EpoxyShield and RockSolid are popular and well-known DIY garage floor coatings. Readily available at local home improvement centers and marketed as easy to apply, many are purchased without much research beforehand. As a result, there are always many questions that crop up just before, during, and after the application. One of the primary questions we get is: What clear coat should I use to seal EpoxyShield or RockSolid?
The answer is simple, but not as obvious to the novice. After all, most people aren’t that experienced with applying garage floor coatings. Furthermore, many mistakes are made regarding clear coats.
As a result, we want to tell you which clear coats to use with EpoxyShield and RockSolid. We will also tell you which clear coats to avoid. In addition, we will provide simple yet important tips on clear coats to save you time and frustration.
Number One Rule For Clear Topcoats on Garage Floor Coatings
There is one very important rule you need to be aware of regarding clear coats for garage floors. The clear coat needs to perform just as well, if not better than, the color coat. In other words, you need to apply the same quality coating or better.
Remember, the clear coat is the wear coat. It is the coating that locks in the color flakes and protects the epoxy color coat. It is the sacrificial layer that takes the abuse from traffic, vehicles, automotive fluids, and a host of other environmental factors.
A typical novice mistake is to apply something cheaper. When this is done, the overall performance of the coating system is immediately downgraded to the level of the cheaper clear coat.
Why would you want a clear coat that is not as durable, resist automotive stains, or chemicals as well as the color coat? You are better off saving your money and not applying it at all if that is the case.
Lastly, clear coats are not required to seal the coating. EpoxyShield and RockSolid garage floor kits are sealers. Clear coats are used to enhance the finish, add depth, protect color flakes, and provide even better protection if available.
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Clear Coats For EpoxyShield
It is always recommended to use the same brand (if possible) when applying coatings. This prevents any problems with compatibility and will not void the warranty due to mixing brands of products.
The recommended clear coat for EpoxyShield garage floor coating kits is EpoxyShield Premium Clear Coating. This is a 100% solids epoxy with low VOCs that performs better than the color coat. It has a high gloss finish and includes the optional anti-slip media.
More home improvement centers are now stocking EpoxyShield Premium Clear Coat. However, it is more expensive than other sources. If you can’t find it locally or would like to purchase it at a much better price, we recommend buying it from Amazon.
Important to note is that Rust-Oleum states the clear coat will cover up to 500 ft² on coated surfaces and 250 ft² on bare concrete.
One complaint of the EpoxyShield garage floor coating kits is that the color coats do not have a glossy finish. EpoxyShield Premium Clear Coat will improve the overall finish to provide the gloss you are looking for.
Clear Coats for RockSolid
Rust-Oleum RockSolid is a bit unique. It is a Polycuramine coating made from a proprietary blend of epoxy, polyurethane, and polyurea. As a result, Rust-Oleum states that an epoxy, polyurea, or polyurethane clear coat is not compatible and should not be used. It would require special surface preparation after curing to apply a different coating.
What you should apply is RockSolid Clear Coat to RockSolid garage floor kits. This is the same coating as the color coat, but without the tint in the resin pouch that adds color. This will provide the same protection as the color coat as well as lock in the color flakes to provide a more durable coating system.
RockSolid Clear Coat can be found at your local home improvement centers. However, as with EpoxyShield, you can purchase it at a much better price from Amazon.
All RockSolid Clear Coat kits come with the optional anti-slip media. Polycuramine can be very slippery when wet. We recommend using the anti-slip media if slipping is a concern.
Like EpoxyShield, the coverage rate over coated surfaces is up to 500 ft² and up to 250 ft² on bare concrete.
How Long Do I Have Before Applying A Clear Coat Sealer to EpoxyShield or RockSolid?
You can apply a clear coat to EpoxyShield or RockSolid at any time during the coating’s life, provided it is still in good condition and not peeling. However, it is to your benefit and highly recommended to apply the clear coat as soon as possible after applying the color coat.
All garage floor coatings have a recoat window. This is a period when subsequent coats can be applied directly to the previous coat without further prep. When this is done, the coating establishes a chemical bond with the previous coat that is stronger than a mechanical bond.
The recoat window for EpoxyShield is 4 days. The recoat window for RockSolid is 7 days. This means that you can apply your clear coat to the color coat within that period without further preparation. This is provided that the surface is clean and has not been driven on or had much foot traffic.
You need to wait a minimum of 10-12 hours before applying the EpoxyShield Premium Clear Coat. You need to wait a minimum of 8-10 hours before applying RockSolid Clear Coat. If the surface still feels tacky, wait a bit longer.
If the recoat window has expired, further prep is required; otherwise, the clear coat will not adhere properly. It requires degreasing the surface and then roughing and deglossing it with 120-150 grit sandpaper. Vacuum or sweep the surface, then wipe it down with denatured alcohol or an equivalent, applied generously to a microfiber mop pad.
This additional prep is what provides the mechanical grip for the clear coat to adhere. It can be performed at any time during the coating’s life or whenever you want to apply additional coats, clear or otherwise.
What Clear Coat Sealers Not to Use on EpoxyShield or RockSolid
As we mentioned earlier, do not apply a lower-performing coating. One such example is Rust-Oleum Concrete and Garage Clear Finish Topcoat. This is a water-based acrylic sealer that is for application over latex acrylic concrete paint or 1-part epoxy paint. It does not perform nearly as well as the proper epoxy or polycuramine clear coat.
Other examples are Behr Wet Look Sealer or Seal-Krete Clear-Sealer. These are also water-based acrylics. These coatings will soften and smear when exposed to gasoline or other solvents. They also scratch much easier, don’t resist staining as well, and provide less gloss.
Do not apply polyurethane floor finishes available from your local home improvement centers. Examples are Varathane and MinWax. These are wood finishes that are not compatible with garage floor coatings and are not designed for garage floor traffic.
Tips for Applying Clear Coats to EpoxyShield and RockSolid
Clear coats can be difficult to see while being applied. There is nothing more frustrating than realizing you missed a spot when you are standing back to admire your hard work.
Make sure the garage is well-lit so you can see what you are doing. Work a small area at a time and then move to the next one. It helps to bend down occasionally to look across the surface at an angle. The wet, clear gloss shows up better, and you can identify any spots you missed before it’s too late to go back over them.
If possible, it helps to have someone watch as you apply it. It’s easier for them to see any missed spots since they are not focusing on the application.
Lastly, make sure your shoes are clean! We recommend walking across the coating in clean socks. Or at least wipe down the soles of your shoes. Nothing is worse than encapsulating dirty footprints in your new garage coating.
Final Thoughts
If you decide to opt for a clear coat on your Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield or RockSolid coating, we highly recommend staying with the same brand. Your warranty will stay intact, you will not have compatibility issues, and the coating will perform as intended.
Furthermore, the additional thickness provided by the clear coat will increase the coating’s durability and reduce the risk of peeling from hot tires.
If you are trying to save money on a clear coat, then do not apply one at all. It will only lead to aggravation and result in a lower-performing garage floor coating system.
I just finished a small 15×20 shop with cement floor that will just have some rolling work benches and a mower parked on garage mat near the door. I would like to use Rocksolid to top off the floor coating, but do not want to spend money on the Rocksolid gray coating. Is there another cheaper gray concrete paint I can apply underneath the clear Rocksolid?
Hi Derek. You can use a 1-part epoxy paint such as this one here by Rust-Oleum. Just so you know, paint like this only comes in a matte or satin finish at best. Because RockSolid Clear Coat is not chemically compatible with paint and 1-part epoxy paint, it will require allowing the paint to dry for 48 hours first. You will then need to rough up the painted surface with 120-150 grit sandpaper so that RockSolid can achieve a mechanical bond. Once you rough it up, sweep/vac the surface and then wipe it down with denatured alcohol or equivalent. After that, you can apply the RockSolid.
Help!! My Rocksolid Garage Kit Flooring is still tacky in some areas after 7 days. It was installed on a bare concrete floor room addition. I applied acetone to the tacky areas as instructed by Rustoleum and they remain tacky. I need recommendations on next steps for recoating please. Ugh!
Hi Susan. Is this in a heated room? If not, what has the coldest temperature range been?
Hi Shea, Yes. It is a heated room with in floor heat. Temp was set at 72.
Hi Susan. When a coating remains tacky in spots it generally indicates there was a mixing issue. Sometimes applying a second coat will reactivate those areas, but it’s not always guaranteed. Since you are past the recoat window, applying a second coat would require deglossing and roughing up the surface with 120-150 grit sandpaper. If the coating doesn’t harden up in a few more days, the only thing that can be done is to remove as much of the tacky material you can. You can scrub some acetone or MEK on those areas and then see how much you can scrape up. Once you do that, rough up the coating (including those areas) with sandpaper and then apply another coat. I’m sure it’s not the answer you wanted to hear, but if a coating remains tacky that long, then it will never harden up.
Thank you Shea! This is helpful as I want to make sure Im taking the correct steps to remmediate the issue. Appreciate your help!
Susan