Discover the Many Types of a
Concrete Floor Coating
A concrete floor coating refers to many types of products and systems used to cover bare concrete for aesthetic reasons, protective purposes, or simply to comply with codes and regulations.
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| Pouring out epoxy coating before it gets too hot. | Walking through wet epoxy with spikes to spread evenly. |
There are several types of coatings, each with it's own benefits and limitations. In order to decide which coating is best for you, it's important too understand the differences in each type as well as general costs.
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We'll start with the easiest which is concrete sealer. Concrete sealer is the most basic coating. It requires the least amount of work to prep the floor and apply the coating. Sealer protects the concrete from many chemical spills, food stains, foot and vehicle traffic and makes cleaning concrete much easier. It doesn't do much to enhance the floor visually unless you use a colored concrete sealer.
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A system of stain and sealer is another relatively inexpensive floor coating. Concrete stains are used to enhance bare concrete with a natural, long lasting appearance. Stains penetrate the concrete which creates a very durable finish that can't peel or flake away. They require a little more prep work but application can be very simple. You can choose between the popular acid stains or the more user friendly acrylic stains. In order for these stains to look nice and last, it's imperative that you apply a coat of concrete sealer as the final step.
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| Basement floor with overlay, acid stain, and epoxy clear coat. |
Another popular coating, especially for garages and basements, is concrete paint or epoxy floor paint. The materials for this is a bit more costly than stains and the prep work is more vigorous. Paints need a fairly rough floor profile in order to bond well and last. Acid etching can accomplish this but grinding or shotblasting is recommended for commercial and industrial floors. Application can be easy depending of the type of epoxy paint. Just mix it up, roll it on, and throw paint chips on the wet paint if you're using them. Some of the stronger epoxies harden to quickly and should only be used by professionals. It's recommended that a clear coat of sealer be applied as the last step to act as the sacrificial wear coat.
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| Epoxy floor paint completely covered with blended paint chips. |
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| Epoxy floor paint lightly speckled with blended paint chips. |
The most expensive and difficult floor coating is an overlay. Within the category of overlays there are several different types of concrete toppings. There are self leveling overlays which are generally used as underlayments for other flooring or to fix damaged and uneven slabs. Spray on overlays are normally used to create slip resistant surfaces that are easy on the feet and easy to clean. Color and stencils can also be used with spray on overlays for a customized surface. Spray on overlays are just one of many styles of decorative overlays, which include stampable overlays and decorative interior overlays. Overlays require a lot of planning and can be labor intense. It's recommended that they only be installed by professionals. However, a serious do-it-yourselfer can handle a basic overlay or almost any concrete floor coating with the proper tools and preparation.
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| Lightly textured overlay with acrylic stains and urethane clear coat. |
Strongest Concrete Garage Floor Coating... Discover one of the most durable and scratch resistant coatings available for do-it-yourselfers.
Concrete Floor Coating Cost
This table shows approximations of concrete floor coating costs for do-it-yourself and professional installation as well as necessary prep methods. These are only approximations. Actual figures can vary depending on where you live, degree of floor prep required, and options offered with some of the coating systems.
| Type of Coating | Prep Work | DIY cost | Professional Installation Cost |
| Concrete Sealer | Thorough Cleaning | $0.15 sq ft | $1.00 sq ft |
| Stain and Sealer | Thorough Cleaning and acid etching |
$0.30 sq ft | $2.50-$3.00 Sq ft |
| Epoxy paint | Acid etching grinding or shotblasting |
$0.60 sq ft | $3.50-$4.50 Sq ft |
| Spray on Overlay | Acid etching grinding or shotblasting |
not recommended | $3.00 Sq ft |
| Interior overlays | Acid etching grinding or shotblasting |
$1.50 sq ft | $5.00-$8.00 Sq ft |
| Stamped overlays | Acid etching grinding or shotblasting |
not recommended | $6.00-$9.00 Sq ft |
Keep in mind, as a general rule, as the cost of products and installation goes down, so does the quality. You've heard before, "You get what you pay for!".
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