Winter isn’t just a season—it’s a mindset.
You want to be able to drive your car into your garage floor at night and not have to worry about scraping debris off the floor in the morning.
But, if you don’t winterize your garage correctly, you could get a lot of unexpected damage.
Here’s how to prepare your garage floor for winter to prevent expensive repairs in the future.
Is It Necessary to Winterize Your Garage Floor?
The short answer is yes.
An adequately winterized garage floor will help prevent water from seeping into the concrete and causing damage that can be costly to fix. It also helps keep the garage dry so you can park your car for extended periods without worrying about rust or corrosion.
That said, there are a few different ways you can winterize your flooring to ensure you properly protect your garage floor.
6 Tips to Prepare Your Garage Flooring for Winter
Repair Any Cracks or Holes Before Winter
If your garage floor has cracks or holes, now is the time to repair them.
A cracked garage floor can lead to moisture problems in the colder months, which can cause damage to your vehicle and other items in the garage.
The best way to repair a crack is to patch it up with concrete filler or patching compound before winter arrives. This will help prevent moisture from seeping into your home through the crack and causing damage to the walls and flooring.
Apply Garage Coatings
When winter rolls around, you want to keep your garage floor as clean and dry as possible—you don’t want to risk slipping on a patch of ice or getting your vehicle stuck in the snow!
Fortunately, plenty of options are available for keeping your garage floor safe all year round, and one way is by applying a garage floor coating.
Quality flooring protects the concrete substrate underneath from water damage, cracks, wear, and damage from hot tires. It also provides an extra layer of insulation that will help keep your floor warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Choose from concrete paints, epoxy, or polyurea/polyaspartic systems for enhanced durability and longevity.
Use Carpet-Crete Matting
Carpet-crete matting is a unique material that looks like carpet but contains chemicals to make it resistant to water damage and mold growth. It comes in rolls that are easy to install and can be cut to size to fit any space.
This type of matting is advantageous if you don’t want any dirt getting into the cracks between your concrete flooring. It will cover your garage floor up entirely, so nothing gets where it shouldn’t.
Apply a Protective Floor Sealant
Applying a protective floor sealant is an easy way to protect your garage floor from the elements. The best way to do this is with a siliconate penetrating sealer or acrylic sealer.
These will prevent water from seeping into the concrete, but they also have the added benefit of being able to withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius. Protecting your garage floor from water damage with these sealants will also help prevent cracking during freezing weather.
Use Containment Mats
Garage floor containment mats collect deicing solutions, road salts, snow melt, vehicle fluids, and other debris. Containment mats also keep your garage floor clean when it comes time to wash your car.
This garage floor covering can withstand harsh winter weather, so it’ll last for years. They’re easy to install, and you can clean them with just soap and water.
When you invest in these durable containment mats for your garage floor, you’ll protect yourself and your vehicle from an expensive repair bill down the road.
Check Your Garage Door Seal
Remember to check the seal on your garage door before winter arrives. A faulty seal may allow water penetration and snow buildup on your garage floor if it’s cracked or broken.
Depending on how wet your area gets in winter, you may want to consider having a professional replace the seal before it gets worse to prevent leaks and flooding in your garage.
Contact the Experts for Protective Garage Coatings
Winter is coming!
If you’re looking for a great garage floor coating for winter, look no further than TAGG Concrete Coatings.
We’ve been installing protective epoxy and polyurea base/polyaspartic top coatings for over 30 years, and all our installations come with a guaranteed 15-year warranty against chipping and peeling.
Our team of experts will transform your garage into a year-round space that’s safe and durable.
Contact us today at (919) 439-8879, or get started by filling out our online contact form.
