Want to cover those ugly stains on your garage floor with something beautiful? Looking to elevate your garage with something long-lasting? Look no further than an industrial-strength garage floor coating.
While a concrete coating for your garage floor, outdoor patio, or pool deck may seem like a simple project, it is an investment.
In 2023, a quality garage floor coating can start anywhere from $2,250 to $5,250 for 500 square feet of flooring and can go up from there. This cost depends on various factors like square footage, concrete condition, and more.
Southwest Exteriors offers high-quality garage floor coatings from Penntek Industrial Coatings. Our concrete coatings are manufactured and installed to last in your home, which means they are on the higher cost spectrum.
Whether you’re looking to cover your ugly concrete with something that will last or want to spruce up your garage flooring before selling your home, you want to know how much it will cost and why.
How Much Does A San Antonio Garage Floor Coating Cost In 2023?
A San Antonio garage floor coating in 2023 can cost from $100 up to $5,250 as a starting range for 500 square feet.
- For the least expensive concrete coating option, either from a DIY solution or a less expensive contractor, the cost is around $100 - $1,200 or about $1 - $5 per square foot.
- For a high-quality concrete coating product with a high-quality installation, expect to pay closer to $2,250 - $5,250 as a starting range or about $7 - $12 per square foot.
Now, this is a wide range in cost. We understand.
“$1-$12 per square foot? How can the range be that wide?” you may wonder.
Many factors affect the overall cost of your garage floor coating project, including the square footage, coating type, installation, and more.
What Factors Affect The Cost Of My Garage Floor Coating Project?
When calculating how much your garage floor coating project will cost, there are a few things you want to consider to have realistic expectations for the price and quality of your project.
Four major factors affect the cost of a garage floor coating.
1. Type of Concrete Coating
The first thing to consider for the cost of your garage floor coating is what type of coating product you want.
Every product is made differently, performs differently, and has different costs.
The most common types of concrete coatings are epoxy and polyurea.
How much does an epoxy garage floor coating cost?
Epoxy concrete coatings cost around $3-$9 per square foot as a starting cost range depending on the cost and quality of the concrete coating.
For 500 square feet of epoxy coating, it costs about $2,250. For an epoxy and aspartic hybrid concrete coating, the cost can range from $3,500 to $4,500 for the same square footage.
Epoxy is the more affordable coating option and is commonly used for DIY garage floor coating projects. However, professional epoxy garage floor coatings will cost more, perform better, and last longer than an epoxy DIY kit.
How much does a polyurea garage floor coating cost?
Polyurea concrete coatings cost around $9 - $12 per square foot as a starting cost range.
For 500 square feet of garage flooring, the cost is about $4,750 - $5,250.
Polyurea and polyaspartic concrete coatings are higher in cost and quality for a garage floor coating. They are highly durable, impact and stain-resistant, and more long-lasting than epoxy concrete coatings.
The type of concrete coating you choose for your project will heavily affect the overall cost. The higher the quality of the product, the more it costs, the better it performs, and the longer it lasts.
2. Square Footage Of The Project Area
With any home renovation service, the size of the project is the most significant variable in calculating what it will cost you. A one-car garage concrete coating will be less expensive than a four-car garage, right?
Typically, a high-quality concrete coating can range from $9-12 per square foot.
When working with a professional concrete coating contractor, it is common for them to provide discounts with the more square footage you buy for your project. For example, while the price may start at $11 per square foot for 100 square feet, a company can bring it down close to $8 or $9 for 1,000 square feet.
If you factor in potential discounts for a garage floor coating project, a double-bay garage couldcost around $3,200-3,400 instead of $4,000.
For garage floor coatings, there are two measurements you must consider to estimate the total area you want to be covered: the verticals and the apron.
Verticals
The vertical is referred to as how high the concrete on the floor goes up the wall. Think of it as the floor placed vertically or perpendicular to the ground.
One vertical may only go three inches above the ground, while another can reach the ceiling. This is all square footage to measure and consider when estimating the cost of your project.
Of course, you don’t have to have your verticals coated, but if it is the type of look you’d like your garage to have, remember that it will be extra square footage to add to the floor.
Example of a garage with verticals coated.
Example of a garage with high verticals.
Apron
The apron refers to the space between the lip of the garage and the joint at the start of the driveway.
Typically, there is an obvious line break at the joint, indicating the bottom of the apron and the top of the driveway about a foot away from the garage door.
When measuring the square footage of your garage for a coating, there are a few terms to define the exact look you’re aiming for regarding your apron.
Full apron means you want to coat the entire area from the lip of the garage to the joint between the garage and driveway. This means the coating will likely show outside when the garage door is closed.
Example of a garage with the apron fully covered.
A door drop refers to only coating on the apron from the lip of the garage to the point where the door closes. The coating would not go past the garage door, and it would not be seen from the outside.
Example of a garage with door drop coating.
No apron means your garage floor coating would only go to the lip of the garage, and none of the apron would be touched. This option would result in the least amount of square footage when measuring your garage and would save you a few bucks.
Example of a garage with no apron.
Defining the total square footage of your garage floor coating project comes down to how much space you want to be covered. The more square footage, the more it’s going to cost.
3. Concrete Of Existing Condition
Similar to how more square footage added to your project raises the price, the condition of your concrete can add unforeseen costs on top of the entire job.
How can you measure the condition of your concrete? Here are some of the top factors that can add to the cost of your project.
Cracks
Any cracks in the concrete must be filled before the coating is applied. The longer the crack and the more cracks you have, the more it will cost you.
Now, minor cracks come with average wear and tear of concrete. However, if the cracks are deeper and start to resemble the Grand Canyon, you might need to look at your foundation before looking to get a coating.
The cost to repair cracks is priced by linear foot. The average cost added on top for these repairs is about $75 but can be higher depending on the length and width of the cracks and the location of the crack.
For example, a crack in the middle of the garage is easier to repair than a crack in the lip of the garage, so fixing that crack in the middle will be less expensive.
Example of cracking in concrete.
Previous Coating
If your concrete surface has been coated before, it may cost to remove that old coating depending on its condition.
When it comes time for your new coating, that old coating must be sanded down to create a new, smooth and even surface before the new coating. With factors like age and quality of the previous coating, it can add cost to your project depending on how hard it is to remove the old coating.
Similar to the previous coating, the concrete style can also create extra costs on top of the entire job.
For example, if your concrete has a rock salt finish where there are many holes to fill, it will take extra time in the process to even out the surface and prepare it for a coating.
Example of a previous coating pealing.
Grease
Grease and oil staining require extra attention when preparing concrete for a new coating.
Just like when you do the dishes, built-up grease takes a lot of work to get out. The more attention your concrete needs, the more it can cost you.
Hardness of concrete
Concrete can tear and deteriorate similarly to any other material. A common test used to determine the hardness and integrity of the concrete is the Mohs test.
In this test, a pencil-like tool with two different-sized probes on either end is used to gently scrape at the concrete, starting with the largest size (9).
- If the probe leaves a scratch on the concrete, then the concrete is softer than a nine.
- Then, you continue to scratch the concrete, continuously moving down in size of the probe until it does not leave a scratch. The smallest probe size is two.
Once they have reached a size that does not scratch the concrete, that correlates with the hardness level of the concrete. This tells installers what type of diamond is needed to grind the concrete effectively.
If concrete is too soft, extra hardening treatments may need to be applied before grinding and applying a coating, which will add to the cost of your project.
Moisture of concrete
Did you know that concrete can be too moist for a concrete coating?
Concrete must be at the right moisture content level for the coating to adhere to the concrete properly. Moisture content is measured by using a moisture meter that calculates the percent of moisture in the concrete.
If the moisture content is too high in concrete, a moisture barrier must be applied before the coating so that the coating will properly bond to the surface.
If a moisture barrier is needed for your concrete coating project, it will add to the cost of the added materials and labor.
To sum all that up, the better condition your concrete is in, the lower the cost of your project. The more cracks and grease stains, or if your concrete is too soft or too moist, the more it will cost for the necessary supplies.
4. Customizations
The last thing that will influence the cost of your project is any customization or upgrades.
With many concrete coating types, there are options for customizing the color and pattern of your coating, as well as other upgrades for added safety and anti-slip properties.
For example, with Penntek products, there are many options for what color and chip mixture you like, and you have the option to customize the mixture of chip and color.
Customizations and upgrades in any project are always going to cost extra on top of your base pay. For a garage concrete coating, customizations on top of color can include a border, checkered floor, diamond-patterned floor, or even adding a logo.
You are likely to add 15-40% of your total cost on top of the project, depending on the complexity of the customization.
Having Realistic Expectations For Your Garage Floor Coating Project
Now that you know how much a garage floor coating costs in 2023, you can have realistic expectations for the cost of your unique project.
The cost of your concrete coating project depends on the coating type you choose, the size of your project, the condition of your concrete, and any added customizations.
To ensure you have realistic expectations for the cost and quality of your concrete coating, you must outline your wants, goals, and needs for the outcome of your project.
- If you are looking for a cheap and easy solution to coating your concrete, then a DIY or less expensive epoxy coating may be the right option for you.
- If you want a high-quality coating that is made and installed to last in your home, a polyurea concrete coating may be the better option. But expect to pay more.
Knowing what you want out of your garage floor coating will ensure you choose the right products and company to work with to fit your budget and meet your needs.
Finding the right professional for your project is one of the largest keys to success for your concrete coating. So, how exactly do you find the right contractor?
This article will define three steps to take to find the right home remodeling contractor for your project. Then, you’ll know exactly what to do to find the best solution and company that will provide you with a successful project.
Ready To Upgrade Your Garage Flooring With A High-Quality Contractor?
Southwest Exteriors offers high-quality polyurea and polyaspartic concrete coatings from Penntek.
Our expert installation crews are professionally trained to install your concrete coating properly to ensure it performs and will last. Upgrade your garage floor, outdoor patio, pool deck, or any concrete surface to completely transform your space.
Ready to start your concrete coating project? Schedule your free, in-home consultation with a design consultant today, and get the look you love coming home to!