Generally, homeowners invest in home projects to either make their home more appealing to them or to make it more appealing to future buyers. Occasionally, a project can be both, and this is a win-win situation. I like to think all of the projects I’ve done in my home will increase it’s value should I sell it one day, but there are few projects that I am confident appeal to me and would also have a high return on investment. One of those projects is the epoxy floor I did in my garage. Based on my experience, I highly recommend you upgrade the garage space in your home with garage epoxy floor covering.
How I Upgraded my Home with Garage Epoxy Floor Covering
A few years after I moved into my home, garage epoxy floor covering seemed to soar in popularity, and I began noticing companies advertising for this service. I was instantly attracted to the sleek, clean look of epoxied floors, and knew I wanted to do this in my home. As someone who enjoys the challenge of a DIY project, I researched tutorials online and the materials needed to complete the job. While I did not request any direct quotes from companies, I conducted some online research to give myself an idea of how much it might cost to hire a professional. I came to the conclusion that I could do it myself for at least half of the cost of hiring someone, perhaps even a third of what I might be charged if I outsourced. This information, along with my confidence I could manage it on my own after watching several YouTube videos, solidified my decision to DIY this project.
Because I have a one-car garage, the smaller square footage made doing this project on my own very manageable. If you have larger garage, you will either need to someone to help you, or you will have to work in sections, which will add more time onto the total duration of the project. There are several stages to this project, where the floor has to dry before you can move onto the next stage, so it took several days before my garage floor was fully cured enough for me to park my car and replace items back in the garage. This is one reason why this project should be at the top of your to-do list immediately after moving into your home. If you can complete this before filling your garage with tools, storage containers, and other items, it will be much easier than having to temporarily relocate those items later on. That being said, if you’re already fully moved into your home, I believe it’s still worth the effort to tackle this job.
I was able to find all of the materials I needed at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Rust-Oleum makes a garage floor epoxy kit in different sizes, based on whether you have a one- or two-car garage. In addition to the kit, the project required a few items for the prep work, like floor cleaner, a scrub brush, a squeegee, and a putty knife, to name a few. It cost of materials can feel like a bit of an investment to paint floors, but you may already have some of the items listed below. If don’t already have them, you will likely have a future need for them. Compared to other types of floor covering, epoxy is very reasonably-priced with a big impact.
The Supplies
- Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Kit
- Clear High-Gloss 2-Part Epoxy Floor Paint Top Coat Kit
- Cleaner and Degreaser
- Heavy Duty Scrub Brush
- Floor Squeegee with Handle
- Cleaning Bucket
- Flexible Steel Putty Knife
- Concrete Patch and Repair Kit
- Paint Roller Tray
- Epoxy Glide Roller Cover
- 2-inch Angled Paint Brush
- Paint Roller Frame
- Paint Roller Handle
- Painter’s Tape
The Process
As I mentioned, this entire project, start to finish, took several days to complete due to drying drying between each stage and the time required for the final coat of epoxy to cure. Once I gathered all of the materials, I started by cleaning out the garage – every item must be picked up off of the floor so it can be fully coated.
Next, I used a broom and leaf blower to remove all dust and debris. Then, I cleaned and degreased the floor. This ensures the floor is clear of motor oil or other chemicals that may have spilled. I used the scrub brush for cleaning and my pressure washer to soak and rinse the floor, followed by the squeegee. The squees allowed me to pull out as much water from the garage as possible in the hopes it would dry quickly. Once the floor is fully cleaned and degreased, it has to dry for about 24 hours. Do not park a car on the floors once they have been degreased.
After the floors had fully dried from cleaning, I used the etching solution to rough up the surface of the concrete. This step helps the epoxy paint to adhere to the floor without peeling or flaking. I also used the scrub brush on this step to ensure etched and prepped thoroughly. I also used the pressure washer during this step for soaking and rinsing, followed by squeegee. After etching, the floor has to dry for another 24 hours.
The next step only applies if your garage floors have any cracks or gashes. Mine did, so I mixed up the putty solution and spread it over the large cracks and gashes, leaving a smooth, level surface. There were a few small cracks I chose not to patch because I did not think they would be noticeable. If I were to do it again, I would patch every crack and imperfection. Once this step is complete, allow the floor to fully dry according the instructions on the package.
Once the floor was cleaned, etched, and patched, it was finally time to begin applying the epoxy floor covering. I taped around the edges of the garage, where the concrete meets the drywall. Then, following instructions for how to mix the epoxy, I used a paint brush to apply it to the areas where a roller would not reach, like the far edges of the floor and up the concrete wall a few inches, stopping short of the drywall. After the brush painting was done, I used the roller to apply the epoxy to the floor, working in small sections. The paint will dry quickly, so I had to roll, then sprinkle the color chips, then roll again, and so on until the entire floor was covered. I debated not using the color chips, but I am glad I did. They help hide imperfections in the floor and ad some visual interest. You can choose from several options of epoxy colors and floor chip colors. I selected the gray epoxy and blue and white chips. Once the floor is covered, it will need to dry fully before the next step.
The final step in the process is the clear gloss coat and anti-skid additive. This is a separate kit that is optional, but I chose to use it because I love the shiny, high-gloss finish on garage floors. I watched an online tutorial by one homeowner who used the clear coat, but did not use the anti-skid additive, and I do not recommend this at all. It is extremely unsafe to forgo the anti-skid additive. The high-gloss finish will be very slick and will make it very easy for someone to slip and fall without the rough texture of the anti-skid additive. I am so glad I used a top coat and included the rough texture.
Once the clear coat was completely dry, I avoided parking my car and replacing items back in the garage for a full week to give the product plenty of time to cure. I also did this project during a week in the spring when the weather was mild and there was no rain in the forecast. There are climate limitations with the Rust-Oleum epoxy product, meaning temperatures must be within a certain range for it to apply properly.
I hope you find this helpful if you are considering the decision to upgrade your home with garage epoxy floor covering. For more tips on floor coverings, be sure to read my post on Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) vs. Engineered Hardwood Flooring.
