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Epoxy Flooring in 78738 Bee Cave and Lakeway: Coated Patios and Outdoor Living Floors
For 78738 Bee Cave and Lakeway homeowners: coating covered patios, outdoor kitchens, pool-adjacent areas and porches with UV-stable polyaspartic systems ($3–$7/sq ft): texture, heat, color and care.
The 78738 ZIP code covers Bee Cave and parts of Lakeway, west of Austin, where hill country views and warm weather mean many families spend as much time outside as in. Covered patios, outdoor kitchens, porches and pool-side areas are common, and many of them sit on plain or stained concrete that's faded, cracked or grown slippery. A coated Patio floor can make these spaces cleaner, safer and better looking. This guide explains how outdoor coatings differ from garage floors and how to plan one. It's written by Austin Epoxy Flooring Pro, with a 5.0 rating on Google, reachable 24 hours, 7 days a week at (512) 325-5434.
A note on our service area: we serve Austin and Georgetown, and our office is at 2025 Guadalupe Street in Austin. We don't have an office in Bee Cave, Lakeway or the 78738 area. Some 78738 addresses are inside Austin and some aren't, so call and we'll tell you honestly whether your address is one we can take on.
Why Outdoor Floors Need a Different Approach
A garage floor lives under a roof and behind a door. An outdoor floor faces:
- Direct sun and Ultraviolet light, which yellows and breaks down some coatings.
- Heat: concrete in full sun can get very hot in a Central Texas summer.
- Rain and splash from storms, sprinklers and pools.
- Temperature swings between hot afternoons and cooler nights.
- Dirt, leaves and pollen from trees and gardens.
- Grease and food spills around grills and outdoor kitchens.
- Bare feet, especially around pools.
Many traditional epoxies aren't designed for this. Polyaspartic systems, which are UV-stable and handle heat well, are usually the right choice outdoors.
System Choice for Patios
Our usual outdoor recommendation is a polyaspartic system ($3–$7 per square foot):
- UV-stable, so it doesn't yellow in the sun.
- Fast-curing, often allowing quicker return to use.
- Flexible enough for outdoor temperature changes.
- Resistant to grease, sunscreen, chlorine splash and most household chemicals.
Finishes include flake blends, which hide leaves and dust well, and solid colors. Metallic finishes are generally better suited to indoor or fully shaded spaces.
Texture and Safety
Outdoor floors get wet, so slip resistance is essential:
- Textured topcoats with fine grit give grip.
- More texture near pools, steps and doors.
- Moderate texture under dining areas, so chairs slide reasonably.
- Bare feet need texture that's grippy but not sharp.
We'll show you samples so you can feel the texture.
Heat and Color
Dark colors absorb more heat. In full sun, a dark patio floor can get uncomfortably hot underfoot. For uncovered areas and pool decks, lighter flake blends in tans, grays and creams stay cooler and hide dust. Covered patios have more freedom with color.
Covered Patios
Covered patios are the most common outdoor coating project:
- Protected from most rain, but still exposed to splash, humidity and wind-blown dust.
- Partial sun at certain times of day.
- Furniture traffic from chairs and tables.
- Grill areas with grease spills.
A flake polyaspartic system with moderate texture suits most covered patios.
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchen areas need extra thought:
- Grease from grills and smokers. Coated floors resist it, but wipe spills promptly.
- Heat from grills: keep grills on their stands, and don't set hot items on the floor.
- Food and drink spills.
- Cleaning: a degreaser compatible with coatings, followed by a rinse.
A slightly darker flake under the grill area hides grease shadows.
Pool Areas
Pool decks and pool-side patios bring:
- Constant water and bare feet.
- Chlorine or salt splash.
- Strong sun.
- Cool-touch concerns.
We'll be honest about pool areas: some decks, especially uncovered ones in full sun, may suit other surfaces better. We'll assess yours and tell you what we think.
Porches and Entries
Front porches and entries benefit from a coated floor too. They see foot traffic, rain and dirt from shoes, and they're the first thing guests see. A flake finish that complements the home's exterior and a textured topcoat for wet days work well.
Preparation for Outdoor Concrete
Outdoor concrete has often weathered for years. Preparation usually includes:
- Cleaning dirt, algae and mildew.
- Removing old sealers, stains or paint.
- Grinding to open the surface.
- Crack repair, since outdoor slabs crack with soil movement.
- Spall and pit repair.
- Moisture checks, since outdoor slabs can hold water after rain.
- Checking slope, so water drains off the patio.
Expansion Joints and Cracks
Outdoor slabs have joints that allow movement. These are usually honored, meaning left as joints and sealed with flexible material, rather than coated over, since coating can crack where the slab moves. Repaired cracks may reappear as fine lines over time if the slab keeps moving. Flake hides these well.
Weather and Scheduling
Outdoor work depends on weather:
- Rain: we need a dry slab and a dry forecast.
- Heat: we start early in hot weather.
- Humidity: affects some products.
- Cold: coatings need minimum temperatures.
We watch the forecast closely and reschedule if needed. A short delay for the right weather is far better than a coating installed on a damp slab or under a storm, which can cloud, blister or fail to bond properly.
Cure Times
Polyaspartic systems cure relatively quickly. Foot traffic, furniture and full use each have their own timing. Keep pets and kids off until the cure guidance allows.
Care Routine
- Sweep or blow leaves and dust.
- Hose off regularly.
- Mild cleaner for spills.
- Degreaser compatible with coatings for grill areas.
- Furniture pads under chairs and tables.
- Avoid pressure washing at very close range or with aggressive tips.
Comparing Outdoor Floor Options
Homeowners in 78738 often weigh several options for a patio:
- Leave it as plain concrete. No cost, but it stains, grows mildew in shady spots and looks tired over time.
- Concrete stain and sealer. Adds color, but sealers wear and need reapplying, and stains can fade unevenly in the sun.
- Pavers or stone over the slab. Attractive, but adds height (which can affect door thresholds), costs more and has joints that collect dirt and weeds.
- Outdoor tile. Durable, but grout stains, and some tiles get slippery when wet.
- Outdoor rugs. Comfortable, but trap moisture and debris underneath.
- A polyaspartic coating. Seamless, UV-stable, textured and easy to clean, without changing the floor height much.
The right choice depends on your space, budget and look. We're glad to talk through the trade-offs honestly.
Shade, Trees and Leaves
Many 78738 properties have live oaks and cedar elms shading patios. Shade keeps floors cooler, but trees bring:
- Leaves and acorns, which can stain bare concrete as they decompose. A coated floor resists tannin stains much better.
- Pollen and sap, which wash off a coated surface with mild cleaner.
- Damp, shady corners, where mildew grows on bare concrete. A sealed, coated surface gives mildew less to cling to, and it rinses off more easily.
- Roots near the slab, which can cause cracking over time.
A mid-tone flake blend with earthy colors hides leaf litter between sweeps.
Matching the Patio to the House
Outdoor floors are part of a home's look. A few approaches homeowners take:
- Echo the exterior: a flake blend that picks up the stone, brick or stucco.
- Contrast the walls: a slightly darker floor that grounds light-colored walls.
- Continue the indoor palette: colors that link to the living room or kitchen when doors open onto the patio.
- Keep it neutral: soft grays and tans that let furniture, plants and views take center stage.
We bring samples to the site visit so you can see them in your own light at different times of day.
Furniture, Planters and Grills
- Furniture pads: felt pads wear quickly outdoors. Rubber or plastic glides work better.
- Planters: use pot feet or saucers to keep water from sitting underneath. Constant moisture and mineral deposits leave rings.
- Grills: keep on their stands. A grill mat catches grease drips.
- Fire pits: portable fire pits should sit on a heat shield or stand, never directly on the floor. Built-in fire features need planning so the coating stops at a safe distance.
- Heaters: follow the manufacturer's clearance guidance.
Steps, Edges and Transitions
Patios often have steps to the yard, a pool deck or the house. Coated steps need texture on treads for grip and careful edge work so the coating doesn't chip where feet land. Where the patio meets grass or garden beds, a clean edge keeps soil and mulch from washing onto the floor. At door thresholds, we finish neatly so there's no lip.
Outdoor Floors and Pets
Dogs love patios. A coated, textured floor is easier to rinse after muddy paws and doesn't hold odors the way bare concrete does. On hot days, lighter colors and shade keep surfaces more comfortable for paws. Keep water bowls on a tray to avoid rings.
Planning Around Events
Many homeowners want a patio ready for a party, holiday or family gathering. Polyaspartic systems help because of their faster cure, but outdoor work still depends on weather. Allow at least a week or two of buffer before an important date, in case rain delays the work.
An Illustrative Patio Project
Here's an illustrative example, not a record of a real job. A family has a 400 sq ft covered patio with an outdoor kitchen at one end and steps down to the yard. The concrete was stained and sealed years ago; the sealer has worn off in traffic paths, there's mildew in a shady corner and grease shadows under the grill.
- Site visit: we note the worn sealer, two cracks running from the corners, a small spall at the top step and a slight low spot where water sits after rain.
- Plan: clean and grind off the old sealer, treat the grease and mildew, repair the cracks and spall, honor the expansion joint, then install a tan and gray flake polyaspartic system with moderate texture and more on the steps.
- Price range: at $3–$7 per square foot, about $1,200 to $2,800 across the full range for 400 square feet, with crack and step repairs listed separately in the written estimate.
- Schedule: a dry two-day window, with an early start each day to avoid the afternoon heat.
- Return: foot traffic after the stated time, furniture back with new glides after the next stage and the grill back on a grill mat.
The family in this example ends up with a patio that rinses clean, doesn't grow mildew in the corner and suits the house when the doors are open.
What the Low Spot Means
Water that sits on a patio after rain usually means a low spot in the slab or a slope toward the house. A coating doesn't change the slope much. Small low spots can sometimes be built up during repair; larger slope problems need concrete work before coating. We'll point them out during the site visit so you can decide.
Long-Term Upkeep
Outdoor floors work harder than indoor ones. Over the years:
- Sun-exposed edges may dull first.
- Traffic paths to doors and steps wear first.
- A topcoat refresh can restore sheen and texture without redoing the whole floor.
A quick look each spring, before the busy outdoor season starts, keeps small issues small and easy to fix.
Outdoor Showers, Hot Tubs and Wet Areas
Some patios include an outdoor shower or a hot tub. These are among the wettest outdoor spaces:
- Outdoor showers need a drain or a clear path for water to run off the slab, plus extra texture for bare feet.
- Hot tubs are very heavy when full. The slab beneath must be suitable, and the tub's manufacturer may have requirements for the base.
- Chemicals for hot tubs, such as chlorine or bromine, should be stored off the floor and spills rinsed promptly.
- Splash zones stay damp, so texture and a lighter color help.
Tell us about any wet features during the site visit so we can plan for them.
Questions Homeowners Ask
"Will it fade in the sun?" Polyaspartic topcoats are UV-stable and resist yellowing. All colors can change slightly over many years outdoors.
"Will it be hot underfoot?" Lighter colors stay cooler. Covered areas are more comfortable.
"Is it slippery when wet?" Textured topcoats give grip. We add more near pools and steps.
"Can you coat over my stained concrete?" Often, after grinding off the old sealer or stain.
"What about the steps?" Steps can be coated, with texture on treads and careful edge work.
A Checklist for Outdoor Floors
- Note sun exposure through the day.
- Note where water collects.
- Photograph cracks, stains and old finishes.
- Measure the area.
- Think about furniture, grills and planters.
- Call for a site visit, ideally in daylight so we can see sun, shade and drainage patterns together.
Outdoor Living in 78738
Bee Cave and the surrounding communities have hill country views, oak trees and plenty of sunshine. Outdoor spaces are often used most of the year: morning coffee on a porch, weekend cookouts, evenings by the pool. A coated outdoor floor that handles sun, water and grease makes those spaces easier to keep clean and more inviting to use.
Prices
Our homepage ranges: 1-car garages $800–$1,200, 2-car garages $1,400–$2,200, 3-car garages $2,000–$3,200. Polyaspartic systems $3–$7 per square foot, metallic epoxy $6–$12 per square foot and commercial floors $2–$5 per square foot. Repairs, coating removal and special conditions are listed separately in a written estimate.
Contact
Austin Epoxy Flooring Pro serves Austin and Georgetown, with an office at 2025 Guadalupe Street in Austin. We don't have an office in Bee Cave, Lakeway or the 78738 area. 5.0 rating on Google. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, with same-day response: (512) 325-5434.
Request a Free Estimate
Call or text (512) 325-5434 (open 24 hours, 7 days a week) or use the free estimate form. Send the approximate square footage, how the space is used, photos of the current concrete, and your timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have an office in Bee Cave, Lakeway or the 78738 area?
No. We serve Austin and Georgetown from our office at 2025 Guadalupe Street in Austin. Call (512) 325-5434 to check whether your 78738 address is in our area.
Can a patio be coated with epoxy?
Outdoors, we usually recommend UV-stable polyaspartic systems rather than traditional epoxy, at $3–$7 per square foot.
Will a coated patio be slippery?
Textured topcoats give grip, with more texture near pools, steps and doors.
Will it get hot in the sun?
Lighter colors stay cooler. Covered patios are more comfortable underfoot.
Can outdoor kitchens be coated?
Yes. Coated floors resist grease; wipe spills promptly and use compatible degreasers.
What about pool decks?
Some pool decks suit coatings and some suit other surfaces. We'll assess yours and tell you honestly.
How do I get started?
Call (512) 325-5434 with photos of your patio and notes on sun exposure.