POLYUREA AND POLYASPARTIC GARAGE FLOOR COATINGS

Polyurea / polyaspartic garage floor coating One garage flooring option that has created quite a buzz in the industry the last few years is polyurea/polyaspartic floor coatings. This relatively new coating has become the latest favorite for installers as an alternative to epoxy. It has created some confusion for home owners as well. The fast curing ability of this system is being billed as the “Holy Grail” of floor coatings and is advertised as the best of everything that a coating can do. Wash your car regularly to prevent rust from becoming a problem. Rust will happen, but you can slow things down by keeping the car clean. Wax your car to keep paint in good condition, too. So if it’s not an epoxy, what is it exactly and why would you want it on your garage floor? Let’s unravel the confusion about polyurea and polyaspartic floor coatings and see why many garage flooring companies are pushing this new product. WHAT ARE POLYUREA AND POLYASPARTIC COATINGS Without getting too technical, Polyurea is a subgroup of polyurethane. It is formed when isocyanates react with water or polyetheramines to create a urea linkage. Like epoxy, it is a 2-part component that mixes resin with a catalyst to cause the curing reaction that makes the material hard. A great way to get a good mechanic is by asking around. Ask around for recommendations. You can find out about the quality of service and the costs. These people will be able to inform you of their experience with the mechanic. It has low to no VOC’s and has an elongation rate that exceeds 300%, making it much more flexible than epoxy. It is commonly used for spray-on bed liners, interior pipe coating, liquid containment lining and many other industrial applications such as tunnel coatings and fillers for joints. Because of its extremely fast cure rate (less than 5 seconds and fully hard in less than 5 minutes), most polyureas require specialized equipment for application. Polyaspartic is a type of aliphatic polyurea. To quote Bayer Material Science: “By definition, a polyaspartic is an aliphatic polyurea because it is the reaction of an aliphatic polyisocyanate with a polyaspartic ester – which is an aliphatic diamine”. Keep a record when your car is fixed or maintained. If you have problems later, it may help the mechanic to see these notes. If you don't have these kinds of records it could cost you more because you won't be able to locate the problems quickly. What polyaspartics do is conquer the difficulties of the extremely fast cure rate of polyurea in order to apply the coating in a more traditional manner, with a longer pot life of 5 to 120 minutes depending on the formulation. So in essence, all polyaspartics are a polyurea, but not all polyureas are a polyaspartic. So to lessen the confusion, this means that when you see a garage floor coating or kit being advertised as a polyurea, or a polyurea polyaspartic, it is really some formulation of a polyaspartic coating. BENEFITS OF POLYASPARTIC COATINGS Do an online search of reviews about your local automotive repair shop. These reviews will inform you of the company's quality, customer service satisfaction rates, etc. The knowledge can be very helpful when it comes time to make a final decision on which place to go to with your car. Now that we’ve covered these eye numbing explanations, what does it mean for you? The two biggest advantages of a polyaspartic or polyurea garage floor coating are temperature and time. Unlike epoxy, a polyaspartic coating can be applied in temperatures as low as -30F to as high as 140F depending on the formulation. That means you don’t have to wait till spring or summer to coat your garage floor if you live in a colder climate. Typical polyurea and polyaspartic floor coatings are applied in just two coats; the first being both the primer and color coat and the second being the clear coat. Because of their fast cure rates, a complete flooring system can be installed in one day and returned to service the next. This means that you won’t have to do without your garage for 3-4 days like you would for a full epoxy system. When visiting a repair shop, be mindful of warning signs that the shop is not a good one. Someone who gives vague answers to direct questions, or ignores them altogether, may not have the necessary knowledge to give you quality service. If your gut feeling is that you don't quite trust your mechanic, keep looking for one who inspires confidence in you and helps you understand the problems with your car. There are many other benefits to a polyurea/polyaspartic floor coating as well. These include: 100% U.V. stability – they will never yellow. Crystal clear finish that won’t blush from moisture in the concrete. Has your mechanic worked on your model of vehicle before? While basic components may be the same, there are differences between cars due to the amount of space beneath the hood. If you're unsure about your chosen mechanic's ability, consider having a dealer repair your vehicle. Similar high abrasion and scratch resistance to polyurethane. High tolerance to heat, meaning hot tire pick up is a non-issue. High film build-up that can be controlled by the applicator. If you're having serious repairs done on your vehicle, make sure to get multiple estimates. Even though mechanics are trustworthy in general, you could still wind up paying for more than you should. Shop around for shops with a good reputation and experience in your vehicle's make. Shops like this may understand your car's needs better. High gloss finish High solids content with little to no VOC’s in most applications. High stain and chemical resistance. This includes salts for winter climates. Replacing your own taillights and headlights is an easy way to save money. It's easy in some vehicles, and it's a lot cheaper than having someone else do it. Ask your friends and relatives if they can help with this small repair. Good flexibility for higher impact resistance. Excellent wetting characteristics allowing for good penetration into the concrete for a strong bond. Decreased chance of bubbles from outgassing due to the faster cure rate. Your wiper blades should never be forgotten about. If your windshield wipers cause streaks or make noises, they may need replacing. Try to replace these blades once a year so that you can drive safely in the rain. COSTS AND INSTALLATION FACTORS Though a polyaspartic or polyurea flooring system does have some great benefits, there are some other factors to consider before you decide if this is the best system for you. The first is cost. To have it professionally installed will cost an average of $2 to $3 more per square foot than an equivalent epoxy and polyurethane system. Talk to your friends about their auto repair experiences before choosing a repair shop. You may get a few recommendations from your friends and family that make your search easier. Still, you should do some research on the shops they recommend. At least look for online reviews of those recommendations. It is also not the most user friendly “do it yourself” installation and requires a minimum of two people to apply. Depending on the formulation of the polyaspartic, the average pot life is only 20 to 25 minutes. This can be very intimidating if you haven’t done a floor coating before. Also, the materials alone can cost almost twice as much as epoxy. A good example by Advacoat on how a polyaspartic floor coating is installed Know what all the lights stand for on your dashboard and be aware of when they go off. Use them to your advantage, they're put there to guide you. Don't ignore any dashboard lights that come on, as the problem may grow worse if it's ignored. One thing to keep in mind is that like epoxy, not all polyaspartics are created equal. Some of the DIY kits that are being offered are not of the same quality as the more professional versions. So shop around and compare if you want to install a garage floor coating yourself. The formulations are different and come with a lower solids content in order to lengthen the pot life. Grinding the concrete is also the recommended floor prep. While polyurea / polyaspartic coatings are not affected by water or humidity when fully cured, humidity during installation can cause the coating to cure much more rapidly and should be monitored before installation. ***UPDATE*** Ensure that your oil is changed with regularity. Your car's oil is a big part of how well it functions. If you do not have your oil changed on a regular basis, you are risking serious damage to your engine. Try to remind yourself every 3,000 miles. There are now newer single-part polyurea garage floor coatings available that are extremely easy to apply. They have and unlimited pot life and excellent protection. Learn about single-part polyurea here. Another consideration is that if you are a regular garage mechanic, polyaspartics don’t stand up as well to battery acids like epoxy and polyurethane does. They also can be very slippery when wet. If you are not applying full paint chips to add texture, it is advisable to add a slip resistant aggregate into the top coat to increase the anti-slip properties of the coating. One of the biggest reasons that professional installers are offering polyaspartic floor coatings is to sell the benefit of being without your garage for only a day. A good installer can prep your concrete and install your coating in as little as 6 – 8 hours. You can be moving your belongings back into the garage before the day is done and park your car in it the next. This can be a huge advantage for people who can’t be without their garage for 3 or 4 days. If you need collision repair, it is smart to take photos before you give your car to the body shop. A lot of shops aren't going to strip things out of your vehicle, but some will if they are trying to make more money. You are safer if you have documentation of the condition of your car prior to having any work done on it. If you need to have a garage floor coating installed in less than ideal temperatures or need the advantage of being without your garage for only a day, then a professionally installed polyurea or polyaspartic floor coating may be just what you need. It is a great garage flooring option if the cost is in the budget. RELATED ARTICLES OTHERS HAVE READ: How to Use Anti-Slip Additives for Garage Floor Coatings Even if the problem you are having seems minor to you, have it looked at by a professional. Small issues can often turn into larger ones. Home Owner’s Guide To Garage Flooring Ideas and Options What is The Best Flooring For Your Garage? Polyurethane versus Epoxy Coatings for Your Garage If you just bought a car, and you realize there is a problem, get in touch with the manufacturer. Manufacturers will issue recalls if there are enough complaints, or if the problem endangers the safety of drivers. The manufacturer may even fix your car free of charge. How to Determine the Best Sealer for Your Garage Floor EPOXY COATINGS OPTIONS AND IDEAS POLYUREA / POLYASPARTIC COATINGS Save the receipts from all your car repairs in a single file. Organize them chronologically or by kind of repair or maintenance so you can easily find a specific receipt. That will allow both you and your mechanic to keep track of what has already been done to your car. Keeping these resources organized will also help you keep track of just how much car maintenance is costing you over time.