If you're looking for a more durable option, you may want to consider an epoxy coating. Epoxy is a solid material that provides excellent protection against wear and tear. It's also resistant to water damage and available in various colors and finishes.
Epoxy floor coatings are known for their hardness, durability and impact resistance. These characteristics make epoxy coatings ideal for heavy-duty applications such as industrial facilities, warehouses, logistic centers and other areas that may be subjected to heavy forklift traffic.
The coating of choice in most high-build situations will be 100% solids epoxy.
Final Finish: Trowel the concrete according to its final use. A broom finish is recommended, particularly on driveways and sidewalks, as this is the safest and most durable finish. Where a smooth finish is desired, such as on a garage floor, a wood hand float finish should be used.
If you live in a mild climate, painting may not be an issue. However, if you use your patio a lot or deal with harsh winters, staining may be the better option. No matter what you choose, you'll end up with an updated, unique patio that you'll enjoy using for years to come.
Paints on concrete will eventually peel, as well, whether the surface is indoors or outdoors. If you're determined to paint your concrete to add color, opt for a paint with a urethane resin. Porch paint is the best choice.
An epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat is the most durable outdoor finish and can last for many, many years.
Our top pick, BEHR PREMIUM Wet Look Concrete Sealer, can be used on multiple surfaces indoors and outdoors. It is also easy to clean and apply. Rust-Oleum Moisture Stop Fortifying Sealer is an excellent budget-friendly option that can be applied quickly and creates a waterproof barrier that protects your concrete.
While the advantages outweigh the negatives, there are some disadvantages that you should keep in mind before sealing your concrete driveway. Sealant can make the surface slippery. Sealants tend to dry down with a glossy or semi-glossy sheen that can be quite slick, especially when wet.
Adding a coating to your garage flooring will leave the surface smooth, unbroken, and safer to walk on. Some coatings even allow an anti-slip additive to be mixed in that improves foot traction. Another option is to use a coating that has decorative flakes broadcast on the floor before a top coat is applied.
The most common coating types that are used are epoxies and polyurethanes. Epoxies can be used as a primer, intermediate and topcoat depending on application. Epoxies are known for their superior adhesion and chemical resistance.
Benefits of Polyurea Concrete Coatings
Polyurea is also a 2-step resin, but remarkably superior to Epoxy resin. As mentioned above, Polyurea is 4x stronger than Epoxy. It is also 98% more flexible than Epoxy. It is the flexibility of the material that makes it extremely durable and long-lasting.
Acrylic Concrete Sealers: Acrylic sealers last 1-3 years before they need to be re-coated. Epoxy Coatings: Epoxy coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated. Urethane Coatings: Urethane coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated.
Polished concrete is preferred over epoxy flooring because of its compressive strength, beautiful look, and its' resistance to most toxic chemicals and substances. Polished concrete flooring is ideal for garages that will not be subjected to harsh chemicals and materials of extreme pH substances.
Natural stone, tile, pavers, and brick are some of the longest-lasting patio materials. These materials are durable and resistant to weather and wear, which makes them a good choice for long-lasting structures.
Choose a stain-resistant composite
Some of the best decking options available today are composite decking as they're stain resistant and low maintenance. They will never need oiling, painting or staining, which gives you more time to relax on it.
In order to keep your pavers from fading, it is important to seal them. Even the toughest of pavers don't stand a chance against the sun, with concrete even fading over time because of the UV rays. Choosing to seal your pavers will keep your color consistent and un-faded.
The concrete is stamped with different patterns to rival the look of stone and tile, while still maintaining the benefits that concrete provides. It comes as no surprise that stamped concrete is typically the most expensive type of finish.
Which finish is the most affordable? The cheapest concrete finishes are broom and trowel finishes.
Class B - intended for coarse-textured, concrete form surfaces intended to receive plaster, stucco or wainscoting. Class A - suggested for surfaces prominently exposed to public view where appearance is of special importance.
Pros: Why You Should Totally Seal a Concrete Patio
Improves Ability to Repel Moisture – A sealer closes the absorbent pores of concrete, keeping any moisture at the surface. This helps prevent spalling that is often caused by freeze-thaw cycles. It also helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the patio.
Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
When this moisture doesn't dry and the surface is left wet for an extended period of time, mildew begins to form and mold begins to grow. You'll know you have mold growing on your concrete by the greenish color that appears.
Epoxy coatings are more durable than concrete sealers and can resist chemicals, oil, and grease damage. Epoxy coatings are also applicable to creating decorative designs on your concrete surface. In addition, epoxy coatings apply to both new and old concrete.