or two before stepping onto it. Give it another day or two before driving vehicles onto it. At that point, you have a new, spotless garage floor. So long as you take care of it routinely, the new surface should last you another 10 to 15 years.
Your Design Options
Of course, plain concrete may appear drab and boring. When you resurface your garage, there’s a chance to add some flair to it. With a new smoother surface to work with now, you can add a garage floor coating. Epoxy floors are the most popular choice, but there are several concrete finishes you can choose to customize your garage.
Garage floor coatings are sturdy, so they can endure the work that happens on top of them. From coping with hot wheels to the chemicals vehicles may drip, coatings like epoxy makes sure your floors stay unharmed. They’re generally abrasion-resistant and sometimes slip-resistant as well. With a variety to choose from, you can update the floor of your commercial or residential garage however you want.
Most of this should be left in the hands of a professional who’ll know how to assess the state of your concrete. The procedures vary depending on the condition and age of your garage’s concrete. An expert can determine the scope of work to ensure everything goes well.
When is the Best Time?
Resurfacing your concrete will help in most situations, but there are a few situations where it isn’t beneficial. Houston TX garage floor resurfacing is a middling option between two extremes. Outside of the middle range and you may want to find a different option.
If there are holes and cracks in your garage floor, check to see how wide they are. If they’re less than 1/4 inch wide, you can repair them yourself. So long as you catch and patch them before they get too wide, you won’t have to resurface your garage. Resurfacing the entire floor for a few cracks is a waste of time and money.
Of course, the material you repair holes with can be slightly different from the concrete. If there are many patches in the same area, they become more visible. When they’re riddling the entire surface and patching them will leave obvious marks, resurfacing your floor becomes a viable option.
On the other side of the extreme spectrum are the larger issues. If your garage floor has severe cracking, heaving slabs, or damage from winter freezes, resurfacing may not fix the issue. You’ll need to repair any of those issues first before you can resurface the concrete. Resurfacing floors will not solve any underlying soil and structural issues.
In these cases, you may need to contact a professional to look at the issue. Sometimes heavy damage like this stems from an internal issue, and you’ll need to handle it before doing anything else.
If your garage’s issues fall between those two extremes, you should be able to resurface it without too much trouble. If you want to make sure you’re in the clear, contact a contractor for an inspection.
How to Start
Even the best concrete can turn decrepit. With cracks and holes, signs of weathering, or outdated designs, you’ll want a way to change and update your garage with a new appearance. Resurfacing it will give your garage a new chance. With several finishes and design options, you can customize your floor with whatever you have in mind.
Once you assess your garage’s situation and decide that resurfacing it is the best solution, you should contact a contractor. A professional will be able to give a better judgment on what needs to happen. Of course, you may resurface it yourself, but an expert will be able to handle anything unexpected during the process.
If you want the job done right the first time, contact any of the experts at Epoxy Technology Coatings. They’ll be able to help you with any of your Houston TX garage floor resurfacing ideas and projects.
Houston, TX Fun Facts:
- Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts is the largest in the state, and with more than 62,000 works of art, it is the largest collection in the Southwest U.S. 38.
- Move over Banksy, Houston has the Kingspoint Mullet. Hidden behind the Almeda Mall off Gulf Freeway, this graffiti grail is literally covered in all colors of the rainbow. It is supposedly Houston’s largest graffiti art space.
- At the David Adickes Sculptrworx Studio, you can see gigantic head sculptures of famous people, including George W. Bush and The Beatles.
- For more information, visit Houston’s official website.