Garage floor epoxy - anyone done it themselves?

[Ronnie]

A things worth mentioning:

I was concerned about hot tire pick up before I installed the foam mats. I dealt with it by leaving the areas on the floor where my wife’s car sits bare. The mats sometimes buckle when she turns on them but they are repositioned just as quickly.

when I need to jack up a car, paint, etc. in the garage I either temporarily remove the mats in my work area or cover them with painters plastic.

Looks like the previous owner of my current home used the same stuff I did from Home Depot. I don’t know how long ago but none of it was peeling before I installed the foam mats and I don’t see any hot tire spots on the exposed part (it get really hot where I am, it was over 90 everyday last summer.

that stuff from Home Depot came on a box big enough for two one gallon containers but it only came with one gallon of material and I didn’t mix it with anything, just popped the top mixed what was in the can and rolled it on.

Finally if you go the Home Depot route, verify the colors are the same should you buy more than one gallon. They had one of each shade of gray when I went so I bought both and mixed them before use (I didn’t want to run out to another Home Depot for matching paint).

 

[Can0n11]

We have polished concrete floors at work in the maintenance labs. pretty durable and stain resistant.

 

[Aqua Adventurer]

I put a commercial grade (Spartan Chemical) 2-part epoxy on my previous garage floor. The prep is the key! If you skimp on the prep it will not hold up. Epoxy will far outlast paint though. You will need to remove the existing paint before you prep the concrete.

I have not use the brand you mentioned but I doubt that it would be guaranteed. They will likely claim it wasn't prepped properly.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I have not seen a big box store brand stand up over time...maybe its prep, I dont know. I went with the Norklad 2 part kits followed by the top coat of clear. Do a 100% flake cover for the best look and long lasting protection. As others have said already --- you'll need to rent the floor grinder/vacuum and smaller grinders for the edges.

Norklad 200 | Norklad Epoxy Paint for Sale Online (originalcolorchips.com)

$50 off a $500 order at Epoxy Paint | Original Color Chips Use promo code CC50

 

[HawaiiBreeze]

I'm late to the party here but this is my bread & butter, it's what my firm does (concrete coatings) and I can tell you that the Lowes and HD products will peel, are super super thin and are the best things to use when you want to sell the home and make the garage "look nice & add curb appeal".

That being said the best products are either an Epoxy/Urethane Flake Coating or an Epoxy/Polyaspartic Flake Coating. 1. It's all in the Prep work 2. It's all in the Prep work and 3. It's all in the Prep work. When done properly these coatings are super durable, wear like iron, hot tires - who cares, spills who cares, non-slip (add alum oxide or something equiv) and they look great. They do cost though and the 3k-5k is probably ok for Mainland costs.

IMHO any DIY'er here can install one of these coatings, if by yourself budget a week from start to finish 400 sq ft for a Contractor Quality job.

 

[Joatmon]

I have a painted floor with flakes and clear top coat. No peeling after eight years so it had a great prep. I just can’t stand all the slab cracks and want to recoat with a two part SW industrial epoxy paint. I plan on patching the cracks and roughing the existing clear top coat before applying the paint. I don’t want flakes. What do you think about me NOT applying a clear top coat on top of the new epoxy paint? I can’t think of a reason I need to flake or clear coat. I do like your idea of adding an abrasive such as a dusting of fine dry sand.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I'm late to the party here but this is my bread & butter, it's what my firm does (concrete coatings) and I can tell you that the Lowes and HD products will peel, are super super thin and are the best things to use when you want to sell the home and make the garage "look nice & add curb appeal".

That being said the best products are either an Epoxy/Urethane Flake Coating or an Epoxy/Polyaspartic Flake Coating. 1. It's all in the Prep work 2. It's all in the Prep work and 3. It's all in the Prep work. When done properly these coatings are super durable, wear like iron, hot tires - who cares, spills who cares, non-slip (add alum oxide or something equiv) and they look great. They do cost though and the 3k-5k is probably ok for Mainland costs.

IMHO any DIY'er here can install one of these coatings, if by yourself budget a week from start to finish 400 sq ft for a Contractor Quality job.

Would like to get any more tips you have. I am planning on doing this, this fall to my garage floor. 25 x 32. Has some chaffing on the surface and minor cracks in a few places.

 

[adrianp89]

I'm late to the party here but this is my bread & butter, it's what my firm does (concrete coatings) and I can tell you that the Lowes and HD products will peel, are super super thin and are the best things to use when you want to sell the home and make the garage "look nice & add curb appeal".

That being said the best products are either an Epoxy/Urethane Flake Coating or an Epoxy/Polyaspartic Flake Coating. 1. It's all in the Prep work 2. It's all in the Prep work and 3. It's all in the Prep work. When done properly these coatings are super durable, wear like iron, hot tires - who cares, spills who cares, non-slip (add alum oxide or something equiv) and they look great. They do cost though and the 3k-5k is probably ok for Mainland costs.

IMHO any DIY'er here can install one of these coatings, if by yourself budget a week from start to finish 400 sq ft for a Contractor Quality job.

We did the Home Depot kit in the shop bay. Our prep was significantly longer than the install. No idea where it stands but when I left it was at least 5 years of cars in and out daily and never peeled.