You bought your home several years ago and feel like you want to make a change to make it feel brand new. It was lived in prior to you, so the wear and tear of the previous owners are still noticeable to you everyday. Maybe you spend a lot of time working on cars or walk through the garage everyday to get into your car and the cracks on the concrete bother you.
Why not treat your home to a repair that will not only fix those cracks but also make you confident in how it looks?
Whether you’re looking to glam up your garage, patio, or pool deck, or feel like it’s time for some repair and renovation, you want to know what you’re getting into cost-wise when having any concrete surface coated. With that comes research into the type of product, finish, and company you choose to handle your home with quality and care.
The average cost for a single-bay garage coating can range anywhere from $500-$3,000. While factors like equipment used, products used, and customizations will influence the cost and quality of the repair, square footage and concrete condition will make up the majority of the cost. Customizations or additional upgrades will also affect the cost depending on what you are looking to do.
In this article, we will go into the specifics of terms to know when calculating the square footage of your concrete coating project and any problems areas to look for so you can feel confident in knowing what makes up the total cost for a concrete coating project.
Square footage
With any home renovation service, the size of the project is the biggest variable to calculate what it is going to cost you. A one-car garage concrete coating is going to be less expensive than a four-car garage, right?
Typically, the cost of a concrete coating can range from $9-12 per square foot. It is common for most companies 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, that can be brought down close to $8 or $9 for 1,000 square feet.
As mentioned before, it costs about $2,000 per bay for a garage floor coating. If you factor in discounts, a double-bay garage can cost around $3,200-3,400 as opposed to $4,000.
For garage floor coatings, there are a couple of measurements you need to consider to estimate the area you want covered: the verticals and the apron.
Verticals
Simply put, the vertical is referred to as how high up the concrete on the floor goes. 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.
You don’t have to have your verticals coated, of course, 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
You might be thinking an apron is just something to wear over your clothes while cooking, but I'm here to give you a new definition to add to your dictionary.
For garages, the apron refers to the space between the lip of the garage, or that little ridge near where the door closes, and the joint, or start of the driveway. Typically, there is an obvious line break at the joint indicating the bottom of the apron and 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 most 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.
With all that said, it really comes down to how much space you want a part of your project. The more square footage, the more it’s going to cost.
Concrete Condition
Similar to the idea that the more square footage added to your project will raise 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 extra cost to your project.
Cracks
Any cracks in the concrete need to be filled before the coating goes atop. The longer the crack and the more cracks you have, the more it will cost you.
Now, minor cracks are usual with the wear and tear of concrete. However, if the cracks are deeper and start to remind you of the Grand Canyon, you might need to look at your foundation before looking to get a coating.
The cost to repair cracks are 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 as well as location of the crack.
For example, a crack in the middle of the garage is easier to repair than a crack on 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 the 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. Although a rock salt finish is beneficial for a non-slip surface, most other coatings can provide the same with a smooth finish.
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
Concrete can tear and deteriorate similar to, well, really any other material. A common test used to determine the hardness and integrity of the concrete is the Mohs test.
In this test, a consultant will take a pencil-like tool with two different sized probes on either end and gently scrape at the concrete starting with the largest size nine. If the probe leaves a scratch on the concrete, then the concrete is softer than a nine. Then, they will 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 the size that does not scratch, that correlates with the hardness level of the concrete. This then 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.
To sum all that information, the better condition and integrity of your concrete will save you from potential charges necessary to make the surface workable.
One final thing to note that will influence the cost of your project is any customizations or upgrades. 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. However, the cost to customize your surface is not significant enough to influence the overall cost for a concrete coating.
Customizations
With any project, customizations and upgrades are always going to cost extra on top of your base pay. For a garage concrete coating, customizations 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.
Evaluating your options
When paying for any renovation service, the most important thing to remember when considering cost is that what you pay for is what you get. While one company may only charge $900 for a single-cab garage floor coating, what is the average lifespan of the coating? What warranty do they offer? How are their client reviews? How long does it take for the job completion?
The largest contributors to your concrete coating will be the square footage and concrete condition. The larger the area of the job, the more it will cost you no matter the company. The worse condition the concrete is in, whether it be cracking or too soft, the more it will cost you.
At Southwest Exteriors, we offer a patent concrete coating with Penntek for a stylish and durable floor that can withstand abrasions, chemicals, and UV damage. Between is a layer of small vinyl chips to add a slip-resistant finish while also making your floor look as if it were made of granite.
If you’re looking for a quick, simple, and inexpensive job to cover your concrete, Southwest Exteriors might not be what you’re looking for. The average cost for a single-bay garage floor Penntek coating is $2,000 including preparation, installation, and lifetime warranty for the entirety of your life in your home.
Now there is nothing wrong choosing a less expensive service, and many other companies can fill the cracks and smooth your concrete well. If you are someone who is looking for a little more glitz in your garage, then what we offer at Southwest Exteriors might be the fit for you.
Looking for more information on how much it will cost for your concrete coating project? Fill out the form on our website and a representative will call you within five minutes to schedule a free consultation at your home.
