One of the toughest and most durable finishes that you can apply to a garage floor today is an epoxy coating. Not only does it protect your garage floor, it can instantly transform your boring or ugly concrete into a professional-looking floor of beauty and function.
And since the garage has become more than just a place where you park the car, the benefits of garage floor epoxy have made it one of the most popular garage flooring options today.
In fact, it is commonly used for both residential and commercial applications. Not only does it provide protection from the elements, but it will also give your garage or workshop floor that showroom shine that says “look at me”!
Depending on which type of garage floor coating system you choose, you can select from a variety of understated colors and hues. Other options are custom colors, metallics, and blends of color flakes that match your style, home, or even your favorite sports team.
So, let’s briefly examine what an epoxy coating really is. We will discuss what the benefits are, learn how it’s applied, and some of the costs involved.
Additionally, we will provide excellent examples of where you can purchase quality coatings and DIY coating kits that we have reviewed and can recommend.
What is garage floor epoxy?
Epoxy flooring is a thermosetting resin that is applied as a coating to concrete. It is created when you mix one-part colored or clear epoxide resin with one part polyamine hardener. Hence, a 2-part coating.
When the two parts are mixed, the hardener acts as a catalyst. This creates a chemical reaction upon contact and begins the exothermic curing process. This curing process forms polymer structures that are closely cross-linked, giving epoxy its superior strength and durability.
The end result is a thick and highly durable coating that bonds tenaciously to a properly prepared concrete surface.
Along with the colored epoxy coating, you also have the option of applying decorative color flakes and a high-performance clear coat. The clear coat protects the color flakes and color coat.
This combination of coatings is known as a garage floor coating system. Commercial quality systems can last for ten to twenty years on a garage floor.
In addition, if you don’t want the traditional epoxy look, there is the option of a metallic epoxy coating.
These finishes are extremely glossy and known for their wild-looking flowing rivers of metallic color. You can even create 3-D moon-like craters if you desire.
Though metallic epoxy can look absolutely stunning for a garage, it’s not for everyone. The darker colors and extreme gloss will show every spec of debris, dust, dusty footprints, and dirty tire tracks. It’s worse when the sun shines on it.
This is why the lighter grays, tans, and color flakes are so popular. They do a good job of not showing dust and the color flakes can camouflage bits of debris and other dirt.
Are there other coatings besides epoxy?
Epoxy is not the only type of decorative coating for a garage. It just happens to be the most well-known due to the many years that it has been available.
Commercial quality, single-part DIY polyurea coating systems are fast becoming a favorite for the DIY installer. These coatings are very durable and easier to apply than epoxy.
What’s more, one-day polyurea polyaspartic coating systems are now offered by commercial installers. These are very durable coatings that cure extremely fast. The fast cure allows them to apply a complete system in just one day.
Is Epoxy and Paint for a garage floor the same thing?
This is where marketing to the consumer by national brands has caused confusion and angst. An epoxy floor coating is not paint. Big retail companies started mixing the terms when they discovered people were asking for paint when they meant epoxy.
Most paints for garage floors are latex acrylic and have a matte to satin finish. They are the least durable of decorative options.
Some may have a very small percentage of epoxy resin added to increase durability, but these are still a latex acrylic and not a coating. These are known as epoxy paints or 1-part epoxy paint.
In addition, garage floor paint and 1-part epoxy paint do not seal the garage floor as an epoxy coating does. They are designed as a single coat application. That means you apply just the paint and that’s it.
Lastly, paint is not intended for clear topcoats. Nor are they compatible with most clear coats. Many people have become frustrated to learn this AFTER they applied a garage floor paint.
Read – Don’t Fall for These Phony “Best Epoxy” Reviews!
Benefits of a garage floor epoxy coating
So, what makes an epoxy coating one of the best finishes for your garage floor? Besides looking nice, the hard and thick coating that you get from epoxy creates a decorative surface that is very durable and easy to keep clean.
It’s resistant to impacts, chipping, chemicals, stains, and surface abrasion. You don’t have to panic about damaging or staining the surface if you spill oil on it or a bicycle falls over.
The thicker coatings also do a great job of covering over minor imperfections such as small spider cracks and flaws in the concrete.
In addition, epoxy is a concrete sealer. This means that it will seal out moisture at the surface as well. This is a great benefit for people who live in snowy climates that deal with road salts and deicing fluids that can damage concrete.
Furthermore, epoxy floor coatings are easy to clean. A mild cleaning solution and water are all that are required. Dirt and debris can be collected with a dust mop or soft broom when the floor is dry.
Epoxy coatings receive high reviews from home mechanics and hobbyists as well. Since it is both chemical and stain resistant, oil, brake fluids, anti-freeze, gasoline, and other caustic car chemicals can easily be wiped up without worry – even if it sits for a while. And because epoxy is a topical sealer, it is also anti-dusting.
Lastly, the high gloss and lighter colors of epoxy reflect overhead and natural light. This results in a brighter work environment that makes more efficient use of the light available.
How well do garage floor coatings stand up to heavy rolling tool boxes, floor jacks, and jack stands? Quite well actually!
As long as any rolling steel wheels are not roughly scarred up or slid across the floor without care, they will not damage or scratch most coatings. This goes for jack stands as well.
Review the different epoxy coating options by Concrete Network
Because the thicker, multiple coat epoxy systems wear so well, warranties of up to 15 years or more for installation by professional installers is becoming common. Many manufacturers even warranty the materials against defects for the life of the floor.
Visit our garage flooring gallery to view more epoxy coated garage floors.
Are garage floor coatings slippery?
Most floor coatings are not slippery when they are dry. However, epoxy and other coatings can become slippery when wet. Typically, the more gloss a coating has, the more slippery it can be when wet.
A heavy application of color flakes can add texture to a coating and make it slightly less slippery, but it is not a substitute for an anti-slip surface. If wet grip or non-slip is a concern, then an anti-slip media should be mixed into the final coat.
Are there drawbacks to an epoxy coating?
As tough as this type of garage floor covering can be, it’s not resistant to everything.
Welding is hard on epoxy and other floor coatings. It can create burn marks from the hot slag that falls on it. In fact, metal fabricating in general can be tough on floor coatings. This is due to the tendency for heavy and sharp objects to get dragged across the surface.
If you are interested in a more utilitarian type of coating that makes cleanup easier, yet resists hot slag and grinding sparks better, then we suggest looking into this coating that we reviewed.
Epoxy and other coatings are not a good choice for garage floors that have moisture issues from below the slab. The rate of moisture vapor transmission from underneath the slab can cause coatings to delaminate if it is too high.
In addition, there is always the concern about hot tire pick up for epoxy. This is a problem that is more closely associated with the home improvement store DIY epoxy paint kits. These are usually water-based coatings that are approximately 50% solids and 3 mils or less thick.
Hot tires can cause these coatings to soften. As the tires begin to cool, they contract ever so slightly, and the tire tread grabs and pulls at the surface of the thinner coating.
This process will actually cause the epoxy to delaminate as the tire pulls it up off the floor.
As a comparison, a 90% – 100% solids epoxy cures to a minimum of 9 mils dry film thickness. Many can be applied much thicker depending on the coverage rate used.
These thicker coatings are considered commercial quality. They are installed professionally or can be purchased from concrete coating vendors online and be applied DIY instead.
Read – Why Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield and similar epoxy paint kits get bad reviews.
Lastly, epoxy is not U.V. stable. It can develop a yellow tint over the years from exposure to direct sunlight. The coating industry refers to this as ambering. Low-quality epoxy can amber within months, while high quality epoxy may take years.
One way to prevent this from happening is to install an epoxy floor system with full color flakes and a high-performance clear coat. Both color flakes and clear topcoats such as polyurea or polyurethane are U.V. stable and will not amber.
How garage floor epoxy is applied
Epoxy floor coatings can be professionally installed or you can do it yourself. A DIY installation can save you quite a bit of money in labor costs. It’s not that difficult as long as you make yourself familiar with all the steps required and plan accordingly.
The first step is proper preparation of the concrete. This is critical and the most important step for a successful coating. The process will involve either floor grinding or acid etching of the surface in order to create the necessary concrete profile.
Repairing concrete cracks or other damage at this time is highly recommended if you want an unblemished look.
High quality epoxy floor systems involve multiple coats to insure a very tough and resistant coating that will last for years.
Depending on the system being applied, an epoxy primer may be applied first.
The primer penetrates and binds to the concrete to provide the best adhesion for the subsequent thick coating layers. Some primers will also act as a moisture vapor barrier. This is for concrete floors that are susceptible to moisture vapor that moves up from the soil through the concrete to the surface.
The next coat is the thick color epoxy base coat. Sometimes referred to as the build coat, This may be applied without a primer depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Next are the optional colored acrylic paint chips. The color coat is what will receive the colored flakes and are applied while the color coat is still freshly wet.
Full color flake coatings are a popular option. This is when the color flakes completely cover the base epoxy coat. This option allows for custom blends of flake colors to provide any color flooring you want. Furthermore, it provides additional thickness and durability to the coating.
The final coat/s is the clear topcoat. It is also referred to as the wear coat. It locks in the color flakes, provides the best wear and stain protection, and creates the glossy look and depth that these floors are known for.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, All Garage Floors earns from qualifying purchases. You can read our full disclaimer here.
How much does garage floor epoxy cost?
The cost to epoxy your garage floor can vary greatly. It is determined by the type of concrete prep performed (etch or grind), possible repairs, quality of materials used, number of coats, and whether you hire a professional for installation or do it yourself.
The least expensive method for an epoxy floor is to apply it yourself.
Pricing can start as low as .27 cents per square foot. This would be for the single coat, low-budget, water-based epoxy coatings. Kits like this one from Rust-Oleum are an example. They are the least durable epoxy and not very glossy, but they are cheap in cost.
However, you can purchase a high-performance, commercial quality garage floor epoxy coating system in kit form for just over $1 per square foot. This would include an epoxy primer, high solids base epoxy color coat, color flakes, and a high-performance polyurethane clear coat.
This type of coating system in a kit will last 10-15 years or more. We highly recommend kits like this one here. It’s an excellent value for the money.
A good compromise for the budget would be a single coat of 100% solids epoxy. This company here offers a few choices of kits to fit your budget. You can also read our review.
The coatings that are easiest to apply are single-part polyurea. We did a full review of single-part polyurea here.
Don’t forget to factor in the cost for required supplies such as mixing buckets, paint rollers, cleaning supplies and etc. The advantage of the commercial quality kits is that many of these vendors include some of these supplies with their kits.
A professional installation typically starts at around $4.00 per square foot. This cost does vary and can depend on the competition in the area where you live. It will usually include a minimum of one epoxy color coat, color flakes, and a clear coat.
Cost can go up from there depending on the number of top coats required, how much color flake is applied in the base coat, and if more than one clear coat will be required. A typical 2-car garage is approximately 400ft² for reference.
Total time for a professional company to epoxy coat your garage floor is 2-3 days. You can usually park your car within 72 hours after it is finished.
The fast curing one-day polyurea polyaspartic systems start close to $6 per square foot and go up in cost from there. These are applied and finished in one day and can be driven on the next. Because of their fast cure rate, they should only be applied by professionals or those with much DIY coating experience.
Final thoughts
As we mentioned, an epoxy coating will completely transform the looks of your garage floor. It’s durable, easy to clean, highly stain resistant, and all while providing great looks at the same time.
There is one important point that we want to make. You genuinely get what you pay for when it comes to garage floor coatings. If want a budget product, you will get budget performance. If you spend a bit more, you will be rewarded with a much more durable coating.
In the long run, it will actually save you both time and money to purchase higher quality coating products – by far.
So, whether you are turning your garage into a man cave, a working shop for car repairs and projects, or just a place to park your cars, it’s hard to beat the benefits an epoxy garage floor coating system will provide.
QL says
Shea, found epoxy-tech have epoxy kit for sale, so i want to know about its quality. cheaper than others. thank you.
Shea says
Hello QL. Epoxy-Tech is a good quality, high solids epoxy product. It’s a good value for the money.
andy says
I LIVING DESERT CAN I APPLY EPOXP SHIELD OUT SIDE PATIO
Shea says
No Andy. Epoxy coatings are for indoors only. They will amber if exposed for long periods in the sun.
Jacki says
I removed all old flooring from my living room, cleaned and stripped it, repaired the carpet tack holes and minor cracks, epoxied and self leveled the concrete to prepare for metallic epoxy.
When getting a tool at lowe’s the worker asked what I was buying the tools for and I said preparing concrete to get ready for metallic epoxy and showed a picture of the desired goal. Despite my research online (discovering that the epoxies are only available by order since no stores are close to where I live that sell them), the employee proceeded to say they have all the epoxy and coatings there and I actually listened and purchased exactly what they suggested for the order they suggested.
Now I have applied dark gray Valspar oil porch and floor gloss paint as my ‘primer’ & a day later applied rust-oleum ellegant metallic silver paint finish for walls, trim, furniture, and more on top as my metallic epoxy in the exact manner as I have seen in the videos of the finish I want. Obviously when finishing these 2 steps, the look is was going for did not occur. Going I didn’t waste too much time and money, I would like to know the best way to get to my original desired effect. Is any of the process I have completed salvageable? Should I strip the paint? just grind it down to the concrete or leveler and just start from scratch?
Do any of the companies sell the metallic epoxy online and ship it? Just looking for answers – thanks
Shea says
Hello Jacki. Ugh… this is why home improvement centers are not the best place to get concrete floor coating advice. Where sorry that you got as far as you did. Unfortunately what they recommended is not a coating, it’s not an epoxy, and it will not produce the look you want as you found out. Heck, the data sheet for the Rust-Oleum metallic paint finish says to use a latex primer, not oil based paint. We aren’t even sure that the metallic paint is designed as a wear surface for foot traffic. It’s for walls and furniture. You will need to remove it all from the floor to install a proper metallic floor coating system.
Another possible issue is the self-leveling of the concrete. Did you use an actual polymer-modified concrete resurfacing compound to level or did you use a self-leveling underlayment product? Many of the self-leveling products sold at home improvement centers are not designed as a wear surface. They are made to have carpet, wood flooring, and tile installed over it. A coating may work since you would only be walking on the surface and not driving on it, but you will need to verify with the coating vendor you choose.
We suggest you read this article about metallic epoxy coatings. These type of coating generally require a dark epoxy primer, the base metallic color coat, and then a top coat of clear. RockSolid makes a DIY metallic version that is much cheaper and easier to install, but it’s not the same quality. Pure Metallic has some good videos to demonstrate and you can get an idea of what is involved.
Tyler says
How do you think the rostolum professional kit will do with the occasional dog pee? My dogs sometime wont go all the way outside and pee in the garage and the concrete absorbs it and the smell. I am hoping that an epoxy will keep it pooled and be very easy to clean it up when that happens..?
Shea says
Hello Tyler. Epoxy is the preferred coating to use in dog kennels for just that reason. The professional version will resist staining better than the water based version as well.
Ken Berquist says
Hello Shea: My two car garage already has an epoxy coating done by the builder. It is stained and worn from 15 years of use. Can I apply another epoxy coating over the old one? Is there a proper preparation? Many thanks for your advice!
Shea says
You sure can Ken. All it requires is roughing up the old coating with sandpaper or a sanding screen on a floor buffer (faster). After you clean up the floor, wipe it down with denatured alcohol using a lint free or microfiber cloth and you are ready to go. We have an article on how to do it here.
Olivia says
I work at a dog kennel and my co-worker recently tried to paint the concrete floor with 1-part epoxy paint. Some of the concrete is porous but some is smooth. The co-worker cleaned the floor and did multiple coats with paint chips. It is now chipping everywhere and can’t withstand chemical mop water, or even pure water. I now sweep up more paint than dirt. The co-worker abandoned the project so only some of the floor is painted. I need to know the best way to apply an epoxy coating. Do I need to remove all the paint or do I just sand it? Do I apply a primer on the entire floor or just the bare concrete? Do I need a masonry concrete stripper? help! sincerely, diy enthusiast
Shea says
Hello Olivia. 1-part epoxy paint is not an epoxy coating. It’s a latex acrylic paint with a small amount of epoxy mixed in. This article explains the difference. 1-part epoxy paint works fine for foot traffic, but it’s not the right application due to the chemicals used for cleaning purposes and acids from urine that the surface of a dog kennel is exposed to. You need a true 2-part epoxy coating. This usually includes 1 coat of an epoxy primer followed by 1 coat of a high solids epoxy color coat (don’t confuse 2 coats with 2-parts). If you choose to use color flakes you will need to lock them in with a clear top coat. This will produce a coating that will last for years, it will not stain from urine, and you can use the proper cleaning chemicals on it without damage.
It sounds like the concrete was not prepped correctly which would explain the peeling as well. Proper concrete prep requires either acid etching or grinding. Since you still have paint on the surface, grinding would be your best bet as it would remove the paint and prep the surface at the same time. If you want to acid etch, you would need to to use a paint stripper to remove the paint first since acid does not work on paint.
danny guill says
I am not sure if I am posting in the proper place. I have built 4 houses with acid stained concrete floors. I top coated them with a urethane high gloss concrete sealer. This looks good with a real high gloss but it scuffs easily. I am looking for something more durable
Could I coat over the urethane with epoxy?
Would I have the same high gloss?
Would it be scuff resistant?
What kind of epoxy should I use?
Any additional info appreciated.
Thanks
Danny
Shea says
Hello Danny. Is it a darker colored stain? The reason I ask is that dark base colors show scuff marks, smudges, and general dirt much easier than lighter colors. You do not want to top coat with clear epoxy. Epoxy scratches easier because it is so hard. High performance polyurethanes and polyureas are a much better top coat to use. They are more flexible than epoxy and much more scratch and scuff resistant. What polyurethane did you use exactly? Are you sure it was not an acrylic top coat? There are not many polyurethanes that can be applied successfully directly to concrete.
Jack Essayian says
I live in Florida and the house we bought has an in ground pool. The outer concrete was painted about 16 years ago. The paint is peeling badly and there is mildew growing on the bare concrete. I read one of the other comment where you said do not use epoxy on the outside of the house due to the sun. What do you recommend for my application? Thanks.
Shea says
Hello Jack. There are a few options depending on whether you want to do this yourself or hire a company. Polyurea pool deck coatings with an anti-slip additive are what most professional companies use around pool decks. It will last years and will not yellow or deteriorate from constant sun exposure. There are also many paints that are available for pool decks. They will not last as long but are easy to apply. If you do the job yourself, it’s extremely important to thoroughly clean the concrete and remove all mold and mildew before application.
Ron Boprie says
We are finishing the build on our new shop/garage. With new concrete I was told by the builder to wait at least six to 8 months before applying any coating on the floor. I really can’t do anything until the weather warms anyway. However, my question is in the prep on new concrete what prep would be best to use?
Shea says
For a coating Ron, the best prep is to grind the concrete. This is what professional companies due to ensure that they will not have comebacks for delamination issues. However, as long as your builder does not use a “cure and seal” on the concrete to facilitate the curing process, you can also acid etch the surface. This article explains the pros and cons of each type of prep.
Austin says
My garage floor is not very level. It has high and low spots in it. Before I build and install work benches and work stations, I’d like the floor to be a bit more level. If I epoxy the floor, will that help to level it? Also, I’ve used epoxy to fill in voids on wood slabs and it gets hot as it cures and you don’t have a lot of time. Will the epoxy for the garage also get hot as it cures, and how long until it “sets up”?
Shea says
An epoxy coating will not level a floor Austin. You will need to use the proper material as discussed in this article in order to do that. Epoxy coatings do get hot once mixed. That is why you have a limited pot life to apply it. The higher solids epoxy coatings require that you pour it directly onto the floor in ribbons immediately after mixing. If left in the bucket it will heat up and start to cure within minutes.
Patrick says
Shea,
Thanks for all of the great info. I’ve been reading your site for the past few weeks preparing to do my garage. I made the big box store mistake with a previous house years ago and don’t want to repeat. I also appreciate the website recs and am deciding between AmorPoxy or Legacy…or if you have a different rec, I’m open to suggestions. I’m having a hard time deciding on color and really like the first picture you post in this article from Mission Builders. Do you have any suggestions on base/chip color to get as close to this look as possible. I’m open to ordering samples from either of the websites but wondered if you could point me in the right direction (dark grey base with black/white/navy chips maybe?). Thanks again!
Shea says
Both companies have excellent product Patrick. We recommend giving each of them a call and talk to them about your project. Sometimes they will ask you something that you have not thought about or make a suggestion on product based on how you want to use your garage. The most important part of choosing who you purchase from is feeling comfortable with their customer service and know that they will be available for you to contact if you have any questions once your project gets started. Both ArmorPoxy and Legacy Industrial offer much better customer service than you will get if had to Rust-Oleum for example. Both of these companies employ people who have experience applying coatings and they know what they are talking about.
Regarding the flake coloring in the image you are referring to, we have been asked many times and have not been able to find out what mix of colors was used. We do know it was a tan base color coat with a mix of earth tone chips with a small percentage of black chips applied to full refusal. Not to make your decision more difficult, but you may want to check out this link here. It will show a large variety of the different color combinations that you can choose from.
Patrick says
Perfect. Thanks again for all of your help.
Shea says
You are welcome Patrick.
Charles says
Do you have a list of manufactures you recommend that’s not water based products? I plan to do my 3 car garage at my new home.
Also, the non water based products can be laid on with a paint roller right? How many coats?
Thanks!
Shea says
All coatings can be applied with a roller Charles so no worries there. Most of the sponsors on our site offer 100% solids and/or very high solids epoxy. Examples are Legacy Industrial, Garage Flooring LLC, ArmorPoxy, GarageCoatings.com, EpoxyMaster, and etc. Keep in mind that when installing high solids coatings that a primer is recommended, but it’s not a direct requirement. Most primers are lower solids and water based in order to provide good penetration and the characteristics that a good epoxy primer needs. Generally, a good epoxy coating system is going to consist of one primer coat, one high solids base color coat, optional color flakes, and one or more coats of a clear top coat depending on the type of product.
Cathy says
Do you have any data on Rust Bullet for concrete? I want to finish my basement floor, 8 yrs old, no moisture problem (we are on top of a 30′ sand hill). We only use basement for storage so it has light foot traffic only. Nothing has been applied to the concrete thus far. What would you suggest I use?
Shea says
Hello Cathy. Rust Bullet is a great coating for concrete. We have an article here about it that gives you the information you will want to review.
Carolina says
Hi Shea,
I am working with a small food co-op that has a commercial space of approximately 600sqft with a couple of larger fridges and other equipment. The floor is asphalt and in bad shape, with a number of small holes and generally dirty and rough surface. We have used a 2 part epoxy mixed with a concrete filler (for bulk) to fix some holes, with a metal brush wheel for cleaning and prep. Which got me thinking:
My question: would it be possible to pour an epoxy layer in sections over part of the floor while moving the equipment out of the way. Also, I am on a budget and will be diy-Could you recommend a product (can I use the same epoxy over asphalt as over concrete)? Our main goals are to have an easier surface to clean, look a little more presentable, appease inspection issues.
Thank you!
Shea says
Hello Carolina. The same epoxy that is used on concrete surfaces cannot be used over asphalt. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that it will not bond with anything that is petroleum based. The second reason is that as strong as the epoxy is, it is not flexible at all. The first time something heavy with a small foot print compresses the asphalt, the epoxy would crack.
Ron says
I have basement floor that had wood over. We are removing it and go into do something with the concrete floor. We had a flood but are fixing this issue. It is an old church turned into a museum. The basement is used for storage. Will this product work?
Shea says
As long as you don’t have moisture in the basement and the concrete is in good shape it will work just fine Ron. We recommend that you read this article about moisture testing and how it can have an effect on coatings.
Jonas Miller says
I’m building a ploebarn/house and the garage area is 60’X60′ …. is there a place i can buy products in larger containers other then the little kits ?
Shea says
Yes you can Jonas. Most of the online vendors who are floor coating specialist sell product in larger 5 gallon containers. Keep in mind, however, that most 2-part product is thermo setting and has to be mixed in smaller 1.5 gallon batches or it will heat up and cure faster than you can apply it. Check with Legacy Industrial, ArmorPoxy, and EpoxyMaster to start.
Kevin Goudreau says
how do i repair fading of rust olium epoxy i put down 5 years ago. It is fading in high traffic areas, and turning yellow in sun exposure ares, I did put the clear sealer on it after epoxy was put down ?
Shea says
We answered your question previously in the comments section of this other article Kevin.
Nigel Alexander says
I read in the string above something about NOT applying an epoxy floor to brand new concrete. We have a brand new house and were thinking we should apply an epoxy finish immediately before it gets dirty or used. Can you clarify comment about new concrete please?
Shea says
Hello Nigel. Brand new concrete needs to cure a minimum of 30 days before applying a coating. The reason for this is that the curing process releases moisture which will cause any coating to fail. Unless your garage slab was just poured recently, I’m sure you are past the 30 day window as it generally takes longer than that to build a home once the foundation and garage is poured.
Tonia says
Hi there,
Can this product be used as shower walls and floor?
Shea says
No, it’s not designed to be applied in that manner Tonia.
Prasanth K M says
Hi I am prasanth from India.
I recently came across a brand called Rustoleum and they have this epoxy floor coatings. i would like to know can i trust this brand as iam hearing it for the first time??
Shea says
Hello Prasanth. Rust-Oleum is a well known national brand in the U.S. that manufactures and sells a variety of products, including epoxy. You can trust the brand.
Farah says
Hi, if I am DIY’ing epoxy floor for my garage how do I prep it? You mentioned above that professional companies sand sound the concrete, how can I do that with my floor? Thanks
Shea says
Hello Farah. You can either acid etch or grind the concrete. This article explains the difference and this article is a how to for grinding.
Mike says
I previously used a product called Sikadur concrete crack repair on my floor. Its a epoxy based repair. Can I still use a solvent based epoxy(like Rustoleum Professional garage Epoxy) to coat my garage floor?
Shea says
Yes you can Mike.
Rick says
I am exploring options for a Kitchen counter top. I was thinking of 3/4 plywood + 1/2 plywood plus cement backer board topped with a self-leveling concrete compound with some sort of dye. This approach may be more cost effective that tile. Thus the research. My searching led me to your epoxy coatings. Would this be a suitable application?
Shea says
Hello Rick. Epoxy counter tops are starting to gain popularity in the home improvement world. There are websites devoted to this and vendors that sell product specifically for this purpose. The formulas are different so a flooring epoxy is not the best choice. For example, EpoxyMaster sells products exclusively for counters which you can find here. There is also this website that has a blog, instructions, product, and all kinds of help.
Frank Bosley says
Hello. I would like to have my floor epoxy-coated to match that MisdionCrotical floor. I am also shopping for a two-post lift? Would you recommend doing the floor prior to lift install? I have received conflicting information. Some suggest installing the lift first so I don’t risk damaging the floor with moving the columns around, but others have told me to do floor first to prevent rust where the columns bolt to the concrete.
Thanks
Frank
Shea says
Hello Frank. This is one of those questions that you will not find a definitive answer to. It all depends on who you ask. The main problem with installing epoxy first is that it’s difficult to install the lift without putting some deep scratches in the coating if you aren’t careful. The sharp edges of the column plates can do some damage and epoxy coating repairs always stand out. One trick that we’ve seen done more than once is to cut some 1/4″ steel tubing into multiple 18″ pieces. You can set the column plates on 8 to 10 pieces of tubing for each column plate and it will move without damaging the floor.
The other option would be to coat the general area of where you will place the columns on the concrete with two coats of Rust Bullet first. Rust Bullet works very well on concrete and you can see why in this article here. After it has cured, place your lift and then sand with 80 grit sandpaper the small area of Rust Bullet coating that extends past the columns. This will allow your epoxy to adhere to the Rust Bullet with no issues and you will not get any moisture under the plates to cause rusting.
Frank says
Thanks Shea! I just read through the article on Rust Bullet and was very impressed. Could I simply use this product for my entire garage or is it not as durable as the ArmorEpoxy kit?
Shea says
Well it depends on which ArmorEpoxy kit you are referring Frank. Each coating has it’s advantages. What’s nice about Rust Bullet is that it does not require any special concrete prep in most cases except for cleaning the concrete. The ArmorPoxy kits are the more traditional type of epoxy coatings and tend to go down thicker. They both are very tough. It comes down to which look you prefer and whether or not you want to go through the concrete prep process.
Greg Dunn says
I have a new woodworking shop / garage (30’x50′) that I recently built. The concrete floor was poured back in November 2017. The floor is 6″ thick with rebar on 24″ centers in a grid pattern throughout. Because of the rebar, a small concrete pump was used in the pour. The surface of the concrete is somewhat soft as it can be scratched with a screwdriver – probably due to more water in the concrete to allow pumping. The surface was machine troweled smooth. I was considering using only a densifier like Ashford Formula or one of the other densifier / sealers recommended on this website. I saw where densifiers may not be effective on softer concrete surfaces so I am also considering using an epoxy coating. My primary concern is for the floor to last a long time and be easy to clean up saw dust and resist oil etc… Appearance is more of a secondary concern. What would be your recommended coating process/product for this floor – densifier/sealer or epoxy. If using epoxy coating, would acid etching be sufficient for preparation? There are also several very fine shrinkage cracks. Do these have to be filled first or would 100% solids epoxy work ok over them. They are so fine that it may be difficult to get patching product in them sufficiently. Thank you for all the great advise on the site.
Shea says
Hello Greg. Because you state that the surface of the concrete may be somewhat soft, it is highly recommended to grind the surface before applying an epoxy coating. A softer surface is going to have excess laitance that acid etching does not remove. This laitance combined with softer concrete does not promote the best bond. Grinding will remove the laitance as well as some of the soft, creamy top.
Another option would be to apply a combination of a densifier with and oil repelling sealer. You can see an example of a good combination here. With your machine troweled surface this combo would be very easy to sweep and do a good job of helping to avoid stains. A densifier will still increase the hardness of the surface of your concrete. The question is always how much. Generally, the worst shape the concrete is in the less it works. We have treated many floors in the past with densifiers and some that you could scratch the surface with a screwdriver turned out very well. It takes a good week or so for the chemical reaction to take effect.
Greg Dunn says
Thank you very much for the great advice. With regard to using a densifier and sealer, would I need to do anything besides pressure washing the surface prior to applying the densifier? Grinding or acid etching would not be required, correct?
Thanks again for all of the great information on this site!
Shea says
You are welcome Greg. As long as the surface will absorb some liquid the only thing you will need to do is make sure it is clean. Occasionally power troweled surfaces will tend to reject liquid until it’s been subjected to a lot of traffic. If this is the case, then sometimes a very mild etch is needed. Justin from Garage Flooring LLC has worked with quite a few happy customers using that combo. We suggest giving him a call if you have any further questions about it.