Let’s cut to the chase: most people ultimately go with grey epoxy because they’re thinking practically, and figure that grey will make any dirt less obvious (or hide it best). Which is certainly true. Searching online will immediately tell you that grey is the most popular color for garages, but we’ve also learned that from personal experience—it’s what most of our customers here in California pick.
Grey epoxy for your garage: Logical choice or common mistake?
California residents go with grey for their garage’s epoxy floor for 2 main reasons. First, as we said, because they want to hide dirt and stains as long as possible. And second, because concrete is already grey, so that seems like a “safe choice,” just in case, over time, the epoxy comes off and starts to reveal the concrete underneath. That’s why most people choose the same color as the concrete.
While this seems logical, and it stems from legitimate concerns, it’s just not true. I’ll tell you why in a minute.
But the reason we’re mentioning it here isn’t to dissuade you from choosing grey for your garage floor. It’s actually just because we’re fascinated by this phenomenon.
After all, there’s such a huge variety of colors to choose from, including choices that will upgrade the whole look of your garage or your workroom and make spending time in the space far more enjoyable (whether it’s for cleaning, chores, or repairs). Yet despite this (could it be because the title Fifty Shades of Grey is so engraved in our memories?) most people are inclined to stick with this dull, clichéd choice.
The boring grey is here to stay?
Meanwhile, here in Concord, California, grey continues to be incredibly popular. For us, as epoxy flooring installers, it’s a particularly unexciting choice. We’d love a wider range of “after” pictures, but more importantly, we’d love more customers who are absolutely delighted with the finished look.
Like one customer we worked for who came in when we’d finished installing her epoxy flooring. She’d actually upgraded her garage, transforming it into a playroom for her kids. And when she walked into the renovated space, her first reaction was cries of delight. She was over the moon—and of course, that memory is one we absolutely cherish.
Anyway, remember I promised to fill you in on why grey isn’t the safe, logical choice it might seem to be?
First of all, thanks to the fact that all our raw materials meet the highest quality standards from around the world, odds are incredibly low that our epoxy will crack, at least within the first 24 months. For now, we won’t go into characteristics of concrete and moisture, but it’s obvious that if you choose higher-quality, higher-priced materials, the results will hold up better over time.
Another factor is the epoxy installation process. We open up existing cracks in the concrete, then fill them with new concrete. It’s just like plowing a field: you have to plow the field deeply before you sow the seeds. In this case, “sowing the seeds” involves 3 separate coats: base coat, flake coat, and clear top coat.
That’s why even if, let’s say 7 years later, the color or texture of one of these layers is damaged, it’s going to be a long time before the concrete underneath is visible. We’ve been in this industry for 5 years, and we still have no customers who have had an issue. In terms of the epoxy itself, its expected lifespan is between 10-15 years.
Epoxy color – come in grey or come out of your shell?
Sure, stains and dirt might stand out more against light colors like pink and white than against the popular grey flake surface. To keep things looking clean, you should definitely choose a darker shade for your floor.
But since you’re already renovating your garage and investing in high-quality epoxy for results that will last as long as possible, why not come out of your shell a little and discover all the wonderful possibilities when it comes to colors and effects for your epoxy floor… so you can get more enjoyment out of the finished product?
