Concrete floors are a durable and long-lasting flooring choice for many industrial, commercial, and residential settings.
They’re low-maintenance and can withstand considerable wear-and-tear; but as anyone who’s been on a concrete floor for long knows, concrete floors can be prone to damage from spills, stains, and abrasion over time. With continued use, this can make them look unsightly and even compromise the structural integrity of the concrete, leading to cracks, spidering, flaking, and rough spots. For example, concrete is porous, and oil (like from dripping vehicles) will leave permanent stains; road salt will slowly erode the surface layer, leading to pitting; and a few dropped hammers can leave chips or dents.
This is where concrete floor coatings like paint, epoxy, and polyaspartic coatings come in – they offer a protective layer that can enhance the durability, appearance, and functionality of concrete floors.
So which is right for you, and how much is a professionally installed concrete floor coat?
Concrete Floor Coating Prices Explained
The most common floor coatings for garages or basements are floor paint, epoxy coatings, and polyaspartic coatings.
At Top Coat, we simply don’t recommend floor paints for coating concrete. These coatings are thin and don’t hold up well over the long-run; anyone who truly cares about longevity and getting the best floor coating in their basement or garage probably won’t be thrilled with the results of floor paint. But floor paint is the cheapest basement or garage coating for that reason.
At Top Coat, we stick with the best floor coatings: epoxy and polyaspartic. And, polyaspartic coatings are our go-to top choice for most settings, particularly those where 1) sun will hit the floor (causing yellowing in traditional epoxy) or 2) there is any fluctuation in temperature, like with garages.
Here’s how they’re priced.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Basement Floor Coated?
Basement floor coatings can range from $5-12 per square foot.
To give you a better idea of why these prices can fluctuate, here are some factors that can affect how much a concrete floor coating costs:
- Damp basements that require dry time or labor to dry out the moist concrete will require more labor from our team and increase our price.
- Hard-to-access basements can cost a little more given how much longer time it takes us to install.
- The condition of the concrete floor is a big factor in polyaspartic or epoxy costs. New concrete floors that are in great condition will require no repair work from our team before putting down your floor coating. Older concrete floors with pitting or abrasion that requires some attention from our skilled team will drive costs towards the top of the range.
- Fixtures like rusty steel drains that need to be replaced with modern PVC drains prior to your floor coating will drive up the price as well.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Garage Floor Coated?
Garage floor coatings range from $5-8 per square foot.
Garages tend to be a little cheaper than basements because these spaces are easier to access and faster to get done.
Again, moisture, drain replacements, and garage floor concrete fixes can drive costs to the higher end of this range.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Commercial Floor Coated?
Industrial or commercial floor coatings can range from $4 to $12 per square foot.
Again, many of the same variables apply: access, quality of the concrete, replacement of fixtures, etc. all can increase costs to the high end of this range.
In some spaces, restrictions like working through the night, can increase this cost as well.
A cove base trim option (a seamless base/floor trim transition) can make a difference in commercial floor coating costs. Commercial kitchens or butcher shops are a common place where we see this base trim option, often because many spaces like this are spraying down their walls or floors regularly for cleaning.
Price Of Polyaspartic Versus Epoxy Floor Coatings
Many people wonder how the price of polyaspartic coatings compare to the price of epoxy or any other similar products.
Polyaspartic coatings are the premier floor coating option for concrete, but the price is generally very similar to epoxy, despite being a better product!
Polyaspartic coatings cure faster (two days) compared to epoxy (seven days), which is one reason the installation costs are often lower than epoxy.
The Best Floor Coatings In Pittsburgh
If you’re looking for a garage or basement floor coating, Top Coat Concrete can give you the advice and the skilled installation you’re looking for.
Whether you just need some insights or are ready to get a new basement floor, call today for a free consultation.