Improving the outdoor living spaces at your home often has a very high return on investment, generally between 30-60%. A patio is a great way to increase the value of your home and give you more living space.
One of the best ways to improve your patio is to give the floor a protective (and beautiful) coating. It adds an interesting design element and makes the whole space feel more intentional and finished. Not to mentionable of the functionality it adds.
But choosing floor coatings can be a bit difficult with so many options available. We’ve broken down the top seven things you should look for before committing.
1. Level of Durability
The most common reason that a homeowner opts to add a floor coating is to add some durability. Patios and garages take a beating as they’re lived in and used.
Think about all of the materials you move along your patio; metal tables or chairs, bbq grills, and outdoor toys to name a few.
Each of these things can easily chip, crack, or scratch your concrete and then you have to live with that until you want to replace it. There are not many easy fixes for damaged concrete. But a floor coating can prevent those issues from happening.
Check the patio flooring material you’re considering for its durability, scratch resistance, and chip strength before making a final decision.
2. Cure Times
Most homeowners aren’t interested in dealing with a massive renovation with extended timelines. Those projects often speak out into other areas and cost a lot of money.
Luckily floor coating service doesn’t have to take a long time to be completed.
While there’s no definitive timeline for a project like this, the professional installers will be able to give you an estimate based on your specific space. The step in the process that has the most variability is the cure time.
It’s imperative to the life of the project that nothing goes on the floor until it’s completely dried and cured. So knowing how long you’ll need to stay off beforehand can help keep your expectations realistic.
3. Final Finish
Another reason to add flooring for patios is to add a design element to the space. Paying attention to the flooring can make a huge difference in the overall look.
Floor coatings come in a very wide variety of colors and finishes, you want to make sure that the type you choose will match the vision you have for the space. Most service providers will be able to show you samples that you can check in the space to see how they’ll look.
It’s also helpful to look at galleries of past projects to see how the options look in a larger space to get a better feel. This might be the hardest part of the decision, so take your time!
4. Safety Features
Garage and patios are the areas in our homes that are most likely to get wet, either from rain, pressure washing, or the sprinklers. That also means they can be notorious for being slippery.
Each year more than 3 million people go to the hospital for fall-related injuries.
When you’re choosing between types of coating for your patio, considering the safety features is an important consideration to make. Each type has a slightly different end result, so this is another area where a sample is helpful to see how it will actually feel.
There are add-ins you can choose to make the whole floor have more grip and make it much less likely to be slippery.
5. Damage Resistance
Not only is it difficult to repair a chip or crack in concrete, but stains are also almost impossible to remove without replacing. But spills and stains are a part of life! So our floors should be able to hold up to them.
The right flooring for patios will be easy to clean and stain-resistant. Most of the options available will have those capabilities to some degree, so check with your provider for full details.
If you choose a decorative finish, you want it to stay that way as long as possible. Making sure the coating has UV protection will ensure that it won’t fade or yellow as it spends so much time in the sun.
6. Maintenance Level
As a homeowner, you already have so many things to worry about and take care of. You don’t want to add maintaining your patio flooring to that long list.
Instead, adding a patio floor coating should do the opposite and allow you to leave the patio alone. But even without babysitting it still looks as great as the day you bought it.
Before you commit to any floor covering, it’s helpful to know if there will be any required maintenance in the future. That could be periodic resealing or specific cleaning instructions that need to be followed. Either way, you want to know what you’re getting into before installation.
7. Overall Cost
Of course, your budget will be an important deciding factor in which of the types of coating you decide to go with.
When you work with a professional installation service, there will be added costs beyond the actual flooring itself. There will be service and installation costs, but it’s important to know if there are any additional fees you need to factor in.
Nothing is worse than being surprised with a bill that’s much higher than expected. Having clear expectations will help the whole project be more satisfactory and enjoyable.
Also, knowing your budget upfront helps you know which options you can and can’t afford throughout the selection process.
Choosing Floor Coatings for Your Patio
Choosing floor coatings for your patio is a big job. It’s not something that’s easily changed if you decide you don’t like your choice, so it’s best to get it right the first time.
Luckily for you, there are several professionals who know all the ins and outs of floor coatings who can help you make the most educated decision.
If you’re interested in speaking with one of our experts, contact us today!