The quest to find a long-lasting garage floor paint that will stand up to use and abuse may finally be over. That’s right, we said it. There really is a durable concrete floor paint available that will last for years, not peel, and not develop the dreaded hot tire lift problems associated with paint.
One of the reasons painting a garage floor is still popular is due to the fact that it’s much easier to apply to concrete than an epoxy coating. It goes down easier, it doesn’t require all the surface preparation that epoxy does, and it appeals to the DIY crowd.
The problem, however, is that paint is not very durable. It will only last a year or two at best before it needs to be touched up or repainted altogether.
An epoxy coating is far superior to paint and can last for years, but it requires that you acid etch or grind the garage floor first before application. This process causes many of the DIY crowd to shy away from the benefits of epoxy.
There just hasn’t been a manufacturer that makes a concrete paint/coating with similar benefits to epoxy that doesn’t require acid etching or grinding of the garage floor first.
That is until now.
What is Rust Bullet?
Known to some automotive restoration enthusiasts, a fairly new company called Rust Bullet developed and then introduced in 2003 a 1-Part moisture cured polyurethane paint coating to stop rust and corrosion in metal.
It soon became apparent, however, that this paint had many other capabilities as well. One of which is protecting concrete under extreme conditions.
It wasn’t until recently, however, that Rust Bullet eventually found its way onto the garage floor as a long-lasting, tough, and durable garage floor paint. Here is a quote from them.
Rust Bullet, with its Superior Patented Technology for rust and corrosion control provides outstanding protection to many surfaces, including concrete. Rust Bullet not only improves the appearance of concrete, it provides an impervious shield allowing easy cleanup of oil, grease and chemical spills along with strong protection against impact and abrasives.
You will be hard-pressed to find a statement like that from any other manufacturer of a single-part concrete paint for a garage floor.
A durable garage floor paint
So what makes this paint better? Well to start with, Rust Bullet technically is not traditional paint as we know it. It’s marketed that way because like paint, it’s a single-part coating that doesn’t require a second component to mix in. It is also easy to apply like paint. And because it is thinner than most coatings, it can also be applied to other surfaces with the use of a spray gun.
Most concrete garage floor paints are either latex acrylic or a blend of latex acrylic with small amounts of epoxy resin added to increase durability – also known as 1-Part epoxy paint. Rust Bullet, however, is a moisture-cured urethane (polyurethane) coating that is applied like paint.
The curing process allows the coating to crosslink – similar to epoxy. This develops a much denser and tougher coating than regular paint. It also makes the properties and benefits of Rust Bullet to a lesser degree, similar to a high-performance polyurethane coating. Unlike epoxy and traditional polyurethane coatings, Rust Bullet can be applied in temperatures as low as 35°f.
Rust Bullet also has a solids content of over 62% compared to the 36% solids of the leading 1-Part epoxy garage floor paint. This means that less than 38% of the product evaporates into the air during the curing process, compared to 64% with the leading floor paint.
What this translates to is a coating whose dry film thickness (DFT) is almost twice as thick as 1-Part epoxy paint – 2.5 mils vs. 1.4 mils. This additional thickness contributes to its long-lasting durability as a garage floor paint.
No more hot tire lift
Paint does not respond well to heat (neither do cheap epoxy coatings for that matter) and is the number one enemy that contributes to hot tire lift.
As hot car tires sit on the painted surface over time, the heat from the tires causes paint and low-quality coatings to soften under the tire. This relaxing of paint and coatings, combined with the contraction and grip of the tire footprint as it cools, causes the paint to delaminate and pull up with the tire when it is moved.
Rust Bullet combats this with a sustained thermal ability of 314°F and will withstand heat upwards of 625°F for up to 72 hours. Your tires would melt before they ever got that hot. This feature was one of the primary reasons that Rust Bullet was first used as a garage floor paint. As a result, hot tires will not affect the coating which means that there is no hot tire lift – period.
No Grinding or Acid Etching Required
One of the greatest benefits of Rust Bullet as a garage floor coating is that it does not require acid etching or grinding of your garage floor before application.
That’s right… As long as the concrete of your garage floor has not been previously sealed, the only required floor prep is to clean the concrete prior to application and Rust Bullet will provide a tenacious bond.
This is a huge benefit to the average DIY installer. Many times people shy away when they discover the amount of preparation that is required for a premium garage floor coating. Rust Bullet literally removes the fears of having to acid etch or grind the concrete before installation.
As long as your garage floor has not been previously sealed or is not extremely smooth, all that is required is a good cleaning of the concrete beforehand.
To verify that your garage floor will accept Rust Bullet for Concrete without further prep, you need to do a water drop test in various areas of the concrete. Drip small amounts of water onto the surface. If it does not bead up and is absorbed within a minute or so, then your concrete will accept the coating.
If the water does bead or it takes much longer to be absorbed, then Rust Bullet states you will need to lightly etch the concrete or sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper first.
Benefits of Rust Bullet Concrete for a Garage Floor
Now that we know the differences between Rust Bullet and typical garage floor paint, let’s examine the actual benefits of Rust Bullet as a concrete garage floor coating. Many of these benefits are similar to some quality epoxy and polyurethane coatings and far superior to the top garage floor paints and inexpensive garage floor epoxy kits.
- U.V. resistant – will not yellow or chalk when exposed to the sun
- Excellent Scratch resistance
- No hot tire lift
- Excellent oil resistance
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Good impact resistance due to its flexibility
- Waterproof
- Protects concrete from road salts and deicing fluids
- Standard base coat is not as slippery as epoxy when wet
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Better adhesion qualities than paint
- Does not require the same floor prep as epoxy coatings
- Can be applied in temperatures down to 35°f
- Long-lasting and durable – up to 10 years
Click here to jump down to Rust Bullet Pricing
As you can see, Rust Bullet has similar benefits as some premium garage floor epoxy coatings. And unlike concrete paint and low-cost epoxy flooring products, Rust Bullet also has a very high tolerance to chemicals.
It is highly resistant to oil stains and automotive chemicals such as anti-freeze, brake fluid, and battery acids. It has also been subjected to numerous tests of magnesium chloride which is a prime ingredient in deicing fluids – the same stuff that does extensive damage to concrete garage floors during the winter.
There is not one manufacturer of DIY concrete floor paint that can stand up to all of that. In fact, low-cost epoxy garage floor kits do not rate nearly as well either.
For more information, you can review their data sheets here.
Rust Bullet Colors and Top Coats
When it comes to color selection, not everything comes up roses for Rust Bullet. Unfortunately, you are limited to color selection in terms of the traditional choices for garage floor coatings.
Metallic Gray in a semi-gloss finish is the only color available. If you want beige, tan, or a darker gray then you are out of luck.
There is a solution to the limited color choice. though. Rust Bullet can be installed as a typical multi-coat garage floor epoxy system with the use of color flakes. Just broadcast the color flake of choice into the metallic grey coat to produce the desired effect. You can then apply a top coat DuraGrade Clear.
*** Update ***
Rust Bullet has since replaced the Rust Bullet Clear Coat for Concrete with their new DuraGrade Concrete clear coat. Testing has shown that it is more durable in all categories including impact resistance and abrasion resistance.
How Slippery is Rust Bullet?
According to Rust Bullet, the metallic gray provides almost the same non-slip protection as bare concrete. However, the DuraGrade Clear Coat can be very slippery when wet.
You will want to mix in an anti-slip additive to provide non-slip protection when using a clear top coat.
Rust Bullet Coverage Rates
One gallon will cover 300 – 400ft², which is enough for most standard 2-car garages. Rust Bullet recommends a minimum of two to four coats on a garage floor, depending on porosity, in order to achieve the recommended dry film thickness for the best performance.
One nice option is that Rust Bullet is also available in smaller 1-quart and 1-pint sizes as well. This comes in handy and can actually save you a lot of money if you have a slightly larger garage floor that may require a little more than one gallon.
Many of your typical garage floor coating kits do not offer amounts less than a gallon. This can require you to purchase an additional gallon to meet your square footage requirements. This can create a greater expense than anticipated.
A long lasting paint, but not perfect
As good as Rust Bullet is as a long-lasting and very tough garage floor paint, there are some factors to consider. The first is that it lacks the more traditional garage floor coating colors. Are you listening Rust Bullet? The standard semi-metallic gray is the only base coat color available.
*** Update ***
Rust Bullet did listen and has now released a new concrete coating called DuraGrade that is available in multiple colors. We did a complete review including testing. It performs well as a garage floor coating. You can read about it here.
The gray color is also a monochromatic paint. It doesn’t create a nice glossy and colorful finish like epoxy can unless you apply the DuraGrade clear top coat. It will, however, produce a nice semi-gloss metallic gray finish that is easy to maintain. Plus, it provides for a very clean look.
Another issue is that the monochromatic color of the metallic gray tends to show the defects and poor patch repairs in the concrete more than a thicker epoxy coating would. Additional coats or the application of color flakes can help to alleviate this.
Additionally, Rust Bullet is a solvent-based coating and produces strong fumes. You will need to wear a respirator or have good ventilation during application and turn off all flame and ignition sources in the garage before you start.
Price is something to consider as well. Rust Bullet is more expensive than the leading 1-Part epoxy garage floor paint and almost 2 times more expensive than the traditional garage floor epoxy kits. This includes manufacturers such as EpoxyShield or Quikrete, as an example.
Though more expensive, the initial cost will actually save you time and money in the long run due to the fact that it’s such a long-lasting floor paint. In all fairness, it really should not be compared to these lesser quality products because, in essence, Rust Bullet is a high-quality floor coating system unto itself.
Rust Bullet Garage Floor paint application
Ease of application is one of the big benefits of Rust Bullet that will attract the attention of many DIY enthusiasts.
As we stated earlier, it does not require the same concrete preparation as epoxy and most paint products. According to Rust Bullet, acid etching or grinding of the concrete is not required.
The key is to clean the concrete thoroughly and remove any oil spots or grease on the floor. Pressure washing is a recommended method as well. If you have any concrete repairs that need to be done, do them first.
One point to be aware of is that like epoxy coatings, a moisture test should be conducted before application. If any moisture is present, Rust Bullet recommends applying a penetrating sealer to the concrete before application.
If you have any stubborn oil stains remaining after cleaning your garage floor, Rust Bullet recommends applying their Metal Blast product to the stain. Metal Blast will enhance the adhesive qualities of the concrete surface where the stain is located. What it does is create an anchor pattern for the paint to adhere to.
It’s extremely important to make sure the floor is dry before application. Because Rust Bullet is moisture-cured, any amount of water it comes in contact with during this process can have an adverse effect on the coating. They even make the point not to let sweat come in contact with the coating while it is being applied.
Roll on your first coat with a quality lint-free 3/8” nap roller. Make sure to cut in the edges with a chip brush. Depending on temperature and humidity, the second coat can be applied between 6-24 hours after the first coat, humidity dependent.
If applying the second coat on the same day, Rust Bullet recommends not standing in one spot too long. And do not wear spiked shoes to prevent damage to the coating.
One note to make: Rust Bullet lists a much shorter re-coat time in their application guide. After further consultation, they recommend a longer wait period due to the fact that you will be walking on the floor in order to apply additional coats.
Once you are done, the garage floor can accept regular foot traffic in 24 hours. You can move things back into the garage after 48 hours, even vehicles. Just be careful not to turn the wheels in place and park the tires on a piece of cardboard or old carpet for a couple of days to avoid tire marks
In 5 days the floor is fully cured and you can remove the cardboard without the worry of tire marks, hot tire lift, or any other damage from your vehicles.
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.
Where to buy Rust Bullet Garage Floor Paint
One of the more popular places to purchase Rust Bullet for Concrete is Amazon. Pricing can often be a few percentage points less than buying direct.
Click here for Rust Bullet Concrete Pricing
The solid metallic gray color in a semi-gloss is a no-nonsense, traditional-looking floor paint color for automotive enthusiasts. It has proven to be very resistant to a variety of automotive fluids including acids. However, you can decorate the coating with color flakes if you like.
Click here for Color Flake Pricing
If you apply the color flakes you will need to apply a coat of Rust Bullet DuraGrade Clear to lock them in. Not only does this protect the color flakes, it will also provide a high gloss finish.
Click here for Duragrade Clear Coat Pricing
Lastly, if you have any stubborn stains that may interfere with proper adhesion, Rust Bullet recommends spraying the area with their optional Metal Blast.
Click here for Metal Blast Pricing
Final thoughts
We first published this article in the fall of 2014. At that time Rust Bullet was aware that some people were using their Standard formula as a garage floor coating – and with good success. However, they didn’t realize the potential of the market since garage floors were not the reason Rust Bullet was developed in the first place.
A few months later Garage Flooring LLC, a very reputable and respected national garage flooring vendor, contacted Rust Bullet with great interest after reading our article. Working with Rust Bullet, they soon began testing the various Rust Bullet concrete coating products to see how they would perform. Needless to say, the testing went well.
As a result of this testing, interest in Rust Bullet as a tough and durable garage floor coating has garnered national attention as a viable alternative to epoxy coatings and concrete paint. Though fairly new to the garage flooring market, it truly is a long-lasting floor paint for your garage that will provide years of service without issue when applied correctly.
In our estimation, this product provides a great compromise for those who want much more protection and durability than what a typical garage floor paint can provide, yet don’t want the expense and additional labor involved for a good epoxy coated garage floor system.
If you are in search of a long-lasting and durable floor paint for your garage that doesn’t require acid etching or grinding of your garage floor, then Rust Bullet for Concrete just may be the compromise you have been looking for.
Greetings. We have been contemplating high quality latex concrete paint vs other treatments for out outdoor concrete porch. The porch floor is in good shape and clean but we’d like to spruce up the surface. A metallic gray color might just work very well. The porch is covered but the front of it gets lots of sun and some rain in our upstate NY summers. Can Rust Bullet or Rust Bullet Concrete be used in this application?
Hello Norma. We recommend Rust Bullet’s new DuraGrade Concrete. We did an extensive review for it here.
Garage Flooring web site states they are no longer recommending Rust Bullet products and will not sell them. Any insight as to why the recent change?
Hello Steve. Garage Flooring LLC has suspended selling Rust Bullet products for now, though this may change. We don’t know the details, but we believe it has something to do with a difference in philosophies regarding customer service issues. Justin Krauss of Garage Flooring LLC highly values good customer service and demands the same from the products he sells. Nothing has changed with Rust Bullet that we are aware of and we still hear good reports about the long term performance. It remains a very popular product and sou can still purchase it from Amazon or Rust Bullet direct.
Could this stuff work on my wooden deck ??
Hi Mark. Rust Bullet is only approved and warrantied for concrete. However, we have seen examples from people who have applied it to the wood floor of their sheds or trailers with good results. It will require that wood be prepped first with 100 grit sandpaper. It would also require multiple coats since the wood will tend to absorb more than most concrete surfaces.
I put Rust Bullet for concrete on the plywood floor of my new Bravo 26′ enclosed race trailer in about 2015. It has worked out GREAT!. No chips. Just five or six coats. I really like the fact it isn’t slippery when wet.
Hi Dick and thanks for sharing. Yours is one of many enclosed wood floor trailers with Rust Bullet that we have heard similar reports about.
Hey Shea, as you have been told many times, fantastic site. So much questionable info on the web – really appreciate the wealth of objective info you have curated here.
I have a brand new 3200 ft2 shop with plans for auto restoration, metal fabrication, and woodworking. I want a coating that can stand up to that environment and be touched up without a major production if need be. Its a great looking slab and I was initially looking at a Densifiers/Sealer (so I didn’t have to worry about scuffs and sparks) but I think I want more bombproof resistance to oil/grease stains. Sounds like Rust Bullet is just the ticket but I wonder how it stacks up head-to-head with Hellfire (abrasion resistance, coat thickness, heat resistance, etc). Also, hard to tell from pics but it seems like Rust Bullet is more of a dull grey color while Hellfire appears to have more of a flat metallic sheen (which I prefer).
Am I on the right track with these two products? Does one stand out to you (specs or aesthetics)? Is there another product I should be considering?
By the way, the concrete slab was machine troweled and the contractor apparently also sprayed it with a “sealer” to aid in the curing process so I think I’ll need to grind the surface no matter what.
Thanks again for your insight!
Hi Will and thanks for the kudos. Both coatings would make a good choice for that type of environment. Of the two, we believe HellFire will slightly out perform Rust Bullet Concrete. The temperature rating for HellFire is higher as is the abrasion rating. It’s also going to be easier to apply in terms of the cosmetics when rolling it on. In addition, you can select two different shades of the HellFire semi-metallic color. Neither coating is considered decorative and both take on a more industrial look. The way you describe the colors of the two coatings is fairly accurate.
We have been getting reports now of HellFire performing very well under some abusive conditions. Some of which includes oil and other chemicals that have sat for long periods. Just remember though, there isn’t a coating out there that is bullet proof. They can all get damaged somewhat under heavy abuse. If you are leaning towards HellFire, I suggest giving Legacy Industrial a call and ask for Scotty. He can fill you in on the details for such a large job. And yes, you will need to grind if the slab has any type of sealer applied.
Can the Rust Bullet Concrete Clear Shot or their Duragrade Clear be used over top of an existing latex painted floor (Drylok)
Hi Jeff. No, it can’t be use because it is solvent based and will soften the paint. Acrylic floor paints are not intended to be clear coated. You can use a water-based epoxy, but it will require that you rough up the surface of the paint first 120 grit sandpaper. This article here explains more.
When my floor was poured, they “burnt” it in. To make the surface smooth like glass. Never had a sealer applied. Would this work on my garage floor? I live in central Ohio.
Hi Dan. A power troweled floor like yours will require an acid etch. It’s just too smooth to apply and adhere properly otherwise.
Thank you. That is vital information.
Can I apply Rust Bullet over Behr self priming 1 part epoxy?
Hello Chris. Behr 1-part epoxy is technically an acrylic latex paint with a little bit of epoxy resin added to increase durability. It’s a stand alone paint that is not intended nor designed for clear coats or to have other coatings applied over it. In addition, Rust Bullet is a solvent based product. It would soften the water-based 1-part epoxy and cause a mess.
Thank you for your response.
It seems like I should remove the acrylic paint which was applied over a 2-part epoxy which was wearing thin. Should I use a sander or is there a solvent which would do the job? Then could I apply Rust Bullet on the remainder epoxy or should I remove all the old epoxy to get down to the original cement garage floor?Chris
We highly recommend a grinder, Chris. Solvent strippers are messy and can affect the epoxy as well. We have an article here about grinding. The Diamabrush removal tool would be the one to use. When grinding, if the epoxy comes up fairly easily after getting to it, then you should remove that as well. If not, then you will be fine to coat over it. The grinding will rough it up plenty.
I’m going to use Rust Bullet on my 400sqft garage floor with 4-5lbs of flakes and the Duragrade Clear topcoat. For durability/longevity, would it be better to do 3 coats of RB and 1 coat of Clear or 2 coats of RB and 2 coats of Clear? I have another 1-car and am trying to keep the cost down a little…but if 3/2 coats is superior, I’ll probably spend the extra.
Garage is for household use. Cars, golf cart, bikes, storage, kids stuff, kids stuff, and more kids stuff.
Hi Harrison. Additional coats typically are not necessary. However, if you want to do an extra coat, then we would recommend an extra coat of clear. The clear coat is the sacrificial coat and the one that is subjected to traffic. The color coat is not.
Can rust bullet be used to pour into garage floor spalling?
If not, do you have a product that can be poured into spalling, and self level and harden?
Please advise.
Hello Michael. No, Rust Bullet (as is most concrete coatings) is not designed to fix spalling and other concrete issues. When applied thick like that, it will not cure properly. We have an article here that discusses the proper methods and materials for repairing spalled and pitted concrete.
After reviewing your detailed articles and content, I find myself more confused about my options. I have a 1-year-old, 400 sq. ft. garage mainly used for parking, and I’m considering applying a coating. Here are the quotes I received:
A quote for $350 to apply a 1-part epoxy from Seal Krete, along with a clear coat.
Another quote for $5 per sq. ft. (2000$ total) for a professional-grade epoxy installation, including full reflection and a clear coat, with a 15-year warranty.
Based on your articles, it seems that 1-part epoxy offers no real protection against hot tire pickup and will likely start peeling off in about a year. If I upgrade to Rust Bullet Duragrade, the cost would be around $570 for 2 base coats plus a clear coat, assuming I do the work myself.
The variety of options is overwhelming, and I’m struggling to make a decision. 1-part polyurea also requires extensive floor prep, which is beyond my DIY abilities. Given my situation, is there a specific option you would recommend?
Hello AJ. You are correct about the 1-part epoxy paint. It’s just going to turn into a mess within a year or less where you park your cars. $5 per square foot is about the average price now for an epoxy coating system. I can’t comment on the quality of the system since there is no information on the exact products being used or how many coats and etc. Single-part polyurea requires that the floor be properly etched, but that’s not considered extensive floor prep unless there is something else going on with your concrete. Does it need repairs or is it in good shape?
Thank you for your response. The $5 per sq. ft. quote from GarageExperts includes diamond grinding the floor and applying an epoxy coating with a protective topcoat.
Since my concrete is in good condition and only etching is needed as part of prepping the floor, 1-part polyurea is another option that I’m considering, which I believe could last up to 10 years. However, I’m not sure if it would be a better choice than Rust Bullet Duragrade, as I’m uncertain about its longevity.
Based on pricing from Legacy Industrial, the estimated cost for 1-part polyurea materials would be around $900 (Etching – $70, Polyurea (3 gallons for a base coat and top coat): $570, Pigment: $150, Flakes: $100).
If I go with SPGX, which offers better coverage per gallon, the cost would be approximately $700 (Etching – $80, Polyurea – $520, Flakes – $100).
For all-weather polyurea, the cost would be around $950.
If the 1-part SPGX polyurea can truly last for 10 years, it seems like a solid option to consider.
Hi AJ. Single-part polyurea is the better product. Though Rust Bullet DuraGrade is a quality coating, single-part polyurea is thicker per coat and the data sheets demonstrate a better rating for abrasion resistance. This translates to higher durability and longer wear. The main reason for the differences in pricing on single-part polyurea between the different vendors is the recommended coverage rate by the manufacturer. SPGX is slightly thinner per coat (less material) and All Weather Polyurea is the thickest (most material). Nohr-S is in the middle. Any one of the three offered will serve you very well. The beauty of electing for a commercial quality DIY system is that years down the road when the clear coat is showing its age, you can degrease the surface, rough it up with sandpaper, and apply a new clear coat to make it look almost new again.