just finished with garage floor - Rustoleum Epoxy

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The clear coat is drying on my garage floor.

Like everyone said, the prep work was by far the most tedious. Here is what I did.

1) clean, blow, sweep, vacuum garage floor

2) scrape up joint compound and spills

3) etch 3 times using included mix, Behr etch and clean solution, and muriatic acid. followed by rinsing with water hose then squeegee

4) degrease with "grease lighting"? (I think thats what it was called)

5) trim and paint with 2 gallons of light grey epoxy. (dried for 18 hours)

6) trim and paint with 2 gallons of light grey epoxy (2nd coat).

7) i had my sister toss the 4 bags of paint chips after I finished painting an area. (i didn't tell her to toss them high enough in the air, there are too many spots with heavy chip concentration-- it looks better since I added the clear coat though)

8) applied rustoleum clear coat with anti-slip mix


I got the water-based formula at Lowes. I paid $120 for each kit and then $100 for the clear coat at Home Depot. After supplies and everything I spent a tad over $400.

I did a lot of prep work so I'm hoping that it will last a very long time. I know the water-based is apparently not as good as the other kind but at this point I don't care-- I'm just glad I'm done. (I hope I'm not kicking myself down the road for this decision)

Here are some pictures.

 

[TheBanker]

Dude it looks good. Just let us know how it holds up. Like you said at least you got it done! Still waiting to do mine.

 

[nathank]

Looks great! Congratulations on a job well done.

 

[TONE]

I gotta tell ya, my father inlaw bought a DIY kit from homedepot or menards. It was like 100 bucks for everything to do his 2 car garage.

Anyway, I was very, very skeptical. But, hes actually a smart fella and very resourcefull.

He took a ton of time just prepping the floor. I mean he etched the heck out of it, cleaned and repeated a few times.

He then put down his epoxy, and man it looked/looks sweet. I though "wow, looks great but it wont last". Figured these DIY kits are nothing more than putting makeup on a pig.

I didnt expect it to last a winter.

3 years later and it looks flawless.

 

[cravingspeed]

I did a 24x24 with the quickcrete, non clearcoat. 2yrs ago and after one year my tires tend to pull it up. I guess two coates might have helped.

good luck!

I have a new 30x40 I can't decide what to use on the floor.

 

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Thanks for the feedback. I'll post some more pictures when I get the shelves and pegboard in.

I can't believe how much better the place looks with the floor done. I'm really glad I took the time to tackle this project.

 

[JDM5LugHatch]

Looks really good. Curious to see how well it holds up. A neighbor used the same kit but he didn't prep his floor good enough and not to mention he put it down when the weather was cold. His started to bubble a month later. Prepping is the key to success with anything.

 

[AlphaGarage]

I did a 24x24 with the quickcrete, non clearcoat. 2yrs ago and after one year my tires tend to pull it up. I guess two coates might have helped.

Another coat or 2 or 3 probably wouldn't have made much difference. Most of these failures occur at the junction point where the concrete meets the first layer of coating.

If the lifting is due to hot tires (a possibility, but not the only one) an additional layer might have helped slightly, but only if it was thick enough - unlikely with this particular coating.

If the failure is due to poor adhesion in general, piling on extra material wouldn't have done much - other than cost more time and money before failing.

 

[Tylerb43]

Looks great man and welcome to the board! I used Rustoleum on my house garage, albiet the solvent based, "professional" product line. It was prep, prep, prep. I even steam cleaned it with 3500 psi. I couldn't be happier after 2 years and no problems what so ever. I did two coats of color, chips, and no clear. It's seen hot tires, gas & bleach spills, winter road salt ****, no issues at all. Basically, any brand of epoxy can be **** if you don't apply it correctly.

I'm considering the same color as you have for my detached, is that the standard flake mix? You used 3 bags on how many sq ft? Thanks!

 

[wakeboarder311]

i am looking at the same system did any of you guys fill the control joints? and if so what product did you use?

 

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My garage is 22 x 20 = 440 square feet. I had a third of a gallon left over with the second coat.

I used all 4 bags of colored paint chips that came with the kits (2 bags in each kit). Its a pretty heavy coverage. I was initially worried about the spread of the chips but the more I look at it the more I don't mind or notice the occasional patchy/heavy spots.

I didn't use any fill. I have a new house so the floor wasn't too beat up or cracked.

 

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Almost a year later and the garage epoxy is holding up great. Its a breeze to clean up any kind of spill or leak.

However, I was throwing a party and a citronella mosquito candle tipped over and now I have dried wax over 2 sq/ft. Any ideas on how to get it up?

 

[kywildcat]

Almost a year later and the garage epoxy is holding up great. Its a breeze to clean up any kind of spill or leak.

However, I was throwing a party and a citronella mosquito candle tipped over and now I have dried wax over 2 sq/ft. Any ideas on how to get it up?

Try covering the spot with ice and let it sit a while, then try to scrape it off.

 

[radchad3]

Thanks for the one year update! It is always good to see how the epoxy is holding up after an extended period!

Sorry, not sure what to tell you on the wax though! Chad

 

[usmc_noma]

If it's the candle wax type stuff then just get a heat gun, blast it a few seconds, and wipe up. I'd try that or get a towel and a warm iron.

 

[bobadame]

i am looking at the same system did any of you guys fill the control joints? and if so what product did you use?

I used Sikaflex self leveling gray urethane.

 

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After 3 years the garage is still looking good. About to tackle 1/2 my basement floor. 1200 sq feet. Thinking about going with grey epoxy-shield no flakes.

Just spent 6 hours pressure washing/cleaning/etching/shop-vac'ing. Going to do another go-round tomorrow and then decide on which road I'm going to take.

 

[SpecOp1]

Thanks for the update...OP was well done.

 

[Fredartic]

Wow! Very nice floor! Thank you for your comments after 3 years. I appreciate reviews on the products that some tend to depreciate.