If previously sealed bare concrete or an older garage floor coating is giving you second thoughts about recoating or applying new epoxy, then Rust-Oleum Garage and Interior Floor Primer may be the solution you are looking for. Introduced to make recoats easier, Rust-Oleum’s new garage floor primer is designed to take some of the labor out of the prep work that may be required for your floor coating project.
Surface prep is the most important part of any DIY garage floor coating and this holds true for recoating older epoxy floors as well. Up until now, recoats have required sanding and a solvent wipe to the old coating in order to provide the proper surface profile.
Additionally, if you wanted to apply a new epoxy garage floor coating to bare concrete that had previously been sealed, it required that you grind the concrete first in order to remove the sealer.
If the sealer on the concrete is not removed, it effectively blocks the etching solution from doing its job to prep the surface for the coating. This is just more work than most are prepared to do for an otherwise easy to apply DIY garage floor coating project.
Fortunately, Rust-Oleum has found a way to eliminate the need for sanding older coatings and grinding concrete with the release of Rust-Oleum Garage and Interior Floor Primer.
The specially formulated water-based acrylic coating is designed to act as a primer and adhere to older epoxy coatings without the need for sanding. Furthermore, it can be applied to previously sealed bare concrete without the need to grind. Once the primer is applied, you can then topcoat it with any 1 or 2-part epoxy coating.
When Should I use Rust-Oleum Garage & Interior Floor Primer?
We actually had a few questions about the intended purpose and performance of Garage and Interior Floor Primer when we first read about its release. As a result, we were put in touch with Jeff Svihra, brand manager at Rust-Oleum.
Our primer makes painting concrete floors easy
The first thing we wanted to determine was the primary use for Rust-Oleum’s new primer. According to Jeff, the intended purpose of the primer is to promote adhesion on previously coated or sealed concrete.
In other words, if you have an older coating that is still sound, you can apply the new primer and then top coat right over it with new epoxy instead of having to sand the old surface first. For those with bare concrete that is sealed, you can apply the primer instead of grinding.
Essentially, Garage and Interior Floor Primer alleviates the additional labor that is usually required for recoats to older coatings, as well as previously sealed bare concrete. Or, as Jeff stated in Rust-Oleum’s press release, “Our primer makes painting concrete easy.”
This sounds great, but we are always sceptics first when it comes to products that seem too good to be true. So, we wanted to know more about the performance characteristics in terms of how well it actually adheres.
We asked if Rust-Oleum Garage and Interior Floor Primer will retain the same adhesion performance to older coatings and bare sealed concrete, as a new epoxy garage floor coating that would otherwise require the proper preparation of sanding or etching.
The short answer is, yes. Jeff stated that they tested the primer on many surfaces and conditions to ensure that it would have the same bonding and adhesion as a new epoxy coating that is applied to a properly prepared bare concrete surface.
That’s fairly impressive, especially for sealed concrete. This opens the door to many homeowners who want to apply a DIY garage floor coating, but otherwise wouldn’t due to the labor required to remove a sealer from their garage floor first.
We were also curious if Rust-Oleum recommends the application of the garage primer to unsealed bare concrete before application of an epoxy coating. When using a primer in this manner, it can ensure good coverage rates and color uniformity of the new coating.
Furthermore, we wanted to learn if the primer would help to increase resistance to hot tire pickup as well as increase the adhesion performance of Rust-Oleum coatings in general.
According to Jeff, Rust-Oleum does not recommend using the primer on bare unsealed concrete. Though it will adhere well, it is not required and ultimately unnecessary. Additionally, it will not improve adhesion of Rust-Oleum coatings to bare concrete or increase resistance to hot tire pickup.
This answer was not a surprise at first. There is plenty of competition for easy-to-apply, DIY garage floor coating kits that are marketed towards the general public and no company wants to recommend or require a product that will only add to the overall cost.
Plus, we don’t know of a company that will admit that their coating needs any additional help in terms of hot tire pickup either.
However, why would you not recommend a primer as an option to increase adhesion, ensure good coverage rates, and to improve color uniformity of an epoxy coating over new concrete?
After reflecting on this, we think we know why. We believe that the answer actually lies within the next question that we know is on everyone’s mind at this point.
Is etching not required for a new coating if using this primer?
Nobody wants to etch their concrete if they don’t have to. So, the question we are sure everyone wants to know is; can you use Rust-Oleum Garage and Interior Floor primer instead of etching?
The answer is no. It will not adhere well if you don’t etch. In fact, Rust-Oleum states in the data sheets under surface preparation that the primer requires etching for application to bare unsealed concrete.
We believe the reason for this has to do with the fact that this is an acrylic coating that is formulated to adhere specifically to older coatings and water repellant concrete surfaces. While it will adhere well to etched concrete as Jeff had stated, it will not adhere as well as an epoxy coating does. You would actually be limiting the adhesion performance of your new coating.
As a result, this is why using Garage and Interior Floor Primer on bare unsealed concrete is not recommended. Instead, you should apply a new epoxy coating to a properly prepared concrete surface in order to provide the best results in terms of adhesion and hot tire pickup resistance.
One important note to make is that Rust-Oleum states Garage and Interior Floor Primer should not be used as a final wear surface and it should not be clear coated. Though it is gray in color, you need to apply a base color coat of epoxy or similar coating over the primer after it is applied.
Application
Application is as easy as Rust-Oleum states. You need to first make sure that the old epoxy coating is sound. Scrape or wire brush any loose coating, color flakes, or sealer from the surface.
Next, clean the surface of the coating or sealed concrete. Rust-Oleum Cleaner and Degreaser is recommended.
After the surface has completely dried, you can apply the Garage and Interior Floor Primer. One gallon will cover up to 400 square feet.
Once applied, you have as little as 6 hours and up to 48 hours to apply your new epoxy coating over the primer. If you wait longer than that, it will require another application of primer or sanding of the surface.
Where to purchase
Currently, you can purchase Garage and Interior Floor Primer from Home Depot. They are not carrying the product in stores yet, but you can order it online.
Menards is scheduled to carry the primer as well, but we could not find it on their website at the time we published our article.
As with all new product, we are sure that other retailers will eventually offer this unique primer as the word gets out and demand increases.
Final thoughts
Rust-Oleum Garage and Interior Floor Primer is a remarkable product that has the potential to fill a must needed niche in terms of recoating older DIY garage floor epoxy coatings. We know that most homeowners would much rather apply this primer than go through the normal process of roughing up the surface first. Moreover, it can be a game changer to those with sealed concrete garage floors.
If it works as well as Rust-Oleum states, we can see how this new primer will only help to increase sales as potential customers turn to Rust-Oleum to help fill their needs.
One key point we want to make is that this product is best used for the typical single coat DIY garage floor kits (not including clear coats) that you can find at your local home improvement centers or other online retailers such as Amazon. Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield and RockSolid are good examples.
We do not recommend using this primer for high solids commercial quality garage floor coating systems that you would purchase from specialty concrete coating vendors.
Lastly, do not confuse this primer with Rust-Oleum Garage and Concrete Primer by RockSolid. This is a solvent-based product that cannot be used on previously sealed bare concrete and will soon be discontinued.
So, if you have an aging epoxy garage floor coating that needs to be recoated, we suggest that you consider Rust-Oleum Garage and Interior Floor Primer. It can’t get any easier than this.
Rust oleum needs to give up on concrete coatings! After ruining millions of garage floors in America with their products they need to give it a rest-just stop!!!
Quality garage floors are installed by professionals.
Hi John! Yes, we can understand the frustration from professional garage floor coating installers such as yourself. However, as long as there is a market for the relatively inexpensive DIY garage floor coating kits, these type of products are not going to go away.
Is this product better/worse than the previous solvent-based product (Rustoleum Garage and Concrete)? I realize it will coat sealed concrete, unlike the solvent based, but I’m asking règarding its’ abilities over previous coatings/oil based paints/etc. I know thart Rustoleum’s solvent-based epoxy (Professional) is regarded as a better product than their water-based epoxy….
Hello James. We actually asked this same question. What we were told is that the water-based version performed just as well as the solvent-based during testing. Their ultimate goal was to eliminate VOC’s and to develop a water-based product that performed just as well. That is why they have plans to discontinue the solvent-based version.
I read an earlier post about applying EpoxyShield in two stages to garage floor. Do one half, let it dry – move contents to other side and repeat. Advice was to do so only if expansion joints allow for natural break as epoxy won’t blend like paint. Read that post too late – I’ve already completed one half of the garage with feathering at the edge. Will this primer solve the problem and hide the join area?
Hello Fred. No, the primer product is not going hide the problem. You are still going to have overlapping coats. Our recommendation is to run painters tape over the good edge of the coating half that was already applied. Remove the tape as soon as you get the edge section done and then apply your color flake. Hopefully with the straight line and color flakes it will not be as noticeable.
Thanks for this quick response, Shea. I am less concerned with the aesthetics as opposed to whether the coating on the second half will adhere properly to the feathered edge from the first half (or should I try to remove that feathering?). And while I have the benefit of your advice, I mixed two Part B’s and activated only one. Does the second Part B have a reduced shelf life before it must be activated?
No, you are fine with the second part-B as long as you aren’t waiting for more than a month or so. Rust-Oleum allows for a 48-72 hour recoat window for their EpoxyShield products and 7 days for RockSolid. If you are outside the recoat window, just rough up the surface that you plan to coat over with 120 grit sandpaper. Wipe it down will denatured alcohol on a microfiber pad and then you are ready to go.
Can you install any of the Rust-Oleum colors over the gray primer?
Yes you can, Tim.
So I am doing the rock solid metallic in my home. I am turning one of my rooms into a hobby room. I have etched the floors but could not get the carpet glue lines to go way. I was going to use this primer to help hide the glue lines. What do you think?
Hi Peter. Assuming the glue has been properly cleaned and removed, the primer will work fine to help hide the lines in order to prevent it from ghosting through the metallic coating.
Thank you for the response. So I scrapped the floor with the razor scrapper till I could not get any more up then I etched the floor. Hopefully it turns out!
Do you know if the Rust-Oleum clear with the non skid is soft to bare feet? I will be doing a clear coat just not sure if I should add the non skid.
Hi Peter. Yes, it’s fine with bare feet. In fact, the literature even states “barefoot-grade texture”. Good luck!
I am coating a previously coated floor. In my prep work I used several boxes of Rust-Oleum concrete patch and repair. Where I have used the patch and repair product the concrete appears smooth. Do I need to preform any further prep on those areas before I place the primer down?
Hello Thomas. We recommend that you rough up the surface with 40-60 sandpaper first.
Thanks for the write up, this sounds like exactly the product I need for my garage. Do you have a recommendation for what sort of epoxy to put on top of the primer — I am looking at either the Rustoleum garage, Rustoleum Professional, or the RockSolid epoxy (leaning towards the Professional). Do one of those adhere better to this sort of primer than the orhers? Does the primer help with coverage? One of the reasons I am shying away from the RockSolid is the coverage issues and concern that I would spread it too thin.
Thanks very much!
Rust-Oleum recommends staying within their own lineup of products when using their primer. We prefer the Rust-Oleum Professional since it does not have the coverage issues of RockSolid. However, if you reduce the coverage rate of RockSolid by 10-15% when using the primer, you should be OK.