Best Garage Floor Coating of 2023

From colorful paint to protective epoxy, garage floor coatings can help spruce up your garage floor and protect it from scratches and spills.

Since picking the right coating may be difficult, we researched the best garage floor coatings on the market to help you make an informed purchase.

Here are our top recommendations for coating your garage floor.

Top 5 Garage Floor Coatings

• Best Paint: Rust-Oleum RockSolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Kit
• Best Entry-Level: KILZ One-Part Epoxy Acrylic Garage Floor Paint
• Best Epoxy Kit: Colored Epoxies 1002 Clear Epoxy Resin Coating
• Best Concrete Sealer: Siloxa-Tek Penetrating Concrete Sealer
• Best Concrete Paint: Rust-Oleum Epoxy Shield Concrete Floor Paint

Best Garage Floor Paint: Rust-Oleum RockSolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Kit

Pros and Cons

✔ One kit covers up to 500 square feet
✔ Dries with a showroom-shine high-gloss finish
✔ Resists hot tire pick-up

✘ The complete kit is expensive relative to alternatives
✘ Heavy application will cover less than the advertised 2.5-car garage

What Customers Are Saying

We found that a majority of customers who used this product to protect their garage flooring said that it was effective and produced satisfactory results. They also said that the high-gloss finish looked incredible. However, we saw that some also mentioned that the necessary preparation was cumbersome and that the amount of floor coating didn’t go as far as advertised.

Best Entry-Level Garage Floor Coating: KILZ One-Part Epoxy Acrylic Garage Floor Paint

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes in an easy, no-mix formula
✔ Resists hot tire pick-up
✔ Produces a slip-resistant satin finish

✘ May require multiple coats for complete floor protection
✘ Rough surfaces require more KILZ per square foot

What Customers Are Saying

We noticed that customers who reviewed this garage floor coating positiviely said that it looked great, dried nicely, and provided even coverage throughout the floor of their garage. They added that there was little to no smell. Negatively, we saw that the coating started to peel for some users after a matter of months or weeks, despite following the directions carefully. Some users also experienced hot tire marks.

Best Garage Floor Epoxy Kit: Colored Epoxies 1002 Clear Epoxy Resin Coating

Pros and Cons

✔ Dries on clear
✔ Comes in a 3-gallon pack for ample coverage
✔ Doesn’t produce a noticeable odor

✘ Takes 7-9 hours to dry, not including its 24-hour vehicle-safe dry time
✘ Some customers complained about the coating’s thin color opacity

What Customers Are Saying

We noted that customers who used this garage floor coating raved that the finish was of high quality and that the manufacturer’s customer service was top notch. Conversely, we also saw that unsatisfied customers experienced thin, nearly transparent coverage, wishing that the coating dried on thicker.

Best Concrete Sealer for Garage Floors: Siloxa-Tek Penetrating Concrete Sealer

Pros and Cons

✔ Can be used on exterior concrete, brick, and masonry
✔ Protects surfaces against ice melt salts
✔ Offers a superior water beading effect with no clouding effect

✘ Requires two coats
✘ Gallon only covers 250 square feet

What Customers Are Saying

We noticed that the majority of users who reviewed this penetrating concrete sealer recommended it to others, citing that it was easy to apply, dried on color-free, and covered the amount of area as advertised without any issues. On the other hand, we also saw that some unhappy reviewers felt that the product information was incomplete online, and others said that the instructions were vague and unclear.

Best Concrete Paint: Rust-Oleum Epoxy Shield Concrete Floor Paint

Pros and Cons

✔ Made in the United States
✔ Offers UV- and weather-resistant
✔ Neutral armor gray color blends in with other surface colors

✘ Requires a careful and thorough application so it doesn’t dry blotchy or spotty
✘ Some users still experienced oil spots after applying the epoxy shield correctly

What Customers Are Saying

Many customer reviews that we saw thought that this concrete floor paint was easy to spread and apply. They also felt that the product was relatively affordable and competitively priced based on the other options available to them. Alternatively, we also saw that several users damaged the floor coating just days after application by driving on it with wet tires, despite following the instructions carefully and waiting enough time for the coats to dry.

Types of Garage Floor Coatings

Our research shows that floor protectants typically come in two different styles: coatings and coverings.

Garage Floor Coatings vs. Garage Floor Coverings

Garage floor coatings, typically available in either an epoxy or paint, are more permanent solutions than non-adherent floor coverings.

Garage floor epoxy coatings use a chemical reaction that bonds to the concrete and hardens to form a long-lasting and protective finish.

Garage floor paints give your floor a new look while protecting its surface from damages, oil spills, and moisture. To create a more durable finish, some garage floor paints add a small amount of epoxy to their formula.

Garage floor coverings, offered in floor mats or tiles, are removable protective solutions that shield your existing floor from scuff marks and oil stains. Although garage floor coverings are more convenient and forgiving than coatings, they don’t offer the same level of durability.

Floor tiles interlock, creating a nonpermanent protective barrier and preventing damage to your garage floors.

Garage floor mats install easily by rolling onto your existing concrete slab to create a durable and easy-to-clean surface.

Buying Guide to Garage Floor Coating

Before upgrading your garage by investing in a floor coating, we highly recommend considering the installation and maintenance requirements of each option to help you find the right product for you.

Installation

The installation requirements for a garage floor coating will vary depending on the model. Polyurea and polyaspartic coatings go on in a single coat and cure faster than epoxy-heavy coatings. One such example we found is the Rust-Oleum’s Polycuramine coating, which is vehicle-ready within 24 hours of application.

Although some paints require just one coat, most garage floor paints, sealers, and epoxies require two coats to deliver a long-lasting and even finish plus a few hours of dry time between coats.

Learn more about how to apply epoxy coating to your garage floor to help you decide epoxy, paint, or temporary flooring is the best choice for your needs.

Garage Use

When deciding between a garage floor coating, our team finds that you should consider how you use your garage. If you’re looking for a general protectant that can help your floor resist cracking and deter mold and mildew buildup, a simple sealer should work.

However, if you perform extensive car repairs and maintenance work in your garage, a waterproof and abrasion-resistant epoxy may be a better option.

Coverage

A coating’s coverage is measured in square feet. Most paints cover around 500 square feet on smooth surfaces, while sealers cover around 250 square feet. Because of their thick and heavy-duty consistencies, garage floor epoxies typically cover less than 200 square feet per gallon.

Maintenance

We find that it is significantly easier to clean a coated garage floor than it is to clean concrete that’s untreated. In general, both paint and epoxy are easy to clean because of their smooth finish and water-resistant properties. Weather- and corrosion-proof coatings require nothing more than soap and water.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Floor Coating

How long will my epoxy floor coating last?

An epoxy floor’s lifespan depends on a variety of factors, including the amount of foot traffic and maintenance it receives. For most residential uses, our research shows that epoxy floors will last between 10 and 20 years before they need remediation.

Are garage floor coatings worth it?

Garage floor coatings are certainly worth the investment if you wish to preserve the original condition of the floor. We recommend them for those who frequently work in their garage and spill liquids, such as oil, because the surface of the coating makes it significantly easier to clean the floor.

What is the benefit of an coated garage floor?

Applying a coat of epoxy or durable paint to your garage floor has a variety of benefits, including its creation of an impact-, stain-, and crack-resistant surface.

In addition to their durable qualities, epoxy floors are also moisture-resistant to prevent mold buildup and come in a variety of colors to match your garage’s design.

Should I paint or epoxy my garage floor?

It depends. If you’re looking for an affordable solution that can keep your garage floor protected from minor damage and stains, we think garage floor paint is a good choice. If you want a durable, heavy-duty garage floor that’s impact-resistant and lasts for years, then our team recommends upgrading your garage floor with an epoxy coat instead.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. Our team specifically focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. Over the years, we have written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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