Floor or Walls first

[kmacht]

So whats everybodys opinion on what to do first. I have to sheetrock and insulate some walls in the garage and I also need to finish the floor. Still debating epoxy vs stain. On one hand I want to do the walls first so I don't have to worry about getting anything on the floor. On the other hand if I do the floor first with epoxy I can just wipe up the mud and sheetrock dust that I falls on the floor and don't have to worry about it getting ground into the cement. So which do you do first?

Keith

 

[Jack Olsen]

Prep and primer on the floor. Then the walls. Then finish the floor.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Prep and primer on the floor. Then the walls. Then finish the floor.

There can be unique factors which determine the best order, but prime floors, do walls, finish floors is a good way to go.

The one drawback is that you'll need to scuff and solvent wipe the floor before applying the final coats.

 

[BL50]

I'd do the walls first. You're going to have clean, etch or grind the floor anyway and you can always mask off the floor with paper or dropclothes to minimize the mess from the walls.

 

[tncatadjuster]

First or last each, has advantages, depends on the level of finish, equipment etc.

I would never use a floor between coats, it's asking for problems.

 

[rikmeister]

you should always work from the top down.

 

[iceman536]

I did my walls first, then diamond ground the floor and epoxied. I would not do the floor first - mud and dust are the least of your worries. Ladders being moved around, hammers being dropped etc. are far more of a concern than a little drywall dust. How would dropping your drywall screw gun on a new epoxy floor make you feel? Do the walls first and don't worry about abusing the floor.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Put down the primer, and forget about. Drag the ladders, spill stuff, it's epoxy, it was designed to be abused. If it's coated you don't need to fret about having to remove stains, cleaning up construction mess will be easier, less chance of concrete damage when you drop something.

After everything else is built out, put down the pigmented top coat and you have a brand new floor.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Put down the primer, and forget about. Drag the ladders, spill stuff, it's epoxy, it was designed to be abused. If it's coated you don't need to fret about having to remove stains, cleaning up construction mess will be easier, less chance of concrete damage when you drop something.

After everything else is built out, put down the pigmented top coat and you have a brand new floor.

Ditto.
Been there done that.

 

[eddy]

I would cover the floor no matter what is done first. If you've epoxy'd it, you want it covered, if you haven't yet you'd want to keep it from getting spills and so on...
Why take a chance, covering with a tarp costs very little and will avoid a lot of trouble.