Had the Floor Done (Before and After)

[Money2536]

I had the garage floor done in an Aluminum look metal epoxy system with a urethane top coat.

I really wanted it polished and sealed or something similar. I wanted it to look like concrete, but cleaner. I was advised that an epoxy system was a much better option for the garage and that a polishing would cost substantially more. The plan was to degrease, do a light sanding, do a few coats of clear epoxy, and then top with a clear urethane. This was going to cost about $1,950 for 580 sq. ft. Well...after the first coat of clear epoxy, I called the guy to let him know this wasn't going to work. The clear epoxy amplified any imperfections and dried so much darker that it looked nothing like concrete. I decided to spend the extra money ($3,250 total ) to change our plan and do a metal looking epoxy that I knew I would not be wild about, but wouldn't complete hate.

The result looks great in pictures. That being said, it looks so, so. I will never, ever do a garage floor covering again. It was a complete waste of money and lesson learned. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations.

Up next is paint then Lista or Moduline cabinets to replace all of the temporary stuff.

 

[Jagmandave]

You're right, it looks great in the pics!

 

[neuropac]

Looks great!!

 

[Dakota00]

$3250!!!!!!! Holy %#@*!!! Looks ok, I wouldn't want to walk on that floor when it's wet.

 

[Money2536]

$3250!!!!!!! Holy %#@*!!! Looks ok, I wouldn't want to walk on that floor when it's wet.

Yeah, that' what my wife said. I'm really disappointed in myself for getting suckered so badly. It's actually not as slick as I thought when it's wet.

 

[k p]

I've said this before about other flooring threads...your "before" concrete looked amazing. My garage floor is spalled and pitted so badly I can barely pull a floor jack. Saying that, your new coating looks great too.

You guys with nice smooth, uncracked concrete floors should be very happy with what you have.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Looks great!

Please give details on what you are using to store the car wash shampoos and sprayers on the wall.

Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[dubber]

Looks great, but that does seem a little steep.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Nice floor.

 

[Money2536]

Looks great!

Please give details on what you are using to store the car wash shampoos and sprayers on the wall.

Thanks,
-Nigel

Sure, they are all from Griot's Garage. Unfortunately they stopped making all of them.

 

[Money2536]

I've said this before about other flooring threads...your "before" concrete looked amazing. My garage floor is spalled and pitted so badly I can barely pull a floor jack. Saying that, your new coating looks great too.

You guys with nice smooth, uncracked concrete floors should be very happy with what you have.

Yeah, I wish I left it alone.

 

[crepr12]

It happens been there and done that with other contracted project.its only money.. looks like you spend that much with Adams

 

[cork]

Looks good! Nice selection detailing supplies. Are they mostly griots or a combination of Adams and griots.

 

[Money2536]

Looks good! Nice selection detailing supplies. Are they mostly griots or a combination of Adams and griots.

I really don't use too much Griot stuff any longer. I really like Griot's finest sprayer, so I fill the bottles with other stuff. I've found other companies that make better products over the years. I use Adam's Car Wash, All Purpose Cleaner, and Super VRT. I use Menzerna Polishes, Sonax Wheel Cleaner and Polymer Net Shield. I even retired my Griots orbital in favor of Rupes. Griot is a great place to start learning, but I've moved on through trial and error.

 

[nmcqueen469]

Looks AWESOME, not only the floor but the entire garage...nice and clean!

Nice to see some Adam's users in here. Thanks for your business! ;-)

 

[bdamico]

Looks great. Think it'd look better if you wrapped the baseboards around the other two walls

 

[Zeke]

Well, that's too bad because I think that system and look had pretty good potential. Someone didn't know application very well. Maybe the aluminum should have been sprayed for even distribution.

I'm a fan of concrete in its natural state and sealed. You can't hurt it.

 

[boostme]

Looks good! Is there some kind of warranty for the work after all that dolla bill$?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[slickgt1]

Holy ****, I need to start charging more for Tile. lol.

Looks good in the pics though, marble look. And yes, I agree, you had a really nice floor, well compared to what I had. Don't know why it cost you so much to cover a good straight floor.

 

[workhurts]

It was difficult to get passed the very first TV image you had in your 3rd picture. Now that looks like a proper gardening show.

 

[Money2536]

It was difficult to get passed the very first TV image you had in your 3rd picture. Now that looks like a proper gardening show.

Good catch. I have no idea what show that was. I think I had ESPN on.

 

[Money2536]

Holy ****, I need to start charging more for Tile. lol.

Looks good in the pics though, marble look. And yes, I agree, you had a really nice floor, well compared to what I had. Don't know why it cost you so much to cover a good straight floor.

Yep, I should have cleaned it, sealed, it and called it a day. I've always been against floor covering but woke up one day and thought it was a good idea. Live and lean.

 

[Money2536]

Looks great. Think it'd look better if you wrapped the baseboards around the other two walls

Yeah, I'll probably do the right side. The cabinets and tool boxes on the back wall are all being replaced with a 25 ft. Lista cabinet array. To my shock, my Lista quote is actually less expensive than Moduline.

 

[dubber]

It was difficult to get passed the very first TV image you had in your 3rd picture. Now that looks like a proper gardening show.

Haha, glad i wasn't the only one

 

[Leevon]

Looks great, don't get so hung up on the cost you invested in the house and you didn't have to do the work : )

 

[thegarageguy]

looks like the a metallic epoxy paint job. I can see repair work or roller marks below. Aluminum color is very translucent and whatever they did, either patching or priming is ghosting through, possibly because they applied it so thin and/or the color load is low. Maybe I'm seeing shadows. Pics on a cpu are tough when looking for details.

With that said, polished concrete for an everyday garage is not ideal. I would of offered a sealed concrete instead, if you were looking for that natural concrete look. Some epoxy primers darken more than others. Knowing you didn't want it to darken, a different epoxy primer could have been used.

At less than $6 per sqft, you got what you paid for unfortunately. We typically charge $8 to $10 per sqft but we pour it, not thinly paint it on. To grind, hone and seal with 3 layer epoxy-poly system or 3 layer polyaspartic system, we would most likely charge $5 to $6.

I don't think you were over charged but if I'm seeing correctly, the application is flawed.

 

[JBL]

You can always go to a polished floor; been here done that and have the scars to prove it! Race deck would continue to be a nice alternative as well.