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Nothing can improve and transform the look of your garage for the least amount of money than painting your garage floor. It is one of the oldest and still very popular ways to brighten up the garage and turn that plain or ugly floor into something to be proud of, instead of something you want to hide.
Available in two different formulas, the least expensive is the traditional latex acrylic concrete paint. Once your garage floor has been cleaned and prepped properly, it goes on quickly with the least amount of fuss and with a variety of colors to choose from.
The other formula that has become more of the standard is 1-Part epoxy paint. Though a few more dollars per gallon, it has epoxy added to the mix to improve the durability over standard paint. It is just as easy to apply and comes in a variety of colors as well.
If you like, colored acrylic paint chips can be broadcast onto the surface of the paint after it is applied to add additional color. If you live in a wet or snowy climate, you can also add anti-skid media to the paint to make for a slip resistant finish.
Two-part epoxy paint kits are another variation of this formula. The most expensive of these choices, these kits technically are not paint but are worth mentioning here because of their relatively low cost and tougher finish.
Benefits of Garage Floor Paint
One of the benefits of latex acrylic paint is that it gives your garage floor a moderate amount of protection with a variety of colors to choose from. Starting in the $20 per gallon range, it is mold and mildew resistant, water resistant, and provides for easy cleaning of the garage floor. It is moderately resistant to most automobile fluids if it is cleaned up quickly. Be aware however that if allowed to sit, fluids like anti-freeze and oil can stain the paint, while gasoline and brake fluid can actually cause it to wrinkle and peel away.
Another added benefit of painting your garage floor is that it renders your concrete dustless. Bare concrete is always producing a fine dust that can be tracked into your home or collected on your cars and work benches. Paint will prevent the dreaded concrete dust and helps to keep from tracking this dust and dirt into your home.
One thing to consider however is that garage floor paint is not the most durable of options for your garage floor. It is susceptible to hot tire pick up and can chip. If applied properly it usually will need to be touched up or reapplied every one to two years depending on the amount of use it sees. However, if you are on a tight budget and want something other than bare concrete, then latex acrylic paint may be just what you need.
When choosing paint for your garage floor, 1-part epoxy paints have quickly become the favorite of the two. Like acrylic latex, 1-Part epoxy paint is mold and mildew resistant, water resistant, dustless, and easy to clean. It is also more resistant than latex acrylic to most automobile fluids including gasoline and brake fluid. However, it is still best to clean up gasoline and brake fluid quickly since most epoxy paints will not stand up to them for very long.
The cost of 1-Part epoxy paint is typically a little more than $30 per gallon. As a result of the epoxy additive, it is more durable and creates a better bond to the concrete than latex acrylic. This means that it is more resistant to chipping and heavy traffic. Properly installed epoxy paint can last up to two or three years. That’s almost twice as long as latex acrylic. Most brands offer epoxy paint with additional products such as colored acrylic chips and anti-slip additives.
2-Part Garage Epoxy Paint
A product that requires mentioning is the garage floor epoxy paint kits. Technically these are not paint; they are an actual 2-Part epoxy product that is marketed as paint. Because they have a lower percentage of solids content by volume compared to commercial epoxy, they are easy to apply and provide a thin coat like paint does. Most kits are sold as a single coat system with the option of applying a second coat of clear epoxy to improve both durability and looks.
Be careful not to confuse these with the traditional epoxy garage floor systems that provide multiple coats. While they do provide better protection than latex acrylic or 1-part epoxy paint, the cost for these kits is usually 2 to 3 times as much. If they fit into your budget, you will get the most protection from 2-Part epoxy paint as compared to a 1-Part epoxy paint.
One thing to remember when planning for your project is that the most important part of applying any type of paint to concrete is the preparation of the surface. Concrete is generally very porous and can absorb oils, dirt, and other contaminants that will not allow paint to adhere properly. Hosing out the garage with a little soap and water will not work.
Be sure to follow the directions from the manufacturer or your paint will be peeling up in a few weeks after all your hard work. Because some concrete can have a slightly polished finish to it, you may be required to apply some sort of acid etch to your floor before you paint. No matter how clean the concrete may be, it will not adhere to a non-porous finish.
You can easily test it by applying a few drops of water to the surface. If it gets absorbed into the concrete then you should be fine. If it beads up at all, then you will need to etch the surface.
One other additional product that will help with the life of your paint would be a concrete primer coat. Applied first, it actually provides a better bonding agent for the paint to adhere to and reduces the chance of peeling and hot tire pick up.
Now that you know the benefits of painting your garage floor as well as what paint you can use, take the time and do the math to decide which product would be best for you. Either way you choose, you will definitely have a better looking floor that will be easier to keep clean, brighten your garage, and help keep dirt and dust out of your home.
Thank you so much for all your time.
I will try to ruff the paint. I hope the paint will not chip off. At least my paint is flat mat.
Do you think that the flat mat finish will help the polyurethane to stick on the paint? If I can’t sand the paint correctly.
I will give you feedback and picture if you want.
No, the flat matte will not help. The paint has to roughed up with 120 grit sandpaper or the polyurethane will peel in sheets. As I said, paint is not designed to have a clear coat applied over it. You have to follow specific procedures in order to be successful.
I would like to know if I paint my concrete garage floor with Behr concrete paint if it can be top coated with the rocksolid rostoleum clear top coat will that work ok, thanks
Hello John. No, Behr concrete paint and other 1-part acrylic epoxy paints or standard concrete paints are not designed to be top coated. They are a stand alone product. If want something with a clear coat, then you need to apply an actual colored coating (such as RockSolid) and not paint. This article here explains more.
Hello, Looking for some help please. We just applied the 1 layer of drylock concrete garage paint to our garage floor. Can I add chips to this paint after the second coat and is there a clear coat that you can recommend for this type of paint? I cannot seem to find an answer anywhere. Everything points to epoxy paint.
Hello Sheba. Concrete paint and 1-part epoxy paint is not intended nor designed for a clear coat. They are not true resinous coatings and are not chemically compatible. This article here explains the differences. We also have this article here that explains more about clear coats.
Hi,
We are wanting to paint our garage floor. I’d like for it to last as long as possible. I’m not sure how what products to use. I need a product to fill in cracks (recommendations?), a base paint (can we use any paint so I can tint it to the color I want? – recommendations). Then how do we do the top coats and flakes? Which products do we use? I’m okay with multiple steps – I’m just not sure what products to buy. We want to do this ourselves. Thank you!
Hi Samantha. First, we need to establish whether it’s paint that you want to apply or a true coating. Paint is a latex acrylic product that is applied in one or two coats and will last about year without having to be redone. You cannot apply top coats to them. Epoxy coatings are a 2-part product that are much more durable and can have top coats applied. This article here explains some of the differences. Let us know which your are referring to and we can help you from there.
Which coatings/paints are best for holding out odor that may have penetrated the cement? In this case, a septic system backed up into the furnace area and I need to eliminate all odors. It is an old raw cement floor (1986). Will Behr garage floor paint work just as well as epoxy for this?
Hello Sam. No, paint breathes and will not seal out odors. The odor molecules will work their way through. Two component epoxy coatings (not paint or 1-part epoxy) do not breathe and do not allow those molecules to pass through.
Thx for the help on latex paint. If not latex, which floor paint can act as a barrier to odors that dries quickly? I am coating my furnace floor and i dont want to draw fumes into the house.
Paint is not going to achieve what you want. They all breathe. You would need to use an actual coating. Two part water-based epoxy coatings (Rust-oleum EpoxyShield is an example) are low to no VOC’s. However, all coating require that you properly prep the surface in order to adhere. This means etching with the supplied Eco safe etch or grinding.
I need to repost my porch which I painted 4-5 years ago with Behr 1 part epoxy concrete paint. Want to use same product only darker. How much prep do I really need to perform?
Hi Doug. Because it’s a paint and not an epoxy coating, there is not a lot of prep that needs to be done. Assuming the paint is not peeling anywhere, just clean and degrease the surface well before applying a new coat.