How to Epoxy-Coat a Garage Floor
By , This Old House magazine
Photo: Kolin Smith
- Time: 9 hours over 3 days
- Cost: About $120 to $160 per bay
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Shopping & Tool Lists
- 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
- Tools You Will Need:
-
1. Bristlepush Broom
2. Paint Roller Tray
3. Plastic Watering Can
4. Electric Floor Maintainer (optional—rents for about $40 a day)
5. Roller Frame with extension handle
Introduction
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
Steps
- Introduction
- Overview
- 1. Prep and wash the area
- 2. Etch the floor
- 3. Mix up the epoxy paint
- 4. Paint on the epoxy
- 5. Roll the epoxy paint
- 6. Apply the color flakes
- 7. Prepare the top coat
- 8. Apply the top coat
- Helpful Info:
- Skill Builder: How to Patch a Concrete Floor
- Video: How to Apply an Epoxy Coating to a Garage Floor
- Video: How to Muffle a Noisy Garage-Door Opener
- Article: A New Generation of Garage Doors
- Ask This Old House: Insulating and Ventilating a Garage Roof
- Ask This Old House: Wet-Garage Framing
- Ask This Old House: Replacing the Panels on a Garage Door
- Skill Builder: Garage Door Tune-up