Painting your Garage Floor
For old, dirty, and worn-out garage floors, a fresh coat of epoxy is the perfect way to revitalize your garage and make it easier to clean in the future. Unfortunately, painting your garage floor is often seen as an overwhelming task for everyday homeowners and business owners. Between preparing the space, identifying and buying products, and putting the time in to get the work done, it’s easy to feel discouraged and call an expert. Across social media, dozens of companies are offering this as a service, but are charging far more than if you were to take the DIY path. While professionals charge between $3,400-$5,500 for a 2-3 car garage, most people can do it in a weekend for $1,500-$2,000.
Now more than ever, homeowners and business owners are looking to save money wherever possible. When done correctly with the proper products and procedures, taking the DIY path is an effective way to revitalize your garage without breaking the bank. However, the question remains for beginners looking to do it themselves: what are the best products and procedures for a job well done?
This guide serves to provide a step-by-step walkthrough on how to paint your garage floor with confidence, including safety tips and the optimal products available at Industrial Plastics & Paints for each step.
Checklist:
Tools:
- Stiff broom
- 4-5 buckets
- Damp cloths
- Hand paddle/drill mixer
- Mop
- Protective eyewear
- Sprayer
- Rubber gloves
- Squeegee
Products
- Protocol Washaway Extreme
- Protocol VersaGuard™
- Enviropoxy™ EP-100
- Optional: Corotech® Anti-Slip Aggregate
- Optional: INSL-X® Decorative Floor Flakes / Enviropoxy ™ Flakes
Step 1: Preparing Your Space
Ensuring your garage is clean and tidy is an essential first step to successfully painting your garage floor. Begin by removing all items from the floor and sweeping away debris that could interfere with your work.
It is also important to follow proper safety procedures. Ensure your garage is properly ventilated by opening windows and keeping your garage door open around 18 inches (46cm) for proper air movement.
Step 2: Cleaning your Garage Floor
Once you have removed all the items from your garage floor and swept away the debris, the next step is to clean your garage floor. Begin by mopping the floor and spraying Protocol WashAway Xtreme with a low-pressure sprayer. Scrub with an auto cleaner and stiff pad or agitate with a stiff broom partway through the dwell time for best results. Wait 1 hour to overnight, and pressure wash or rinse away well with clean water. Let your garage floor dry.
Step 3: Applying Sealer/Primer
Primer provides a solid waterproofed foundation for your topcoat and should always be used before you apply epoxy. Apply Protocol VersaGuard™ using a low-pressure pump sprayer, allowing it to soak using a stiff bristle broom to agitate the product into the surface. Wipe away any excess before it hardens on the surface and allow to react for several hours. Protocol VersaGuard™ provides complete waterproofing protection and versatility, eliminating the need for traditional sealants or coatings.
Step 4: Mixing your Topcoat
For your topcoat, we highly recommend using Enviropoxy™ EP-100, an environmentally friendly two component 100% solids epoxy coating system containing no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), no solvent, no water, and virtually no odour. The product must be stored at room temperature for best results.
Ensure the surface is completely dry prior to mixing. Wear your rubber gloves and protective eyewear and mix Enviropoxy™ EP-100 for 5 minutes if using a hand paddle, or 3 minutes with a drill mixer (please note that a drill mixer must be used for the 16L kits). When mixing, avoid creating air bubbles and do not split the kits. Once you have successfully mixed the topcoat, begin your application immediately after mixing.
Step 5: Applying your Topcoat
Prior to applying your topcoat, ensure you have the proper tools: brush, microfibre roller, squeegee, and spike shoes (optional). Scrape the product from the side and bottom of the pail. Do not turn the pail upside down to drain the product. For optimal results, we recommend applying 2 coats.
Step 6: Add Optional Anti-Slip Aggregate and/or Garage Floor Flakes
Once you have successfully applied your topcoat, you may choose to add additional aesthetic and/or functional benefits to your garage floor. For a rough finish that will help to avoid slippage or hydroplaning, consider adding Corotech® Anti-Slip Aggregate. It is suggested that you read all product instructions for the recommended quantity of aggregate to add, as adding too much may hinder your ability to clean the garage floor.
For an aesthetic speckled look that can help hide dirt, we suggest opting into INSL-X® Decorative Floor Flakes or Enviropoxy™ Flakes. Both products come in a variety of colors to customize your garage floor exactly how you want it. When applying floor flakes, throw the flakes upwards as opposed to downwards for a more consistent distribution.
Step 7: Drying
Before you start returning items to your garage, allow 20-24 hours for the drying to complete. Be cautious when dragging your items back into place on your freshly updated garage floor. It is recommended to wait seven to 10 days for the floor to fully cure before you start driving on it.
