Floor Coating Options - Help Me Decide

[Gator Bite]

I've convinced my finance department (aka wife) to allocate a recent budgetary surplus (aka tax return) to improving our flooring in our Garage and Basement. I'm educating myself on the different options, which has led me here. I am sure there's lots to learn in the existing discussion so I've already begun reading them. Since some of them are rather old, and the technology seems to be somewhat fluid, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask for some expertise.

About our Garage:

• Somewhat new smooth slab (poured in 2013)
• Located in New England (all 4 seasons)
• 1,050' Square Feet
• Three Car Bays (1, 1.5 and 2 car deep)
• Two Post Lift installed in 2 deep bay
• Fair amount of mechanical work done on cars throughout the year
• 3 cars, 2 motorcycles and a small tractor routinely moved about inside
• Engine Stand, Transmission Jack and other heavy items routinely rolled around

I'd like to coat our floor to improve the looks of the garage, but more importantly to make fluid spills and work messes easier to clean up without leaving damage.

The term "epoxy paint" is well known and somewhat over used. Then I started reading about Polyureas and Polyaspirtics. I've read up on the benefits here. So my question is, what would you recommend...?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

A good epoxy system with a urethane topcoat will work.
However for a less stressful install we have our Nohr-S Kits (polyurea).

I am sure my colleagues will give other options too.

http://www.legacyindustrial.net/products/nohr-coatings/nohr-s-polyurea-coating-garage-kit.html

 

[Gator Bite]

A good epoxy system with a urethane topcoat will work.
However for a less stressful install we have our Nohr-S Kits (polyurea).

I am sure my colleagues will give other options too.

http://www.legacyindustrial.net/products/nohr-coatings/nohr-s-polyurea-coating-garage-kit.html

Nice looking kit there. Is there any special preparation I'd need to do? Acid etching, polishing, etc...?

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Do you have poly under the concrete? Do you have to be worried about moisture coming up through the concrete and interfering with the coating on the concrete floor in either the garage or the basement?

I used Rust Bullet and am very, very happy with it. I think I used four coats without a clear coat, without a slip resistant abrasive, and without chips. Floor looks good for a working floor and much to my surprise is not slippery when wet.

 

[Gator Bite]

Do you have poly under the concrete? Do you have to be worried about moisture coming up through the concrete and interfering with the coating on the concrete floor in either the garage or the basement?

I used Rust Bullet and am very, very happy with it. I think I used four coats without a clear coat, without a slip resistant abrasive, and without chips. Floor looks good for a working floor and much to my surprise is not slippery when wet.

Yes, there is poly under the floor, and insulation too. It's been dry as a bone, we don't get any water coming up (the house is on the top of a hill). The only moisture we get on the floor is condensation if I leave the doors open during a hot summer day.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I've convinced my finance department (aka wife) to allocate a recent budgetary surplus (aka tax return) to improving our flooring in our Garage and Basement. I'm educating myself on the different options, which has led me here. I am sure there's lots to learn in the existing discussion so I've already begun reading them. Since some of them are rather old, and the technology seems to be somewhat fluid, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask for some expertise.

About our Garage:

• Somewhat new smooth slab (poured in 2013)
• Located in New England (all 4 seasons)
• 1,050' Square Feet
• Three Car Bays (1, 1.5 and 2 car deep)
• Two Post Lift installed in 2 deep bay
• Fair amount of mechanical work done on cars throughout the year
• 3 cars, 2 motorcycles and a small tractor routinely moved about inside
• Engine Stand, Transmission Jack and other heavy items routinely rolled around

I'd like to coat our floor to improve the looks of the garage, but more importantly to make fluid spills and work messes easier to clean up without leaving damage.

The term "epoxy paint" is well known and somewhat over used. Then I started reading about Polyureas and Polyaspirtics. I've read up on the benefits here. So my question is, what would you recommend...?

A good epoxy system with a urethane topcoat will work.
However for a less stressful install we have our Nohr-S Kits (polyurea).

I am sure my colleagues will give other options too.

http://www.legacyindustrial.net/products/nohr-coatings/nohr-s-polyurea-coating-garage-kit.html

Do you have poly under the concrete? Do you have to be worried about moisture coming up through the concrete and interfering with the coating on the concrete floor in either the garage or the basement?

I used Rust Bullet and am very, very happy with it. I think I used four coats without a clear coat, without a slip resistant abrasive, and without chips. Floor looks good for a working floor and much to my surprise is not slippery when wet.

Nohr-S and Rust Bullet are great applications. You can find a lot of great testimonials about both products on the journal. Another very good option is the All Weather Floors Polyurea product

In your case, I would prep for any of these. For Rust Bullet I would do 4-5 total coats, of which at least two should be gray but probably three. You could flake the last coat and do clear.

On the polyurea product, I would do an extra clear coat. So one coat of gray and two clear. You will find a handful of GJ reviews posted to our blog https://www.garageflooringllc.com/category/garage-floor-coatings/polyurea-coating-projects-reviews/

 

[Wileel]

Call Scotty at Legacy. I just laid down a "full flake" kit from them and it looks incredible! I haven't had time to abuse it yet but I can say while I was reloading and setting the shop back up stuff I was rolling jacks & engine stands, dragging lumber, cabinets and heavy *** vidmar tool boxes on/across it as well as the occasional drop of a hammer and tool from the top of a ladder... floor appears to give ZERO F's what so ever. Time will tell but I feel it will be there for may years and maintain its condition...

 

[nyepoxyguy]

Any epoxy system should work well for you needs but if you're paying a contractor upwards of $4/sq just make sure they have a solid portfolio. Prep is 90% of the game. You can buy the best materials on the market but if the surface isn't properly prepared and the product isn't applied well then you might have well just thrown your money away.

 

[Armorpoxy]

We would recommend our www.armorcladepoxy.com for a fleck type 100% solids, or our less expensive but super durable polyurea one part coating SPGX which is about half the price of epoxy 3 layer system.

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

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