A coated garage floor is one of the best upgrades you can make for an Ontario winter. No more slush soaking into bare concrete. But road salt and meltwater are still hard on any floor. A few easy habits keep yours looking new for years.
Rinse off salt regularly
Road salt and de-icing brine dry into a white film on the floor. Left for months, salt residue can dull the finish and make the floor slippery. Every week or two through winter, squeegee off meltwater and mop or rinse the area where you park. A warm spell is a good time to give the whole floor a proper wash.
Use a squeegee, not a shovel
A floor squeegee pushes slush and water out the door without scratching. Avoid metal shovels and ice scrapers on the floor itself; they can gouge even a hard topcoat.
Clean with the right products
- Use warm water with a pH-neutral cleaner and a soft mop or deck brush.
- Skip harsh acids, citrus degreasers and bleach-heavy cleaners, which can dull the finish over time.
- Wipe up oil, antifreeze and other fluids when you spot them.
- Rinse with clean water so cleaner doesn't dry into a film.
Protect it from heavy and sharp loads
Put pads under jack stands, ladders and kickstands, and don't drag heavy equipment across the floor. Impacts and scratches from dropped tools are normal wear, and a little care goes a long way.
A note on mats
Parking mats that catch meltwater can help, but lift and dry under them now and then so salty water doesn't sit trapped against the floor.
Why care matters
Built in layers the way we install it, a flake floor lasts 15 to 25 years with normal care. Our 2-year workmanship warranty covers peeling or delamination from our prep or install; it doesn't cover damage from road salt, harsh chemicals or improper cleaning, so these habits protect your floor and your warranty. Thinking about a new floor? See our garage and basement epoxy floors.