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Why should I apply a clear top coat to my epoxy garage floor coating? This is a reasonable question that pops up from time to time for the average home owner looking to save some money. The real question however ought to be why wouldn’t you apply a clear coat? After all, there are many benefits to adding a clear top coat over the color coat for a garage floor.
Anyone who has installed a garage floor coating properly will tell you that the hardest and most time consuming part is prepping the floor for the epoxy. Applying the epoxy goes fast and for many, it is the fun part of the job. So after all that work of getting the concrete ready, why wouldn’t you want to spend a little more time and money to ensure a longer lasting and even more beautiful floor coating?
With various clear coating options to choose from, epoxy or polyurethane is the most common choice. The same benefits can apply to the use of polyurea or polyaspartic floor coatings as well. So to answer these questions, let’s take a look at the top 10 reasons why you should apply a clear top coat to your epoxy garage floor.
1. Adds durability and wear
A clear coat will add durability to your garage floor coating and create for a longer wearing surface. The additional coat also adds thickness to the floor coating which helps to eliminate hot tire lift and absorb impacts better.
2. Protects the color coat
Because the clear coat acts as a sacrificial layer, the epoxy color coat will be protected. Without it, the colored epoxy coat can lose its luster from wear. Though resistant to most chemicals, some oil spills or leaks that are allowed to sit for long periods can discolor the coating depending on the quality of epoxy you applied.
3. Protects the color flakes
If you applied paint chips or color flakes to your floor, the clear coat will protect them from peeling up and collecting dirt. Since the color flakes are partially embedded into the epoxy, dirt and grime can collect in and around the edges of the flakes making it harder to keep clean depending on how much color flake was applied.
Cleaning of the floor and other activities can also cause color flakes to pull up or chip away. When a clear coat is added, the color flakes are protected by the layer of clear that is over them.
4. It is easier to clean
With a clear coat over the color flakes, the floor is also easier to clean. Dust mops can just glide over the floor without catching color flakes as it goes. This is especially true if you have a heavy flake coverage on your floor. It also allows for aggressive scrubbing if necessary without worry of losing color flakes or dulling the color coat.
5. Adds depth to the floor coating
The additional layer of a clear top coat actually adds depth to the look of the garage floor. This creates for a richer looking surface that appears more luxurious and much thicker than it really is.
6. Creates a glossier looking finish
Depending on which type of clear coat you decide on, the clear will add a glossy shine to the floor that will reflect light even better than the color coat. Polyurethane coatings are sometimes available in different levels of gloss.
This is a great benefit for projects in the garage or for working on cars simply because it creates more light. It may also mean that you will not have to purchase more overhead lighting like you thought you might need.
7. It hides scratches better
All garage floor coatings will develop microscopic and sometimes larger scratches in the surface of the coating. A clear top coat helps to hide or camouflage most of these scratches so they are less noticeable and do not detract from the looks of the floor. The reason for this is that the clear top coat will act as the sacrificial layer and prevents the color coat from being damaged.
8. It’s a good medium for anti-slip additives
Anti-slip additives are hidden much better in a clear coat. Since most additives are translucent in color they will not stand out. Without a clear top coat they are added to the color coat instead. This makes the anti-slip granules much more visible as little bumps resembling sandpaper on the garage floor.
9. Can be recoated to look new again
After many years of use, an epoxy garage floor coating can start to show its age depending on how much activity it has seen. If it had a clear top coat of epoxy or polyurethane, it can easily be roughed up with sandpaper and have a new coat of clear applied.
The sanding of the old top coat removes any blemishes, scratches, and other imperfections that the floor coating acquired over the years. Once the new clear coat is applied, your garage floor coating will look brand new again.
10. It just looks awesome!
When you compare a color coated epoxy garage floor that has a top coat of clear to one that does not, there is no question about which looks better. The clear coat is what gives the garage floor that extra depth and showroom shine that screams “look at me!”
So if you’re on the fence about whether or not to add a clear top coat to your garage floor coating, think about all the benefits that it will provide in the long term. Yes, it will cost a little more money and yes, it may mean one more day of being without your garage. However once you do, you will be rewarded with a garage floor to be proud of for years to come and you will be glad that you did it.
Update – Please read
There is one important note to make. Clear coats are designed for application over 2-Part resinous coatings and some single part moisture cured resinous coatings. Do not confuse garage floor paint or 1-Part epoxy paint as a floor coating. These are latex based paints that will not form a chemical bond with a resinous coating.
Technically, you could rough up the finish of dried floor paint and apply a water based epoxy as a clear coat. It will have a limited increase in durability of the floor coating however due to the fact you are limited by the initial properties of the base paint underneath. Most other clear coats are not suitable due to their solvent base. They can actually soften these paints upon application and cause them to pull up from the concrete.
Please advise what kind of epoxy shield clear coat could be applied to the outdoor concrete floor to avoid weeds and mould growth. Thank you.
I CK. You can’t use epoxy outdoors. This article explains why. DuraGrade Concrete makes a clear that can be used outside. You can also use a clear acrylic sealer. Keep in mind that the concrete will have to be properly cleaned and prepped before applying a clear coating.
I had a paint contractor that applied ppg amerlock 2/400 to my new detached garage floor last week. (The new concrete had a less than perfect finish for a garage floor.) He is applying a second coat this week because we were not happy with the coverage. He an I both feel this will even out the coverage. He applied a light application of chips with the first coat last week to hide the concrete finish imperfections and I’m unsure if I want to reapply them. I was not happy with how the chips made the finish rough and probably difficult to sweep. My question is should I apply chips again and a clear coat to protect and smooth out the finish and what would be the best clear to apply to it.
Hi Lester. If this is the product that was used, then it was most likely applied too thin. Coatings should never be stretched. PPG recommends a dry film thickness of 8-20 mils for one coat. That is thick and should not result in coverage issues. The contractor should be able to calculate how much epoxy is required in order to achieve these rates if he is paying attention to the data sheets. Keep in mind that though this product produces a thick coating, it will not completely hide irregularities in the concrete. The reason is the 85% solids content (still very good). This means that 15% of the coating evaporates as it cures. This causes the coating to shrink. So if a small imperfection was covered and looked smooth before it cured, it will show somewhat after the cure. Only 100% solids epoxy when applied with a gauge rake will completely smooth out small imperfections.
The color flakes are a great way to camouflage imperfections, but it’s imperative to apply a high performance clear coat for some of the reasons you stated. We recommend using a high performance polyurethane, polyurea, or polyaspartic clear from the same manufacturer (PPG).
Hi Shea. Thanks for the input on my garage floor. Just wanted to post an update because it seems so many times people ask for advice on a particular problem and then you never hear if the problem was resolved, so here is the update.
The paint contractor came back and put down a second coat with a new light application of chips and it looked 200% better. After he finished I decide to go ahead and have him put down the clear too. I’m very glad that I did because it really looks amazing now despite the imperfections in the concrete finish. I can’t thank you enough for taking time out of your day to answer questions about other people’s garage floor finishing. I’d post a picture if I knew how to show how well it turned out. Thanks again!
That’s great to hear, Lester. We are glad it came out well for you and we really do appreciate the kind words. Images can’t be posted in the comments section. However, you can send them to our email at [email protected]
great information. thanks.
do you one or two coats of clear to protect the epoxy and flakes? Also, how long should we wait before moving all the items back onto the floor? (not cars – just light shelving and bikes etc..)
Rene
Hi Rene. It depends on what type of clear coating you use and how much flakes are applied. For example, if it’s an epoxy clear coat with light color flakes, one coat will suffice. If it’s a heavy color flake application with a polyurethane clear, you would need a minimum of two clear coats. How soon you can move things back in depends on the type of clear coat used as well. 48 hours is the average.
I’m thinking of two clear coats over the epoxy coating, for the reasons you have said one coat is very worthwhile.
Is epoxy suitable for a covered carport and patio with the clear coat(s) protecting it?
I’ve noticed that the professionals use a lot more of the decorative flakes than the Bunnings kits.
I’m assuming a ‘bumpy feel’ would make it less slippery??
Hello Michael. No, you cannot apply epoxy in an outdoor environment. Epoxy coating coats are for indoors only. Epoxy is not U.V. stable and the direct and indirect sunlight (no walls) will cause it to yellow (amber), chalk up, and eventually deteriorate. You would need to use a polyurea or polyaspartic coating that is approved for outdoor use if you want to use it for a patio or carport. A heavy flake application will provide some texture, but it does not create what you would consider and anti-slip surface.
My husband just did our garage floor with the Rustoleum 2 part Epoxy Kit. Then he did the Rustoleum clear top coat after. It looks amazing however He missed some spots due to sun shining into the garage. He wants to make sure those spots don’t peel or get tire marks. We just bought another top coat kit. Is it ok if he does a 2nd coat of the clear top coat on top of the first top coat layer? It has been 2 weeks since the top coat layer was put on the floor. Thanks!
Hello Jessica. Yes, you can apply another coat of clear. However, because you are past the 4 day recoat window for Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield, it will require that the surface be deglossed by roughing it up with 120 grit sandpaper first. This will provide the proper mechanical bond for the clear coat to adhere properly. Once the surface is swept and vacuumed, wipe it down with denatured alcohol (or equivalent) applied to a microfiber mop pad. Once it evaporates (it’s quick) you can apply the clear and it will look glossy again.
Hi Shea, We are having our outdoor alfresco area done with ecoshield epoxy as a base coat and then the flakes with Sparta shield with 2 coats non slip glass as the clear coat…. I’m hoping that will look Awesome… Just wondering if the second coat will give it a darker look than just the one coat, also because it is totally undercover if you can use a hose to wash it down? Please can you give me your opinion as it will be much appreciated….. Thanks Michelle
Hi Michelle. I hope you haven’t started your project yet. Epoxy is not U.V. stable and should never be used outdoors. Strong indirect U.V. light will cause it to amber (yellow tint) and then it can slowly begin to chalk and deteriorate over time. This article here explains more. You need to use a coating that is U.V. stable and approved for outdoor application. DuraGrade Concrete by Rust Bullet is one such example.
Hi I just used BEHR Self-Priming 1-Part Epoxy Satin Interior/Exterior Concrete and Garage Floor Paint to paint my garage, since rustoleum is over my budget. I planned to paint two coats and then apply flakes, after the flakes embedded, what kind of clear top coat I should use? I prefer no shining finish. Can I use any epoxy clear coat? Thank you!
Hello Yang. 1-part epoxy paint is designed as a stand alone application and not intended to be clear coated. In addition, it is not compatible with epoxy coatings since it is a latex concrete paint and not a true 2-part epoxy. Technically, if you sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper you can apply a water-based clear epoxy coating over it. However, the epoxy would be 2.5 times more expensive with less of a coverage rate. In addition, it still will not protect the paint from hot tire pickup since it’s the paint that is adhered to the concrete and not the epoxy. If Rust-Oleum epoxy (budget epoxy) was not in the budget, then a clear coat of epoxy would not be either. This article here explains more. Our suggestion is to leave the paint as is and begin budgeting for a true garage floor coating system. Once the paint begins to wear and experience hot tire pickup, you can eventually grind it off and apply a true coating that will last years. I hope that helps.
Thank you for this, its exactly what I was looking for. I have a question I’m hoping you can answer though. I put down the Rust-Oleum 2 part epoxy floor with flakes in my garage and it looks great. I did this about a month ago and have parked on it multiple times. If I want to put a clear coat on it, do I have to prep it at all besides hosing it down to clean any debris off? I wish I would have looked this up sooner and applied it right after the Epoxy application.
Hi Mike. You are far past the Rust-Oleum recoat window of 72 hours. If you want to apply a clear coat, you will first need to clean the floor and then rough up the surface with 120 grit sandpaper in order to achieve the proper mechanical bond. After you sweep and/or vacuum up the dust, you then need to wipe it down with denatured alcohol (or equivalent) applied to a microfiber mop pad or lint free towel. It will quickly evaporate and you will be ready to apply the clear coat.
Thank you for the reply, I was afraid it was going to be something like that. It shouldn’t mess up the Epoxy and chips roughing it up right? I’m not trying to grind it down, just a light sanding across the whole floor?
Thanks again, this was very helpful!
You might loose a few color flakes in the process, but if they are adhered well it won’t be many. The floor will look all scratched up and hazy, but once you apply the clear it will bring the color and gloss right back.
I put supercoat on my garage and need to put flakes and clear coat on now. Are there any issues putting the flakes in the clear?
Hi Parker. The flakes are supposed to be applied to the color coat immediately after rolling it on. One of the objectives of the clear coat is to lock in and protect the color flakes. It’s also makes cleaning easier since dirt and debris will not get lodged against the flakes. You can certainly apply a clear coat and apply flakes to it, but it will have an odd look to it. As and FYI, because you are past the recoat window, any new coat that is applied to the color coat will require that you rough up and degloss the surface with 120 grit sandpaper first in order to create a proper profile for the new coating to adhere. If you don’t, the new coat will peel.
Hi In my garage I installed a commercial industrial 2 part epoxy coating then an additional uv top coat afterwards. This was done approximately 10 years ago. At the time I was unemployed and helping a friend do epoxy flooring for extra cash. Thus we were able to do the labor for free, he had all the tools, and was able to get wholesale pricing. It has been great no problems peeling but now the floor doesn’t have the gloss it used to. Also minor chips and scratches from dropping things etc. is there a way to bring the shine back and any suggestions to touch up damages? I still have a huge box of the flakes still. It’s a grey floor with tri color chips. What can I do restore the shine without having to grind and redo the floors? Can I possibly wet sand with 800 or 1000 grit then buff with a rubbing compound then wax like a car? Thanks for your assistance. Have a great day
Hi Marv. You can’t shine up coatings like paint on a car or wax on a floor. The moment you take an abrasive to the surface it will degloss and turn hazy. Putting wax over it will not improve it. What you need to do is apply a new high performance clear coat. That will bring back all the gloss and make the floor look almost new. You will need to degrease the surface and then rough it up with 120 grit sandpaper. A floor maintainer with a few 100 grit sanding screens works even faster. This will also give you the chance to sand out any embedded dirt in the scratched up areas. After the sanding, vacuum the surface and then wipe it down with denatured alcohol. You would need the same colored coating to touchup any areas with color. However, because you have the color flakes, you could mix up a little of the new clear and dap it into areas that are damaged and apply a few flakes over it to camouflage it. Once those areas have cured long enough to hold the flakes, you can then clear coat the entire floor.
Thanks for the response. On the clear coat would it be another 2 part epoxy, 1 part epoxy or polyaspartic coating? Please advice and any suggestions for product to use. Thanks
We recommend using something similar or better than what was used before, Marv. If the clear coat was U.V. stable, then is wasn’t epoxy. In addition, 1-part epoxy is just paint (not a true coating) and not available in clear. We would recommend a high performance polyurethane or single-part polyurea. Most polyaspartic coatings are very fast curing and only used my experienced professionals. As an FYI, you will not find these type of coating from your local home improvement center. I would suggest contacting the friend that helped you or a quality concrete coating vendor. Our sponsors are a good example.
Hello, thank you so much for this article and all the information! Really appreciate it!
I coated our basement floor with a Rustoleum Rock Solid Metallic a few months ago and it looked great at the beginning, but it has already faded into a sort of matte (no-gloss) finish and has scratched very easily. I didn’t know about the top coats when I did the initial project. Would adding a top coat now help cover the scratches and maintain the gloss look longer? If so, which product should I use? Any advice is appreciated, thank you so much!
Hi Cheyenne. Typically, coatings that develop a matte looking finish is the result of it being applied too thin. They look glossy during the curing stage and then cure with a matte finish. If this is what yours did, then we would recommend applying another metallic color coat first before applying a clear coat as it will not change how the metallic color coat looks. However, if your floor did have a rich color and glossy look for a few months, then the proper application of a clear coat will bring this back. It will require that you rough up and sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper first. You can also rent a floor maintainer and use a few 100 grit sanding screens if you want to get it done faster with less work. Vacuum up the dust, wipe the floor down with denature alcohol on a microfiber mop pad, and then apply the clear.
Metallic coatings highlight and detail small scratches much more than traditional coatings due to their darker colors and glossy finish. They should always have a clear coat applied to protect the finish of the color coat. Scratches can still be seen, but they won’t be as obvious as when they scratch the color coat. We recommend staying within the RockSolid line and use their clear coat. Keep in mind that the clear coat is not as glossy as the metallic coat, so it will tone it down some.