Basics of Garage Floor Epoxy Paint
Painting – Garage Floor Epoxy Options
How to Apply an Epoxy Garage Floor Coating – A DIY Introduction
This article is not a step-by-step installation guide for garage floor epoxy paint. This is an introduction to what needs to be done. We have instructions for every system we offer. If you are looking for complete instructions, please have a look there.
Preparing your garage floor for epoxy
If your garage floor coating is going to fail nine times out of 10, this is why. Poor floor preparation. Depending on the coating, grinding or etching should be acceptable.. Most other options are not.
Scrub oil stains
You may need to scrub oil stains with a degreaser or cleaner. Specialized removers are also available.
Checklist for Preparing the surface before applying the epoxy
- The floor must be clean
- The garage floor must be dry
- All oil must be removed
- The substrate must be profiled
- Moisture content should be below 3-4
- Cracks should be filled
- Expansion joints can be filled
- All dust must be removed
- Read the instructions and double-check all product counts
Tips for Applying Epoxy Floor Coatings
Epoxy requires a primer. Hard stop. No exceptions
Leave a day for surface preparation and three days from preparation to installation.
Do a moisture test
Never leave 2 part of epoxy in a can or bucket
Always have a helper for flakes
Start arm’s length from the back wall. Work left to right and back to front
Always pour epoxy out in ribbons.
Test Your Concrete for Moisture
You can use a calcium chloride test or the sheet method. Concrete moisture meters are generally not accurate.
Sweeping and cleaning of the floor
After all surface prep is done, and between coats, you need to keep the floor spotless. You can use a compressor, leaf blower, broom or any combination. Just do not use water within 3 days of coating the floor.
Fill all cracks, holes, etc, with epoxy
We have specialized repair epoxy and crack fillers for every application Do not confuse crack fillers and joint fillers. Concrete repairs should be done after grinding or etching.
How to Apply Epoxy: Prime the floor with a suitable epoxy primer
Most primers can be applied using a roller and tray. Often primers are clear. Mix it up and apply at the suggested coverage. This is the easy part.
Application of the first coat of epoxy paint
Premix Part A and Part B. Mix Part A and Part B together in a plastic bucket. Pour it on the floor in ribbons and start spreading the epoxy coating asap. Have a second person working behind you throwing the flake.
Apply the final coat of epoxy
Let the first coat dry, typically around 12 hours and repeat the process for the second coat or urethane.
Additional Epoxy paint and Coating Tips
Mixing your epoxy coating
Mix slowly and mix each part completely. Use a drill mixer on reverse and keep the head below the surface.
Required tools and supplies
Taping, plastic and drop cloths
Solvent for clean up
Rollers and roller covers
Suegee for certain epoxy
Cut in brushes
Paint respirator
Buckets
Mixer
Measuring cups
Etching material or grinder
Mixing single-part polyurea
With single-part Polyurea you just want to mix slowly so as not to force activation
Choosing an epoxy garage floor coating
Be careful. There are a lot of products. Some are awesome, and some are terrible. In general, we would suggest our epoxy, Legacy Industrial, Armor Poxy, and a handful of other industrial brands,
Epoxy floor curing times
Every product will vary slightly. In general, you want to wait about 12 hours and less than 20 between coats.
A note about applying epoxy in sections
If you apply epoxy in sections, you may end up with lines, thickness variation and even color variation. It is possible but highly discouraged.
Roll on the epoxy concrete floor paint
If you want to use a roller as opposed to a squeegee, you need to go with 90% solids instead of 100%. Make sure to use a roller that is chemical resistant and does not shed.
How To Paint a Garage Floor: Brush on Epoxy Paint Around the Perimeter
For high solids epoxy, you can dip the brush into one of the ribbons and spread it into the corners. You can often turn your roller and get all the floor that way. For 100% solids, you may need to ‘push’ the coating into the corer
Epoxy, polyurethane, or polyurea clear top coat
It depends. If your locality will allow a Polyurea, that is best. An aliphatic urethane is also acceptable. Epoxy top coats are not great. They yellow and don’t have durability. They should only be used in areas where VOC laws prohibit other top coats.
Epoxy coating your stem walls.
Stem walls are often rougher than the floor. You can roll epoxy on them, but you need to get the flake in while wet. Make sure you protect the floor. We would do walls first.
