If you’ve been looking into epoxy garage flooring, you’ve probably seen the term 100% solids epoxy more than once.
It sounds important, but unless you work with floor coatings every day, you may be wondering what it actually means.
In simple terms, 100% solids refers to the makeup of the epoxy and what remains on the floor as it cures. It’s one of several things worth understanding when you’re comparing garage floor coatings.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is 100% Solids Epoxy?
Some floor coatings contain water or solvents that help with application. As the coating dries or cures, those components leave the material.
With 100% solids epoxy, there isn’t a water or solvent carrier that’s intended to evaporate away during curing. The mixed material becomes part of the finished coating.
That allows 100% solids epoxy to create a substantial layer over properly prepared concrete.
You probably won’t think about any of this once your garage is finished, but it helps explain why two products with “epoxy” in the name may be very different.
Aren’t All Epoxy Garage Floors the Same?
Not quite.
You’ll find DIY epoxy kits, water-based products, high-solids coatings, and professional flooring systems. They may all be described as epoxy, but the materials and installation methods can vary quite a bit.
Instead of looking only for the word “epoxy,” look at what’s actually being installed.
What type of epoxy is used? How is the concrete prepared? Is there a separate topcoat? What other materials are part of the flooring system?
Those details give you a much better idea of what you’re getting.
Does 100% Solids Epoxy Mean a Thicker Coating?
It can create a higher-build coating because the material isn’t relying on water or solvent evaporating away as it cures.
That doesn’t mean every 100% solids epoxy garage floor coating will have the exact same thickness. The amount of material applied and the overall installation process still matter.
Solids content is important, but it’s only one part of the finished floor.
The Entire Flooring System Matters
Even a quality epoxy product needs the right foundation underneath it.
Proper concrete preparation helps the coating bond to the surface. It isn’t the most exciting part of getting a new garage floor, and you won’t see it when everything is finished, but it’s an important part of the process.
At Lifestyle Garage, 100% solids epoxy is one part of our two-day garage flooring system. We also use 100% solids polyurea as part of the finished system, along with proper concrete preparation and decorative flake.
Each part has a purpose.
That’s why choosing professional epoxy garage flooring should be about more than one product or number on a label.
Your Garage Floor Still Needs to Handle Real Life
It’s easy to get caught up in technical details when you’re researching the best garage floor coating, but don’t forget what the floor is actually there for.
Cars will park on it. Tools will get dropped. Lawn equipment will roll across it. Dirt, water, and road grime will eventually find their way inside.
That’s normal.
A garage floor shouldn’t just look good when it’s freshly installed and the room is empty. The materials and installation should make sense for how you actually use the space.
Know What You’re Getting
You don’t need to become an epoxy expert before upgrading your garage floor. Understanding a few of the terms you’ll come across can simply make it easier to compare your options.
If you’re looking at 100% solids epoxy, pay attention to the rest of the flooring system too. Concrete preparation, the topcoat, materials, and installation process all play a part in the finished floor.
At Lifestyle Garage, our two-day garage flooring system combines proper concrete preparation with 100% solids epoxy and 100% solids polyurea.
If you’re ready to upgrade your garage floor, we’ll help you understand what’s going into the system so you know what you’re getting before the project begins.
