If you have multiple generations living in your house or you want to start making improvements as you get older, one of the most important features is safety. That can include anything from adding more supports to the banister of your home’s stairs to upgrading your automated home system with more voice alert features. Making your garage safe is just as important, especially if you park your vehicles inside or do a lot of work out there.
Fortunately, transforming your garage into an exponentially safer place is simple to do. Here are four changes that will make your garage floor safer for walking and standing on:
1. Add a textured floor coating to the concrete.
Bare concrete can be a slippery surface, especially in winter. While you might be able to usually catch yourself on your car or a work table before you hit the ground, slippery concrete isn’t safe. It’s also dangerous to land on because there is no cushioning to protect your bones and joints.
Install a textured floor coating to add more friction and grippability to the floor. Professional installers can work with you to select the best sealant and coating. A sturdy sealant will stop the concrete from absorbing grease and oils. A textured topcoat helps to grab onto the bottom of your shoes for a safe walk inside even during icy winter weather.
2. Lay industrial foam mats near your workbench and the door to the inside.
Once your concrete floor is safer to walk on, make it more comfortable to stand up. Concrete is hard on your feet, knees, and hips, and that effect will increase as you age. If you do a lot of standing or working in your garage, that extra fatigue and muscle pain can hurt your health. Install foam mats wherever you or other family members tend to stand in the garage. These mats have cushioning so you can comfortably stay on feet for longer. They also have deeply textured patterns that reduce the risk of slips and falls even further.
3. Add plenty of overhead lighting.
Another great way to make your garage safer is to install more lighting. Most garages are installed only with a single, central overhead light. Install a variety of lights to make the whole space safer and to make sure the floor is visible at all times.
Start by upgrading the central light to a brighter LED for more illumination. Also, install overhead lights in the corners of the room and over each ‘lot’ if you have a two-car garage. Wire them all to turn on from the main socket so the garage is always brightly lit when someone flips the switch.
Add even more lighting at designated areas like near shelves or a workbench. Task lighting reduces eye fatigue makes it easier to see details. If you want to add more light without a wiring project, switch out your garage door for one with windows so natural light can come in.
4. Get the concrete levelled and protected against spalling.
Bad concrete is dangerous to walk on. The extreme winter temperatures that hit Minnesota homes can make even the most stable slabs start to break down. Freeze and thaw cycles change the shape of water in the concrete and can cause cracks. Thin layers of the surface break free and provide unstable footing. So have a professional level the concrete and grind away surface-level damage. This is also one of the first steps to sealing your garage floor with a polyurethane coat, so you can get two levels of protection in one.
Go to PolyTek Surface Coating to learn more about our residential surface coating and schedule an initial inspection.