How to Epoxy-Coat a Garage Floor

By: Jennifer Stimpson, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. GARAGE-FLOOR EPOXY KIT
Includes etching solution, colored epoxy paint, and color-fleck additives (which you can order more of if necessary). Measure the square footage of your space, then check the manufacturer's coverage and coating recommendations to see how much you'll need. clear epoxy top coat Comes in a separate kit and includes the antiskid granules.

2. ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
to prepare the floor, for previously painted floors only (in place of the cleaner that comes with the kit).

3. PLASTIC SHEETING
to protect the surrounding walls during the cleaning and epoxy application. 4. PAINTER'S TAPE
to secure the plastic sheeting.

5. 3/8-INCH-NAP ROLLER COVERS
to apply both epoxy paint and clear top coat. You'll need three if you plan to do two coats of epoxy and one of clear coat.

6. 3-INCH POLYESTER PAINTBRUSH
to cut in at corners, seams, and edges.

7. PAINT-TRAY LINERS

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Bristlepush Broom
- Paint Roller Tray
- Plastic Watering Can
- Electric Floor Maintainer (optional—rents for about $40 a day)
- Roller Frame with extension handle
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Product selections for this project
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Photo: Kolin Smith

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
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9 hours over 3 days
About $120 to $160 per bay

Difficulty: Easy to moderate Requires a warm, dry weekend and some stamina (for wielding a paint roller).

You finally got the tools hanging neatly on an outlined pegboard, and all the paint is organized in carefully labeled cabinets. But now your car is jealous, sitting like a lump on the oily, dirty concrete slab. You still need to put the finishing touch on the garage cleanup: a colorful, shiny epoxy floor coating that will have you—and your car—feeling like you’re driving into a showroom every time you come home.

Epoxy not only tops off the pro look but also resists oil stains, beads water, and wipes clean like a kitchen counter. Color chips and custom paint colors hide annoying imperfections in the concrete, and antiskid additives give you the grip you need on a snowy day. As This Old House technical editor Mark Powers shows on the following pages, you just need a weekend to sweep the dirt out and paint the epoxy on. Then the garage will finally be a space worth driving up to—and showing off.

Gray Flannel Epoxy Garage Floor Coating with granite color flecks, from Quikrete