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.
Greg Crane says
Hi, I am finding it hard to locate Rust Bullet for concrete in Australia as well as the clear Top Shot. I have found a supplier who only sells the standard paint (RB14). My question is can I use this on concrete and use an alternative clear coat to seal the chips, if so what would you recommend. The area is about 900 sq feet.
Shea says
Hello Greg. Yes, you can use RB14 on your garage floor. In fact, the first known Rust Bullet floor (and a few there after) were done with RB14. The first thing we recommend doing, however, is contacting Rust Bullet by either phone or email to ask about distributors in Australia that may carry the concrete version, as well as the Clear Shot for your top coat.
If there is none, no worries. Before the garage floor version was developed, Rust Bullet was recommending adding a little solvent to the RB14 to get the easiest application and cosmetic results. Ask them what solvent to use and how much per gallon. We had that initial info and seemed to have misplaced it. The tricky part is going to be your clear coat. You can check with Rust Bullet, but we don’t believe another manufacture’s clear coat is going to bond chemically with Rust Bullet. If that is the case, you would need to let the Rust Bullet cure first, then rough it up with 150 grit sandpaper to provide the mechanical grip for a clear coat. The problem with that, however, is that it eliminates the ability to use color flakes. What you can do though is add color flakes to the first coat of clear and then add another coat or two over that. It just increases your cost. We recommend using a quality high performance polyurethane concrete coating or polyurea for your clear coat.
kevin says
hello. I moved into a house that is less than 10 years old and my question is how can I tell if the garage floor was treated with a concrete sealer by the builder..The floor itself is pretty smooth..Also with all the parking in the garage there is a considerable amount of tire traffic that seems to be permanent,,Can Rust Bullet be applied without any problems…
Shea says
Hello Kevin. Read this to determine if you floor has a sealer. If you don’t have a sealer on the concrete, it will need to be cleaned well and the tire marks removed in order for Rust Bullet to work properly.
Pat Kaprell says
Hi,
As there is only one base color, what if…
I put down the original gray metallic coat of Rust Bullet; follow that with a color shot coat and flakes; and follow that with a clear shot with anti-slip! Apart from the expense and the additional labor, would that work? I’m assuming the color shot is not available in smaller sizes and can’t be blended.??Thanks, Pat
Shea says
Yes, that would work Pat. The color shot is available in smaller sizes, but you would need to check with Rust Bullet about blending them to create a custom color.
Richard says
I’d like to use this product in my 2-car (440 sqft) garage. If I’m understanding the math, I’ll need to purchase TWO of the 450 sqft garage kits to get my two coats in… yes?
Also, I have a similar question to Pat above… I was thinking of doing the grey base (2 coats) and then the white coat on top. If I mix the anti-slip into the white top coat and roll it out, won’t I lose that glossy top-coat shine? I’ve also heard that other white garage floors can get micro scratches over time that fill with dirt and are utterly uncleanable.
I was thinking 2 coats of standard grey on the bottom, then the white coat, and then a clear coat with non-slip mixed in. That way, my white would never get scratched, and I would be able to keep a sheen even with a non-slip mixed in. Maybe? Please advise me one these strange plans…
Shea says
You’re on the right track Richard, only we believe you may be better off with 1 grey coat and two white coats. A clear coat over the top definitely helps protect the white. A heavy does of anti-slip can cut down on the gloss quite a bit, but if you cut down on the amount use you don’t lose as much gloss. One thing to keep in mind about scratches and white is the type of product used. Epoxy tends to develop the scratches much more easily since it is so hard and not flexible versus white polyurethane for example. We suggest you contact Justin from Garage Flooring LLC to discuss the white option. He has a few white garage floors under his belt now and knows what works best.
Liam R says
Hi I am going to be coating my 500 sq. ft. garage with Rust Bullet this month. I haven’t ordered any of the product yet. My garage floor is 6 years old, and in pretty good shape. How many coats of Rust Bullet, and then clear coat do you suggest I apply? I will also be adding the antiskid. What do you suggest I purchase from Garage Flooring LLC in order to complete this project?
Shea says
Hello Liam. You will want to apply a minimum of two coats and then the clear. Yes, we do recommend Garage Flooring LLC. The reason is that they won’t be undersold on the product, but more importantly, they are very experienced with this product now and can assist you will all your application questions that are bound to come up. Their customer service in this regard is really good.
Ian Smith says
Can you please tell me if there is United Kingdom supplier of Rust Bullet. I live near London
Thanks
Shea says
That is a great question that we don’t have an answer for Ian. We recommend contacting Rust Bullet with an email and ask. They do sell their product around the world. If they have UK distributors they will be able to give you the information where you can purchase it.
mike says
everywhere i look I see no prep required but I was told by a vendor that i would need to acid etch or grind to prep for rust bullet because my surface was machine or steel troweled.
What is the real deal?
Shea says
Hi Mike. In most cases Rust Bullet only requires cleaning the concrete well prior to application. The two exceptions are concrete that has previously been sealed and extremely smooth concrete. Most garage floors are finished by hand with a steel trowel or float and provides for an acceptable surface for Rust Bullet. Occasionally, however, a garage floor will be finished by machine troweling. Machine troweling a garage is not that common since it’s more expensive and usually done for warehouse floors, large slabs, floors that need to meet specific tolerances for level, flooring requirements and etc. Machine troweling makes the concrete extremely smooth and effectively closes off many of the pores. Hand steel troweling can do that on occasion, but it requires an extremely good finishing crew and time. Most contractors do not employ people with those type of skills for finishing garage floors. In your case, a mild acid etch should rough up the surface enough to accept Rust Bullet.
Dustin says
I’ve been prepping my garage floor for an epoxy coating, but now the temperatures have dropped below the minimum for those. I am interested in Rust Bullet but I’m curious how it will bond with the patches I’ve done with Rustoleum Concrete Patch (a two part epoxy). Most of the floor has been resurfaced and ground with a 10 inch grinder, but there are still cracks and some low spots that have been filled with the epoxy concrete patch. Will Rust Bullet adhere to those spots properly?
Shea says
Yes it will Dustin. As long as the patch work has been hit with a grinder you will be fine. As a tip, try and get your patch work to transition as smooth as possible with the surrounding concrete. Rust Bullet is not as forgiving as thicker epoxy when it comes to hiding repairs.
Dustin says
Ok great! I have a diamond cup on my angle grinder I can do that with. At this point I’m not too worried about hiding repairs though, it will still look 100 times better than it did, haha. Thanks for the help.
charlie b. says
I have a 15 year old brown oil-based paint (of some sort) now on the garage floor. Can Rust Bullet be used to cover it. If so, how? Other than cleaning the floor, what else do I need to do to prep it? What other paints or epoxy would you recommend? It’s a straightforward 2 car garage.
Shea says
Hello Charlie. Rust Bullet is not compatible with paint – oil based or otherwise. It is solvent based and will soften the paint upon application. Regardless, paint that old should be removed via grinding first before applying a new coating. The reason is that a coating is only as good as what it is applied to. In this case you would be applying it to old paint and not bare concrete.
Billy says
I have a 40×60 shop and wanting the best but not bank breaking way to make the shop floor look good I have read and read till I think my eyes are going to fall out about different products and I keep coming back to you guys I wanted an epoxy floor but can’t afford a 1.00 a sqt can you help me with other ideas that will last the shop will be used often to work on cars here and there. But It also be a hobby shop or man cave as some would call it so yes I want a nice glossy finish
Shea says
Hello Billy. There really isn’t a coating out there that will provide for a glossy finish with the protection you need for less than $1 per square foot. With a floor your size you wouldn’t want to experiment with anything less (in terms of a coating) as it will cost you both time and money in replacing it a couple years later.
If your concrete surface is smooth, one option you may like is HD40 StainGuard by Legacy Industrial. You can read more about it here. We recommend applying a standard densifier first before applying the HD40. This prevents the HD40 from soaking too deep into the concrete and being less effective. Plus, it increases the coverage rate and you will increase the density of your concrete at the same time. The buffing tends to provide a satin gloss. Just keep in mind that while this type of finish has a good resistance to stains, it’s not the same as a coating. Also, the gloss can dull a little after awhile and may require the occasional reapplication and buffing treatment to keep a nice shine.
Mike says
Can I use your product on the plywood floor of a cargo trailer?
Shea says
Rust Bullet is not our product Mike, but yes, it can be used on the plywood floor of your trailer! We have numerous reports of people doing this with success. It will require a minimum of 2 coats, maybe 3, depending on how much the floor soaks up the first coat. You will need to sand the floor with 60 grit sandpaper first.
Darrel says
I have a 1200′ foot shop. With all my equipment I can not have it completely cleared out at one time. With the Rust Bullettor any other product. Can I divide it into two separate applications? Also I have radiant floor heat, is there one product that would be best for this application? Thanks
Shea says
If you have contraction joints in your slab Darrel, coatings can easily be divided up into sections in order to move equipment around. The contraction joints make for a nice border divider. If using a 2-part coating (other than Rust Bullet), just be sure to mix all the part-A colored resin together first in order to ensure color uniformity throughout the coating. If you do not contraction joints, there is no way to do separate applications without an obvious overlap line. Coatings to not blend together like paint on a wall. No worries on the radiant heat. It’s very common in cold climates where coatings are used on concrete.
Wally says
I’m looking to use Rust Bullet on a Florida garage in a new house before any car has been parked inside. I’m looking at two coats of gray, then chips, then one or two coats of clear coat. There seem to be lots of options out there in the world of polyurethane clear coats. Is it necessary to stick with Rust Bullet for the final clear coats or could I use any top rated product? Also, is there any situation where a primer is called for with Rust Bullet?
Shea says
As long as your concrete was not machine troweled real smooth or a “cure and seal” agent was not used Wally, Rust Bullet can be applied directly to the concrete. No primers are needed. The Rust Bullet polyurethane clear is very good, but you can apply most other manufactures’ clear if you like.
Aaron Moody says
Hello… I moved into my house 10 years ago and my garage floor already had a paint of some kind applied to the floor . The paint has fairly good adhesion but needs to be freshened up. It has come up in some places leaving the original concrete exposed…… especially where the car tires sit . Will Rust Bullet work in this situation and If so does the floor need a prep of some kind? Thank you.
Shea says
Hello Aaron. If what you have on the floor is paint and not a coating of some sort, then you would be best to remove it entirely by grinding before you apply a tough coating like Rust Bullet. The reason is that a coating is only as good as what it is adhered to. If the paint on your floor has already peeled in areas, chances are it will eventually peel with Rust Bullet attached to the top of it.
If you don’t want to remove the remaining paint, then Rust Bullet would not be your best choice. Rust Bullet is not a real thick coating like a commercial epoxy is and will show the areas of transition from bare concrete to paint. One way to help disguise these areas is to apply heavy color flakes over the top.
Bob Marsh says
I am moving into a brand new house with a two car garage which has never been used. Are there any special requirements for brand new floors. I think the garage floor was poured about 6 months ago.
Shea says
Hello Bob. The main requirement with Rust Bullet is to not have an extremely smooth surface (machine troweled) and to make sure you don’t have a sealer on the floor. This test is a good indication if you have one or not. Other than that, you just need to clean the floor before application.
Steve says
How is the durability of the Color Coat and the Clear coat? Does it compare to the base coat?
Shea says
The durability is the same as the base gray color Steve. The difference will be more about appearance and how scuffs, dirt, and small abrasions stand out. The base metallic gray is a semi gloss that will not show the dirt and scuffs as easily. The other colors and clear coat are very glossy. As a result, the small stuff mentioned will stand out more, but it’s still very easy to clean. If you were to go with a heavy to full color flake floor, then it does a great job of hiding dirt and scuffs.
Bill Bishop says
I want to use Rust Bullet on my 30X50 shop that I just had built 30 days ago and the floor was machine troweled smooth. in the ordering part it says 250 sq/ft per gallon but other places show 400 sq/ft per gallon. which one is correct. I would like to use 2 coats of the gray and 1 coat of the clear with the soft anti skid. How much should I get. and will I need to acid etch the concrete?
Shea says
Hello Bill. Since you have a freshly machine troweled floor, you will need to do a mild etch for the Rust Bullet. The standard semi metallic grey covers at a rate of 250 sq/ft per gallon. The clear shot clear coat and color shot coats are formulated differently and do not get applied directly to bare concrete. They need to be applied to the grey first. As a result, the coverage rate for those coatings are actually higher. You would need approximately 12 gallons of the grey for two coats on a 1500 sq/ft floor and 4 gallons of the clear shot for one coat. We suggest you contact Justin at Garage Flooring LLC and tell him about your project. He is extremely helpful and almost always provides his customers with info that they have not thought about.
Jim Geraets says
Can Nohr-s be applied over a grey Rust Bullet base coat?
Shea says
Yes, you could Jim. It would require letting the Rust Bullet cure first, then rough up the surface with 120 grit sandpaper before applying the Nohr-S. Rust Bullet has a good clear coat as well.
Mimi says
I am a bit confused about whether Rust Bullet could be applied to my sealed concrete garage floor. The article above states: “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.” But then further down it is stated that: “If any water is present, Rust Bullet recommends applying a penetrating sealer to the concrete before application.” Do I have to grind my floor to bared concrete first before applying Rust Bullet or can it be applied to my sealed floor? Thanks.
Shea says
Hello Mimi. If your concrete is sealed, then you will need to grind the concrete regardless of what coating you want to apply – Rust Bullet included. Sealed concrete will not allow penetrating of the coating in order to achieve a mechanical bond. What Rust Bullet is stating in regards to water is that if moisture is present in your concrete (water), then you will need to treat the concrete with a penetrating sealer first. This is a requirement of all coatings since they can delaminate due to moisture coming from within the concrete. A moisture test should be conducted afterwards as well to make sure the problem has been fixed. Any concrete that has been treated with a penetrating sealer will need to be ground properly in order for the surface to achieve the proper profile (rough texture) for a mechanical bond.
Joseph Monte says
Firstly, Thank you for your very clear answers to difficult questions! I am thinking(just thinking): Can it be possible to add 1/4 inch of brown dyed new concrete over the existing 20 year old garage concrete I have; then, cover the required non-smooth surface using clear Rust Bullet?
Shea says
Hi Joseph. Clear Rust Bullet does not adhere as well to bare concrete. It needs to have the standard product put down first. As a result, it’s not a good solution to those who want to use it as a clear coating over stained or dyed concrete. Also, what you are referring to (1/4″ concrete layer) is called an overlay. Special polymer-modified concrete is used and not regular concrete. Regular concrete does not adhere well and will easily crack at that thickness. Unless the surface of your concrete is in poor shape, you would be better off applying an acid stain or concrete dye to the surface and then apply a single-part polyurea clear coat. If you use an acid stain, it would not require that you profile the concrete first.
Buck Troesch says
Would never believed tha any garage floor covering could live up to its advertising hype. But, RustBullet delivered with 100% satisfaction. I have since recommended it to my friends and family if they want to finish or refinish their garage floor as Do-It-Yourself project. Wish I could attach a photo of my finished garage floor project. Just be sure and adhere to the instructions.
Shea says
That’s great to hear Buck! I’m sure our readers will appreciate your input. If you like, you can send photos to us at info@allgaragefloors.com and we would be happy to post them on our site.
Alona Lavalais says
I have been searching for a concrete floor paint. I’m starting to have a headache looking until now. I want to try it in my event hall. The gray color is great because that’s what I wanted. I want to broadcast silver glitter and use the clear top coat. I haven’t read any comments about anything but garages and auto shops. Any tips? It’s going to be pricey but it doesn’t sound complicated and I love the fact it will last for years.
Shea says
Hello Alona. We would recommend requesting a small sample to test first to make sure the color is what you are looking for. Also, the clear coat can be fairly slippery if it gets wet. You may want to consider an anti-slip additive if there is a chance of drinks or such being spilled.
Sean M Kennedy says
I am thinking of doing my garage floor. When our house was built in 2007, the builder I believe painted the concrete floor grey. Can I use this product and just paint right over the original paint or do you recommend I prep the original floor? Also, it is a 2 car garage and I don’t have the capabilities to move everything out of the garage and let it sit outside for a couple of days. Is it possible to do half the garage one day and let i dry for the recommended time and then move the stuff to the painted side and do the other side?
Shea says
Hello Sean. If it’s regular paint on your garage floor and not a resinous coating, then you cannot apply Rust Bullet over it. Rust Bullet is a solvent-based coating and will soften the paint and cause it to bleed. Also, one of the benefits to using Rust Bullet on bare concrete is that is will not peel or be affected by hot tires. If you apply Rust Bullet over a different coating you will lose this benefit. If your garage floor has contraction joints that naturally separate your slab into sections, then there is not a problem with doing one side at a time. If you don’t have any contraction joints it is not recommended. The reason is that the section where the second half overlaps the first half will stand out. Coatings to not blend together like paint on a wall.
Kassy says
Would it be ok to use this in a bedroom for my child? Or is it just for larger areas where people aren’t sleeping.
Shea says
Hi Kassy. No, we would not recommend this for inside the home. The VOC’s would require that you clear the house for 24 hours and the finish is more industrial than decorative. We would recommend RockSolid or something similar that is a low VOC coating with a more decorative look.
John Aycox says
I just finished building my 3600 Sq ft shop. It has a machine troweled finish. I was originally looking into a professionally installed 100 epoxy floor. Holy moly at the price. So I started looking at some of the concrete paints and being able to diy. This rust bullet seemed like a good alternative. But when I got to figuring coats up for that kind of area, I’m getting back up there in the price range. I’m using the shop mainly for working on cars and I kinda like the idea of glossy white floors for light reflection. When idea first statted reading about this product it sounded great. No etching or grinding but looking deeper it says that it is necessary. So what exactly would
I need to do? And how many coats and gallons of which material would I need to accomplish my goal?
And is the non slip abrasive? I wouldn’t want skinned knees while crawling around under a vehicle with shorts on.
Thanks for your help
Kevin
Shea says
Hello John. Yes, a machine troweled floor will need some prep when using Rust Bullet. The reason for this is because this type of concrete finish does not absorb water well. A light etch is generally all that is required. If you just go with the standard semi metallic grey Rust Bullet you will not need any anti-slip additive. This standard floor coating has proven to be extremely durable for automotive repair work and chemicals. It’s also more light reflective than most imagine.
If you decide to go with a white floor it requires the use of more material than you think. White lets colors underneath bleed through more so an extra coat is sometimes needed. Also, it will require the use of a clear coat to protect it. If you use a fine polymer bead for the anti-slip, you won’t have to worry about it being to rough.
We highly recommend that you give Justin Krauss of Garage Flooring LLC a call. Tell him we sent you. He has immense experience with the material requirements and surface requirements for this product and can make recommendations for you regarding your project. Justin is very good at helping people out with their projects and finding the right material for their goals.
Michal says
Hi Shea, first time comment! I recently discovered allgaragefloors.com researching “epoxy garage floor installation” & I just have say right off the bat, I do a ton of research for any/all subjects/projects & your site is probably “the” most thoroughly detailed, fair & well-written sites I’ve ever seen. It’s incredible just how much specific information is laid out w hot links as well, amazing work so thank you!
With that said, we’re about to finish our garage (paint walls/floor) & almost settled on Rust-Oleum epoxy which a friend has & aside from some initial install discoloration, it’s held up great for a few yrs. Needless to say, I read all the complaints/fixes & trust my skills to avoid those prep/install mistakes. But after finding your site & reading over Nohr-S & Rust Bullet, obviously now Rust-Oleum doesn’t compare & I’m so grateful I found this site just in time.
So the question is, which is better overall: Nohr-S vs Rust Bullet?
Cost is important but durability is key.
Prep, install/working pot life is also important but not as much as the above – I know I can prep/install correctly regardless of difficulty.
Our garage concrete floor is in excellent condition – I just have to do a sealer & moisture test.
And is there another product that I haven’t read yet that compares well w Nohr-S & Rust Bullet?
Any & all info/help is greatly appreciated – thank you in advance!
Shea says
Hello Michael and thanks for the nice complements! Rust Bullet for Concrete is a great coating if one of your main goals is to avoid most of the concrete prep that is typically required. It also has some of the best ratings against damage from chemicals and stains. However, it does require a minimum of three coats for the most consistent look due to the thin applications that are required. It does take a little more effort to avoid roller marks as well, but if you follow their instructions closely most are happy with the results. If you are an automotive enthusiast whose main goal is to have a coating that will stand up to the abuse and chemicals of such work, then Rust Bullet is a good choice.
Nohr-S will provide the more traditional floor coating look that is more rich and glossy looking in color as well as thicker. It has outstanding abrasion resistance. Chemical and stain resistance is very good, but just under what Rust Bullet can deliver. If you clean up in a reasonable amount of time, you really shouldn’t notice a difference. Like Rust-Bullet, it is a very long wearing floor without hot tire pick up and all the other complications for the lessor expensive coatings available. If you want a more traditional looking coating that will last years, then Nohr-S would be a better option.
A third option that would be the most durable overall is the traditional high build epoxy coating system. It consists of an epoxy primer, a high solids to 100% solids epoxy color base coat (optional color flakes) and a coat or two of a high performance polyurea or polyurethane.
Michal says
Hi Shea, awesome, thank you for your quick informative reply, it’s greatly appreciated!
I’m still torn between Nohr-S vs Rust Bullet. They both carry similar high qualities & yet subtle differences as well, hence the difficulty deciding between the two – but I’m grateful to have such high quality choices to begin with.
I’ll research/read up on everything that I can but I’ll give you the scenario & kindly ask for your advice. (although I’m not sure you’re allowed to flat out choose a certain product because of sponsorship, etc.)
We have a typical 2 car garage & would like to finish it nicely from it’s current bare drywall & concrete floor. The garage will be used for general car/bike maintenance & light woodworking. My workstations always use protective mats, etc so I won’t be unnecessarily abusing & neglecting the flooring, ex: dumping oil spills, acids, etc. But w that said, I still want a beautifully protective durable flooring that will last many yrs – much longer than the HD/Lowe’s Rust-Oleum types & also not nearly as volatile as those during installation.
Aside from Nohr-S & Rust Bullet, what brand/s consist of the third option?
Also, in regards to sawdust, is it equally easy to clean/sweep from Nohr-S vs Rust Bullet – meaning, is one type more tacky/rubbery than the other where sawdust would cling to the surface more or are both products smooth & slick (albeit the anti-skid) & easy to clean sawdust by just manual sweeping.
The look I’m going for is definitely the gloss grey w medium flake & anti-skid. When you mentioned Nohr-S having a more rich, glossy & thicker traditional flooring look vs Rust Bullet, my question is, from looking at many photos of both products posted here & elsewhere, they look amazing yet indistinguishable between the two. Does it really come down to viewing these products in-person to actually tell a difference?
And lastly, between Nohr-S vs Rust Bullet vs third option – to finish a 2 car garage w equal standards, which costs the most to the least?
I just want to thank you again for all your expert advice & thoughts – I realize I’ve asked a lot of questions & cannot thank you enough for all your help. I’ve already spoken highly of your site to friends & will always recommend in the future!
Shea says
I’ll work from the end to the beginning Michael. The lessor expensive of all three (not by much) would be the traditional high solids epoxy with a primer and clear coat. It does require the most attention to what you are doing though since the high solids epoxy requires proper mixing and has a limited pot life. Next up in price would be the Nohr-S system, then the Rust Bullet system. All three will provide the protection you are looking for. Rust Bullet’s main advantage is much less concrete prep compared to the other two. All of the photos do look nice, but up close in person you can see a difference. Lastly, none of these types of floor coating systems have a rubbery feel. They are hard as nails once cured. Saw dust on a floor coating can be very slippery if walked upon, so clean up is a breeze regardless.
In terms of who makes good epoxy product, both Garage Flooring LLC and Legacy Industrial sell the high solids epoxy systems as well. You can’t go wrong with either of them. If you still find yourself on the fence, I recommend giving them a call and ask some questions. They want you to be happy with your choice and they sometimes offer some insight to things you may not have thought of. I hope that helps.