What is the best type of garage floor coating to apply to your garage floor? You’ll need to know a few things about your garage floor before you can begin to decide on the type of garage floor coating that is best suited for you.
First and foremost, you can’t apply any type of paint or epoxy coating to your garage floor until at least 28+ days have passed since it was poured. It must be fully cured concrete if you are to have a shot at a successful coating application that won’t bubble up or peel. There are other factors that come into play, as well.
However, you can apply a colorant to newly poured concrete. There are a few different ways to color concrete that is poured or about to be poured:
Stains are far different from coatings but have the same basic results. One significant difference that the color hardeners have versus paint is that the moisture from the freshly poured concrete seeps into the powder, activates the powder and monolithically bonds with the concrete. It can increase the surface strength from a typical strength of 3,000 to 4,000 PSI to a surface strength of 7,500 PSI.
I wanted to know the different types of garage floor coatings and what type of coating is best suited for residential use because this particular project is in my near future. After all of my research it looks like I will be applying an epoxy coating on my garage floor.
First things first. You need to see if your garage floor will accept and hold an epoxy coating.
Tape a plastic garbage bag to a portion of the garage floor and leave it for 24 hours. After a day has passed, remove the garbage bag. If the concrete looks wet or moist, do not apply an epoxy coating. The water pressure from below will break the bond.
If you want to proceed with the epoxy coating, it’s time to get out the cleaning supplies. Be sure that you open the garage door for proper ventilation.
Tape off the lower walls, thresholds and doors.
Clean and Rinse the Garage Floor Thoroughly Before Applying an Epoxy Coating
- Start out by cleaning and degreasing the floor. Use a 3-to-1 water to bleach mixture and scrub away with a stiff bristle brush.
- Don’t forget your protective wear!
- Rinse it thoroughly.
- Remove all of the oil spots.
- Etch it with a mild acid.
- Rinse thoroughly!
- Let it dry overnight.
Repair Any Cracks
Brush the dirt and debris out of the cracks and holes. Use a concrete/mortar-repair compound to fill small cracks and use concrete patch for larger cracks and holes. Let that for a few hours. Refer to the directions on the product label.
Apply the Epoxy Coating
Open both cans of the primary epoxy components, paint and hardener. Stir the paint and slowly pour the hardener into the paint. Stir for 3 minutes until well blended. Set the mixture to the side for 30 minutes out of the sunlight.
Afer 30 minutes has elapsed, grab your 3-inch paint brush and start cutting in around the edges. You have about 2 hours to use that particular mixture so be swift.
Once the edges are done, pour the epoxy mixture into the paint tray. Use a 3/8" nap roller to finish the remainder. Paint in 10′-by-10" sections and have an exit strategy. Keep a wet edge as you move along. Have your flakes handy in a can so that you can toss them on the section that you just finished painting. Practice tossing the flakes on a tarp or newspapers before you begin to get the hang of it.
Allow it dry between 12-24 hours (dependent upon the temperature and humidity level) if you plan on applying a second coat. Check the manufacturer directions on the can. After you have finished painting the epoxy coating, give it a day to dry thoroughly.
Time to Apply the Top Coat
Pour the hardener into the can of top coat. Stir for approximately 3 minutes until it is blended well. You know the drill…set the can aside for about 30 minutes out of the sunlight.
When you are ready to apply the top coat, stir it again for about a minute. Add your anti-skid granules now, if desired.
Repeat the directions for the epoxy coat. You have two hours to work the top coat onto your floor surface using a new 3/8" nap roller and new paint tray. Work your edges first and then move to the inside with the roller, keeping a wet edge.
Let it dry a day or two before you walk on it and give it 3-4 days before you park a car on it.
Sources:
Information on coloring concrete
How To Epoxy-Coat A Garage Floor
How To Apply Epoxy Floor Paint To Your Garage
First Hand Experience Applying Epoxy Paint to a Garage Floor
Garage Floo
r Coating and Painting Tips
Concrete Coloring and Texturing Library of Knowledge
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Randy Boerstler
Writing a home building blog that chronicles new homes during different phases of construction from a consumers' point-of-view is rather unique and loads of fun. Basically, my tips are a collection of checklists for what I think should (and should not) go into building a quality home. So let's have fun seeing what's new in the housing market these days!
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