best paint for a garage floor

[donut757]

what is the best paint for a garage floor that yall have had experience with?

 

[No-1]

Don't buy the do it yourself stuff. Hire one of the companys that put down epoxy. Make sure it's super clean (no oil spots) and primed first.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

As No1 said Super clean no oil on the floor. Epoxy is the name of the game, add a little sand . They have Epoxy paint for garage floor (cement). Makes a place pop if you are selling.

 

[Colonialgirl]

IF it's a concrete garage floor; Don't forget to ACID ETCH it and then be SURE it is thoroughly dry before you paint. The etching is the same as sanding a glossy surface before you paint. Another thing is let it thoroughly cure before driving on it and beware of very hot tires on the surface. Let them cool outside FIRST.

Pamela,
Former:
Lab Tech,
Coatings Chemist,
Complaint Handler,
Production Supervisor
Quality Control Manager
Process Engineering Manager
for Sears Paint, Duron Paints, Rust-Oleum and a couple of other brands.

 

[Kevin]

Colonialgirl, it sounds like you speak from experience about the hot tires.

Another option for garage floors...Weather Tech, the company that makes the floor mats for cars. They make a snap in grid work of some kind for garage floors. Not sure about price but the idea is you can replace a square at a time if it gets damaged etc.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I have epoxy coated quite a few garage floors.
It is actually very easy.
Get a good two part epoxy.
The most important part is cleaning the floor good.
Use muriatic acid mixed with water. 10% acid and 90% water.
Then hose it off good.
Then let it dry good.
Paint the edges first. Then roll it on like any other paint.
The epoxy is pretty much self leveling so it will come out with an even finish.
If you are going to put the flakes or sand in it just do a small area at a time so you can sprinkle it on evenly.
Then do another area and work your way out.
If you want a nice straight line at the door put some duct tape down where you want it to stop.
If you paint past the garage door make sure not to close the door until the epoxy has cured good.

 

[Coop]

All of the above is great advice. Most important is surface prep including the acid.

This bump is from a former process engineer with a coatings manufacturer based in Pittsburgh.

 

[Dan in MI]

Let's talk about this hot tire thing. I've got a 1/4 mile of dirt before I hit the driveway is that enough non-pavement heat to be considered cool?

 

[Bob Wright]

The MOST important step is painting back towards a door!

Bob Wright

 

[737tdi]

what is the best paint for a garage floor that yall have had experience with?

Howdy, I have had some experience doing a top quality epoxy floor. Judy and I did the floor of our new shop a few years back. A lot of things have been mentioned but I will try to expand on the ideas.

1. The floor must be absolutely oil free and clean. This concrete was fairly new and was already oil free. A way to get oil out of concrete is to buy a can of MEK and some speedy dry. Put the speedy dry on the oil spot then completely saturate it with the MEK. This will wick the oil up into the speedy dry. A way to tell if the oil is gone is to let it dry, squirt water on the area with a spray bottle, if the water beads up you still have oil. This needs to be done to the entire floor if it is old concrete.

2. Acid etch the floor once it is oil free. A lot of the epoxy kits will come with a "conditioned Muratic Acid". Remember you must neutralize after the concrete is etched. Buy the large box of Arm and Hammer baking soda, mix with water and saturate the floor. Instructions will be on the acid bottle. You will use a floor cleaner or a mixture of Dawn and water and mop the crap out of the floor to remove the baking soda. Rub floor with your hand, if it comes up dusty mop again.

3. The professional kit I purchased was a multiple 2 part application. After the floor was completely dry and clean you do not want to walk on it in shoes. I went though a couple of dozen pairs of socks. The first two coats are base coats, the next two coats are a different material and are your top coats. I added grit into the last coat for non-slip, I wish I had not done this because it makes the floor harder to clean. Allow at least 1 day between each coat. Don't worry how the first 2 coats look it will get better with the last 2.

4. Once you are applying the last top coat do not go back over it too smooth it out. It will cause a rough finish, I learned that one the hard way in a couple of spots.










If you have questions I might be able to help. This kit I bought came with 8 24" rollers and 2 roller heads, the acid, a pair of spike walking shoes, plus the 2 part epoxy kits. Now the bad news, the kit for 1,500 sq. ft. was almost $1,000 but it was from the same company that maintains the hanger floors for the USCG. Mine has held up 100%, no chipping or staining. Good luck.


Karl

 

[donut757]

I wont be driving on it... Only a atv will be parked in there, MAYBE a motorcycle if i am ever cool enough.


Itll just be to have some surface there other than bare concrete and give a little more slip resistance. Was figuring i would just get one of the type of paints that Home Depot carries, Behr or Rustoleum kits.

 

[737tdi]

I hate to say but the kits at the box stores just aren't any good. They apply to thin to be effective, I originally did my dad's garage with the Rustoleum kit and it looked horrible after a year or two. It peels up and scuffs badly. Have you thought about doing more of a man cave type flooring. It would be much easier to do if you are doing a small area. I thought about this method but for 1,500 sq. ft. was just too expensive.

http://www.garagefloor.com/

Karl

 

[donut757]

I hate to say but the kits at the box stores just aren't any good. They apply to thin to be effective, I originally did my dad's garage with the Rustoleum kit and it looked horrible after a year or two. It peels up and scuffs badly. Have you thought about doing more of a man cave type flooring. It would be much easier to do if you are doing a small area. I thought about this method but for 1,500 sq. ft. was just too expensive.

http://www.garagefloor.com/

Karl

That is good to know. The garage is a little bigger than a singe car garage. Would much prefer a paint type flooring but will continue to look into it.

 

[SAJohn]

Experience tells me you would have better luck tiling the floor.

 

[powder smoke]

Epoxy on concrete, most important is etching the floor to obtain adhesion.
There are two ways to achieve this Chemical, Acid or Mechanical, Grinding.
Of the two Mechanical is far Superior, YMMV. ps

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

This is one of the more educational threads I've seen in a while. Thank you all for the input. I've learned somethings.

 

[ralphbrown1]

Don't buy the do it yourself stuff. Hire one of the companys that put down epoxy. Make sure it's super clean (no oil spots) and primed first.

Yeah totally agree with you. And make sure to chose a reliable one. A deal in a suitable cost will be worth the effect.

 

[mohavesam]

My son installs garage floors that can have photographs up to 9x9' and mosaics. They install $50K+ finishes weekly, and have done dance hall floors that are stunning. Aircraft-hangar quality epoxies are available and are my choice.
The most important step is obviously pre-cleaning including surface grinding and acid washing.
Heres a hint: ventilate the garage to a strong breeze before doing any acid wash! Skimp on this step and you may be found there in the morning...

 

[Bull Barrel]

After pre cleaning do you then clean the floor?

Vortex coatings are pretty tough.

 

[arthurbrown]

Hi there, I think you should ask your friends and co-workers to recommend a good professional service because as they are highly experienced in getting the work done. I have also heard about the floor mats for garage which can also be the option. Recently when my friend was shifted to his new house he hired professional movers in Manhattan who provided him moving and garage flooring service. According to him they were well trained and also provided quality driven service. So hiring professionals can be the best option for you.

 

[Bob Wright]

As this was first posted in December of 2014, I'm wondering if the paint is dry yet?

Bob Wright

 

[sliclee]

Lived in a NEW AREA of private homes 3/4 acre, concrete floor in garage,big sliding front and small rear out into patio. Watched others do their garage floors walked around the neighborhood, listening carefully,
sometimes laughing, my door was shut, locked, parking in driveway,street around corner GARAGE IS
EMPTY, LOCKED until I saw 4 floors that were perfect. Many came to look, clean, smooth slick as glass, thats
what I wanted.Wrote down the cleaner used, the primer used, the tools used, one man, along side me,
said, what a waste of time for a floor. The do it yourself men were the best. Explained to some of us, the
cleaner, primer, paint, labor of love, my garage. Bought everything first, lined it up including a cleaning suit,
when I started the cars were parked in the street, I didn't work or play only the garage, it came out like a
glass shiny wall , 3 full coats of paint, not just paint, it, was closed 5 days after I finished no dust.
Left it open for viewing, with products I used lined up in front.
She purposely spilt a dark soda? in the middle of the floor. The floor lasted 12 years, we bought another
house further out more land, a 2 1/2 car garage, space for my Suzuki. FWIW