Garage Floor paint

[cliffy]

My wife and I just built a new home and I was thinking of finishing the garage. I am going to start the tape and mud job once the weather warms up a bit....don't want to spend a arm and leg heating it at this point. I was thinking of doing the garage floor and have seen kits at the local home improvement stores. It looks like some sort of paint with speckles. I was wondering if anyone else has done this, what brand did you use and are you happy with the results? Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks.

Cliffy

[reelemin]

I've used that stuff, you see at HD and Menards. Its OK. Good but not great. I think they have an industrial version though that may be a bit tougher.

I used on a few clients garages and on my own. Its better than most stuff out there. But there is better stuff available.

Google the idea.

[Macgyver55]

My neighbor did his with the Rustoleum brand but he has had some trouble with flaking. He has had to touch it up a few times already. What I have heard is that PREP is the most important part of the job. If you do it before it gets any stains it should help. There are some high grade brands out there that are very tough (enough for fork lifts to be used on) but they tend to be very spendy. I'd love to do mine but it sees too much action to ever get it done. Good luck...

[Valv]

We have a FM member that is a professional installer for this. I forgot his name and ID, I hope he will find the post and chime in. He explained it to me a couple of years ago and was very good.

[rattlereel]

How clean the floor is plays a major roll in how well it will stick and how well it will hold up.

There are many products that are more "industrial." The need for these products depends on the amount of abuse your garage will recieve.

[cliffy]

Thanks guys!!! Keep the info coming.

My garage floor is pretty clean...we just moved in a few months ago and don't have any problems with dripping oil or whatever from our vehicles. I would assume a power wash is a must before putting this stuff down. I was wondering if there was any other type of cleaner that you would recommend prior to putting down the paint?

The garage floor is going to get just basic use.....just use it for parking our cars and boat. I don't do any welding or anything like that. I just want it to look nice and be durable. I don't really want to spend time touching up spots...so I am willing to spend good money to get the "industrial" stuff.

Keep the info coming..

Thanks

Cliffy

[Tom7227]

I did my basement floor and the guy at the store sold me some cleaner that was the 'last step' before applying the product. It was some sort of acid wash and was tough to deal with in the basement. It was a powder that was mixed with water. I believe in following the manufacturers directions on projects like this. Just make sure it's warm enough to open the door and get some air. By the way, it also forces a 24 hour delay in getting the project finished - have to let things dry.

[stick]

I have done 2 of my garage floors with Tennant's VOC-HTS product and am very pleased. This is the industrial stuff intended for fork-truck traffic areas. Cleaning and really "etching" is the most critical step. The package comes with an acid etch solution that involved much scrubbing and rinsing, etc. I did the whole thing myself, and let's just say I was glad when it was done. Now...I highly recommend an industrial and quality product as it should be a once in a lifetime thing. At my previouse home, I used a box store product, and had to re-do it every few years. It looked great, but I wasn't a fan of the repetitive efforts.

My $0.02 worth.

[DTro]

 Originally Posted By: cliffy

I don't really want to spend time touching up spots...so I am willing to spend good money to get the "industrial" stuff.

Cliffy

Cliffy, since you've stepped out and said that. There is a guy in our Catfish Leauge that has a business applying some new formula stuff that sounds revolutionary in this industry. It's so good that it is being used in hog barns to keep the concrete from wearing. Most of his business still comes from residential applications though.

I can try to get some more info for you, perhaps you could email me.

[Roofer]

What are we talking about for price for the good stuff? Never done it before, but thinking about using something in my shop/pole barn.

[JuiceBox]

I know a couple guys who have done their garage floors. One had it professionally done (family business), the other was over the counter. There's no doubt the professional job is the best and it is supposed to last 20+ years. The guy with the over the counter stuff installed it in his new garage and loves it. But it's almost a gurantee he will be fixing it before the pro job.

The pro job can run you $3 a square foot, so if cost is an issue then the do-it-yourself is good. I agree though that preparation is the key! Use the acid wash even if it's a new garage. There are always oils and contaminents on the floor that you can't see. IMO go with the pro on this one because it would be a pain of a project to redo.

Good luck, and post the results if you decide to do it.

[stick]

I used the Tennant professional grade stuff and did it myself. My garage was 960 ft2 and I believe it was around $800 all said and done (acid etch chemicals, paint/tint/catalysts). I feel well worth the money. It was certainly a chore, but great results when done.

I have a garage mop and bucket, and love the look when it's all washed up in the springtime (or whenever I do it). Also, oil and gas spills, sawdust cleanup etc. is a breeze.

[cliffy]

Thanks to all that have replied! Lots of good info. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you....been sick for past couple of days.

DTRO: Could you get me the name of the product and perhaps the cost per square foot? Any info would be great.

Thanks

Cliffy

[Nate McVey]

Awhile back, I used the Menards/Home Depot stuff with the flecks (I think it was the Rustoleum brand) on my banquet prep room at the lodge. It has held up with daily cleaning and constant foot traffic.

When I had the bed of my truck done with Line-X, I saw that they had moved into the market of garages, restaurant kitchen floors, etc. I've always wondered what it would be like to walk around on Line-X.............

[cliffy]

Line X would be way cool to have as a floor covering. I cant think of anything that would damage it. I had my truck bed sprayed a few years ago and it looks as good as the day it was done. After reading your post, I had to check out the Line X site for details......I see their spray would also give some "blast protection". WOW.

[JohnMickish]

You guys that have the epoxy coating on the garages, how slippery is it in the winter or when wet? I've been on some painted concrete floors and they can be pretty dangerous with snow on your shoes.

[stick]

It can be relatively slippery, so that is definitely a good thought and question. I find powdery snow to be worse than water. There are abrasives that can be added to avoid this in walk-ways if it is a concern.

[Pyrex]

Cliffy, I did the rustoleum brand for a guy and the cleaning pack comes with the kit, its a bleach of sorts and its used to prep the floor. I've also seen it done in an industrial setting, we poured concrete in a meat processing plant and spent hours finishing the floor. Then the company came in and ground the cement down to get good adhesion. It basically looked like someone took a garden rake to fresh cement. Ticked me off!! all that work for nothing, but thats what they needed. As far as the rustoleum, its a good product for the price. sure you might have to touch up after a few years, but cement should be sealed every couple years anyway. I think it lasts longer than traditional sealers. You can also add silica sand to the mix, but stir it often or you will get really patchy rough spots.

[DTro]

Cliffy, I talked to the guy today.

4.50/sq ft installed.

It's a polymer coating that is rolled on and from what I gather is guaranteed not to chip or crack.

[cliffy]

Thanks for the info. I probably will get to doing the floor in a couple of months.....just started the tape and mud job....second time ever doing it. I for see a lot of sanding in my future

[Down Deep]

We had the epoxy sealant installed on the garage floor where I work. We run a large heavy duty maintenance facility and have inside storage for about 100 heavy duty vehicles. Our storage space is 600 X 650. Our paint has been down 5 years and we have to do some touch ups each year. When it was installed the painting company sanded or ground the entire floor. The paint was sprayed on then they rolled it. Given the heavy duty abuse it takes the Epoxy works well.

I have had discussions with the installer and he has told me that if it is installed to specifications the paint has a life of about 12 years. He also said it is not usually what travels on top of the paint, but what lies underneath. Concrete slabs generally are porous and have small cracks that allow moisture vapor and even water to seep to the top of the floor. When this happens you can actually see small bubbles that form between the floor and the paint. When a vehicle runs over the bubbles they crack open and the coating flakes away.

We keep a heated garage so I don't know what effect freezing has on the coating.

I've had the standard concrete clear sealer on my floor for 6 years and it is holding up just fine.

[overdalimit]

Are you going to heat that garage? Reason I ask is that tape and mud will crack if allowed to freeze and thaw.