A metallic coated garage floor can create a stunning and exotic visual appearance. But cost and the moderate to difficult application process have kept all but the fearless DIY enthusiasts from considering this epoxy flooring option. This has slowly started to change however with the advent of RockSolid’s Polycuramine metallic floor coating.
Update!
We have a one year review of a Silver Bullet RockSolid metallic installation from Mother Daughter Projects. You can read about their results and watch the video of their review further below.
In 2014, RockSolid upped their game by introducing their new Polycuramine epoxy formula to the DIY garage floor coating market. It was developed to compete with the traditional garage flooring kits produced by Rust-Oleum, Quikrete, and Valspar as an example.
If you are unfamiliar with Polycuramine, you can read our review of the RockSolid garage floor kit. It is this same Polycuramine formula with the patented burst pouch technology that is used for their metallic floor coatings.
When RockSolid first introduced their metallic floor coating, it was marketed as a home interior product only and was available in 4 metallic colors.
Recognizing the need for a DIY friendly metallic garage floor coating, Rust-Oleum now markets the RockSolid metallic coating as a garage floor kit, available in 8 metallic colors.
These colors include Silver Bullet, Copper Pot, Earth Brown, Cherry Bomb, Amaretto, Gunmetal, Burnished Gold, and Brilliant Blue. You can view samples of these colors from Rust-Oleum’s information page here.
The short video below has some good examples of the various metallic colors on a garage floor.
RockSolid vs other metallic coatings
So what makes RockSolid metallic coatings different from the other metallic coatings available?
Until recently, most metallic epoxy coatings are of the commercial variety. They generally require a coat of dark epoxy primer to be applied first, followed by a coat of a 100% solids metallic epoxy mix, and then a top coat or two of clear polyurethane or polyurea.
The process requires dripping solvents onto the floor after the metallic epoxy mix has been applied. The solvents create movement within the metallic pigment which creates the different designs of molten rivers of lava and moon craters that make these coatings so interesting. Some manufacturers incorporate blowing the surface with air in order to get the same movement of the pigment.
Knowing that this process was too involved and cost prohibitive to the average DIY enthusiast, RockSolid takes on a completely different approach.
Using their patented Polycuramine formula, a metallic pigment is mixed into clear Polycuramine and applied directly to a properly prepared, bare concrete garage floor. Unlike the other metallic epoxies, a dark primer coat is not needed and solvent is not dripped onto the epoxy surface.
While the coating does not create quite the same 3-D effect of the commercial equivalent, it does provide a very glossy and cloudy appearance of the metallic colors that is very pleasing to the eye.
Applying RockSolid metallic garage coatings
This is where the metallic floor coating kit really shines. It is applied in the same manner as the standard garage floor kit. The only difference is mixing in the metallic pigments with the Polycuramine and going over the coating with the required circular motions of the application roller.
RockSolid provides an eco-friendly etch solution to clean and prep the concrete surface. Any heavy dirt, grease, rust, or oil stains should be cleaned prior to the use of the etch solution. The etch solution works by opening up the pores at the concrete surface in order to create the proper substrate for the Polycuramine to adhere to.
Once the concrete is completely dry, mix the burst pouches and add the metallic pigment according with the RockSolid directions. Once it has been mixed, you will cut-in your edges for each section with a 3” brush. You will then pour 3”- 4” ribbons of the material onto the floor in 5’ sections. Roll it on and then work the area in circular patterns with the application roller.
RockSolid metallic coatings can be walked on within 12 hours. We recommend that you wait 24 hours before moving items back into the garage and a minimum of 48 hours before driving on it. Even then, we recommend parking on cardboard for another day or two while the coating continues to cure.
How difficult is it really to install?
Lately we had been getting enough questions about this floor coating that we started to make plans about doing a separate write-up on it. What finally got the ball rolling for us was when we were contacted by Steph from Mother Daughter Projects.
As it turns out, Steph and her mother Vicky had just installed a RockSolid metallic coating in Silver Bullet on Steph’s garage floor and she wanted to share the results. Steph did a great step-by-step article with plenty of photos on what was required. This included listing a couple of mistakes and what she would do differently next time.
This is a great video of their RockSolid metallic application
Considering that she had old paint on her floor to contend with, the results of her installation are fantastic. It would have been easier if they had a bare concrete floor to work with, but those are the obstacles that have to be addressed sometimes when installing a floor coating.
Review update
We were recently contacted by Steph from Mother Daughter Projects about a one year review they did of their installation. Overall they have been very satisfied with the coating though they did need to make some repairs for hot tire pickup. After further examination, it looks like the reason for the repairs most likely had to do with the condition of her concrete at the time of installation and was not a result of product failure.
Though they had some issues with Rust-Oleum shipping out damaged product, they did a great job with the repairs that needed to be made. They also provide excellent information about what they have learned over the year as well as documenting how the floor looks after the many projects that have been done in Steph’s garage.
You can read their article here to get a more detailed explanation of what they have learned and how they like the performance of the coating.
Important tips
The first thing we want to point out is that the coverage rate for RockSolid metallic coatings is 100 – 125 ft² per 70 ounce burst pouch. That is half that of their standard garage floor kit. The reason for this is that the metallic coating is applied at twice the thickness in order to obtain the deep, cloudy look that metallic epoxy creates.
So a typical 400 – 425 ft² 2-car garage floor will require approximately four 70 oz. burst pouches instead of two. The kit even comes with a thicker 3/8” polyamide roller for the application.
Do not attempt to stretch out the coverage rate. If your math puts you 50 ft² short, you will need another pouch. Stretching out the material will result in a less glossy surface that will lose depth in appearance.
If it’s in the budget, we recommend applying a clear coat of Polycuramine over the metallic coating as well. This not only helps to increase the longevity of the floor coating, the additional clear coat will also act as sacrificial layer and protect the metallic color from scratches.
Another additional benefit of a clear coating is the ability to recoat the surface at a later date. This can make a garage floor coating look brand new again. All that is required is cleaning the floor and then roughing up the surface with 150 grit sandpaper before application.
Where to buy
RockSolid Polycuramine coatings are now available at many home improvement centers, hardware stores, and big box retail outlets since it was first introduced. Menards and Home Depot are an example. Amazon is another and you can purchase them here.
It really does pay off to shop around. We have found that pricing can vary as much as $30 a kit depending on sales and where they are purchased.
Final thoughts
If you have wanted a metallic coated garage floor but were too intimidated by the installation process and/or the price, then this RockSolid metallic coating is definitely worth a look. We have continually been impressed with the beauty of this coating for the minimum amount of work it requires.
One thing to keep in mind however is the very glossy nature of metallic coatings tend to show scratches more than a traditional garage floor coating. If you have a very active garage with numerous projects and automotive repairs for example, then this type of coating may not be for you. This is especially true if you are worried about keeping the look pristine.
However, if your garage is more of a showcase to park your vehicles, make light automotive repairs, and refrain from hard core projects, then this flooring just may fit the bill.
Hi, I have question about metallic epoxy coatings on my garage floor. My garage is around 280 sq ft, I assume 3 box of metallic epoxy coatings should be good enough for the job. My question is I would like to put the top clear coating on top of the metallic epoxy coating, I am wondering how long do I have to wait until I apply the top clear coating? I plan to use RockSolid Clear Polycuramine Top Coat, do I need 1 box or 2 boxes? thanks for your advise.
Hi Daniel. You need to wait a minimum of 8-10 hours before applying a second coat. RockSolid allows for up to 7 days for a recoat. You will need 2 boxes for 280 sq. ft. One box only covers 200-250 square feet. You cannot stretch the coverage rates of coatings without bad results.
I have used epoxy to fill the gap, do you recommend to use primer to paint the filled gap? I plan to print only one coat of metallic epoxy and one coat of clear Polycuramine Top Coat, but basic on the recommendation from Steph from Mother Daughter Projects, she suggest to put a primer on top of the gap. If I need to put primer or other epoxy paint on the gap, which brand and type of paint do you suggest? Thanks,
Hi Daniel. Can you elaborate a little more about the gap? What are you referring to exactly and what kind of epoxy did you use?
There are floor crack, the wide is around 1mm-3mm, those gap are very minor and I have used Rust-Oleum Rocksolid Fast Patch Concrete Crack Repair Kit to fill them. My question is do I need to put floor primer on the filled area before I put RockSolid Silver Bullet Metallic Floor Coating? Or should I put Metallic coating directly since I will also put the clear coat after either way.
Hello Daniel. The key with any crack repair is to make sure the repair has been ground flush with the rest of the concrete. It’s just like repairing wood or a dent in a fender. If the repairs are not sanded smooth to blend with the surrounding area it will show through. If you use a primer, it has to be an epoxy primer and it needs to be applied to the entire floor, not just a repair. You cannot use concrete paint primer as the two products are dissimilar materials (acrylic vs epoxy), they will not chemically bond, and the acrylic is of inferior quality. A primer is always a good idea when applying a metallic epoxy, but people who purchase the DIY kits such as RockSolid tend to shy away from it due to the additional expense. Most epoxy primers are typically $110-$120 dollars a gallon at a coverage rate of 300 square feet.
Thanks for advise, and I will sand the gap before I apply the metallic coating.
Question:
I got some bubbles when I applied the Rock Solid floor coating. I’m planning to sand those out. How long do I need to wait before I can sand the floor?
Also – I will need to refinish over the sanded surfaces … can I add paint thinner or mineral spirits to another box of the Rock Solid Metalic so that I can stretch the material to cover the entire floor? 420 sq ft. I’ve already used 4 boxes.
You can sand after 24 hours Steve. RockSolid cannot be thinned. It’s a thin coating as it is that experiences issues already from people trying to stretch it out. Plus, thinning will increase the color translucence and you will not get a consistent solid color.
Question:
I applied the Rock Solid Metallic Earth Brown to my garage. After the second coat we waiting and applied the top clear coat. Wherever we poured the clear coat it retained the white color even though we rolled it out. This only happened in the pour spots. Will that go away and if not how do we fix it?
Hi Matthew. Most likely the areas where you poured out the clear were not rolled out enough and is much thicker than than the rest of the coating. Our guess it that the particular formulation that RockSolid uses for their DIY kits does not like being applied too thick. The white color is from the coating curing very slowly. Give it a week to slowly cure and hopefully it will turn clear. If it doesn’t, your only alternative would be to sand or grind the uncured section down to the color coat and reapply the clear. We suggest you give Rust-Oleum customer service a call to verify.
I did not see any comments about winter salt dripping from cars and sitting on your product? How well will this hold up to three months of winter and salt?
Hello Jeff. Just to be clear, we don’t manufacture or sell product. RockSolid is a product of Rust-Oleum. In terms of your question, RockSolid will do fine against winter salt as long as you don’t let it set for 3 months. You should clean the floor of the salt residue a few times during the winter. It you don’t, you run the risk of deglossing the finish and possibly developing some light staining.
Can you apply it to any other surface (other than concrete)?
RockSolid does not warranty it for any other surface that we are aware of, Tim. However, most coatings such as these can be applied to some other surfaces if prepped properly. It’s just not the best choice of finishes for other surfaces in most cases.
What is the difference, if any, between the durability of the metallic and the regular Rock Solid product?
Technically there is no difference in the durability between the two, Mike. However, the metallic coating is required to go on thicker which is why the coverage rate is half that of the standard coating. As a result, in terms of wear it would last longer, but two coats of the standard coating would be approximately as thick as the metallic coating and wear just as long. Keep in mind though that the metallic coating will show all the small scratches and dirt much more readily than the standard coating due to the high gloss metallic finish.
I am considering using this product on my basement rec room floor. I am worried about it being slick with socks on – most the time people will not have shoes on since it’s indoor space. Can you elaborate about the slickness? Any floor can be slick – would it be like a wood floor in comparison? Thank You.
Hi Lana. The metallic floor is exceptionally glossy which will make it like an ice rink with just socks on. Floor coatings like this one do get less slippery as normal traffic develops microscopic scratches, but it would still not be advisable to wear just socks. It may be like a freshly waxed wood floor after it’s had some traffic. RockSolid does offer an anti-slip media that you can mix into the last coat, but it will reduce the glossiness of the floor somewhat.
I want to use this product on a second floor outdoor deck that now has ceremic tile and leaks to the room below. Will it work
thanks
Hi Nick. Epoxy can’t be used for outdoors. It’s not U.V. stable. The coating will amber (turn a yellow tint) and may even begin to chalk. Also, you cannot apply epoxy over ceramic tile. The surface is too smooth.
Hi. We just purchased another home with that speckled gray garage floor. Since we have the gun metal gray rustolem on our current garage floor can I duplicate it over the speckled garage floor?? We LOVE our epoxy floor and highly recommend doing it. After you get the hang of application, it’s pretty easy, but a two person job.
Hello Betty. What exactly do you mean by speckled gray floor? Is it an epoxy coating you are referring to? If so, you can rough up the surface with 120 grit sandpaper and then apply the RockSolid over the top of it.
Hi there,
I just done my garage floor with Rock Solid, Gunmetal Grey Metallic, im in Australia so I done the job at night to work with the cool rather than against the heat of the day. Unfortunately, working under lights threw me a bit with the shadows & I have applied it uneven in spots which spoils the whole job as it looks awesome. How do you recommend I prepare what I have just done before I apply a top coat to cover the uneven patches.
Hello Grant. RockSolid allows up to 7 days to recoat without any additional prep so you are good there. However, if it’s a clear top coat that you plan to apply, it will not fix the current problem that you have. The reason is because the coating is clear. Everything that you see now you will still see once the the clear coat in on. The only way to fix the issue of it looking uneven would be to apply another coat of the Gunmetal Grey Metallic.