Need DIY Epoxy Floor Product

[Kaoskido]

So I am looking to do some projects around the house this spring and one is my garage and garage floor.

I have a older ranch style home which at one time had a single garage then expanded to a double garage.

So the garage floor needs some work. For the most part it is in good condition. There are a few level cracks and then the seam between the old pad and new pad when it was expanded to a double car garage.

I've been getting bids from some places that do epoxy floors and I simply cannot afford it - bids were between $1600 to over $2000. I've tried the cans of stuff from Menards and it last all of 12 months before its pealing off.

I am looking to see if there is anything on the market for a DIY that would perform better? I can rent a diamond grinder from a rental shop.

So I am hoping I can find some DIY product that will last a minimum of 5yrs but not break the bank.

 

[benwah]

There are tons of DIY products on the market. How many sq. ft. is your floor? What level of protection are you needing? What is the garage used for? What part of North America are you in? Do you have a lot of moisture?

After those questions are answered you can start narrowing down your options.

 

[Kaoskido]

Good points!

Garage is roughly 23 x 23'

Garage is used for both my vehicle during the winter. During the summer months only one vehicle is in the garage.

Can't say we get a lot of moisture.

 

[Garage Flooring]

So I am looking to do some projects around the house this spring and one is my garage and garage floor.

I have a older ranch style home which at one time had a single garage then expanded to a double garage.

So the garage floor needs some work. For the most part it is in good condition. There are a few level cracks and then the seam between the old pad and new pad when it was expanded to a double car garage.

I've been getting bids from some places that do epoxy floors and I simply cannot afford it - bids were between $1600 to over $2000. I've tried the cans of stuff from Menards and it last all of 12 months before its pealing off.

I am looking to see if there is anything on the market for a DIY that would perform better? I can rent a diamond grinder from a rental shop.

So I am hoping I can find some DIY product that will last a minimum of 5yrs but not break the bank.

If you are going to go with an epoxy prep is key and you are already in the right page. Then do a good primer and a high solids epoxy. If VOC regulations permit top coat that with an aliphatic top coat. I'm not seeing a square footage in your post.

Another great option is Rust Bullet. Two coats of gray and your done and it has a 5 year limited warranty. That can be increased to 10 with more coats. Here is a quick overview of what epoxy products might be right for you http://www.garageflooringllc.com/2015/04/09/what-is-the-best-garage-floor-epoxy-for-my-garage/

Obviously we are not the only people and there are other reputable ones here. Epoxy coat is another good option. Legacy Industrial also has a good product offering.

I would stay away from the inexpensive big box store kits. That said some have had luck with some of the Pro series products.

 

[Kaoskido]

I looked at the rust bullet... not sure I am sold on that for the price.

I don't need the floor to look like some floors you find in quarter to half million dollar homes. I'm an average Joe, average life style got no one to impress.

Though I would like the floor have the same finish (not the eye sore it is now) and provide protection for the floor especially during the winter months considering all of the road salt that gets tracked in. Plus a nice finish may make clean ups easier too...

I consider myself an above average DIY person. However, I don't have too too much patience. I'd like to knock it out in a few days if possible -- That translates to about a week.

If I go the epoxy route I need to understand how much prep and time I'll have.

I think you mentioned a need for primer as well.

That said... need to understand the costs, etc...... If it's nearing or going to exceed $1,000 I may just bite the bullet and shell out the extra $600 and have it be someone else's headache and hire the one company that bid $1600.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

this is about the size of your project:


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16957

 

[benwah]

hat said... need to understand the costs, etc...... If it's nearing or going to exceed $1,000 I may just bite the bullet and shell out the extra $600 and have it be someone else's headache and hire the one company that bid $1600.

First just do a little reading, look up what you have to do for surface preparation. Are you OK with grinding your floor? A lot of people on here have done it, and it's really not bad.

Another thing to keep in mind, what products are these other installers using? I would want to know which manufacturer, and which products specifically are they putting down.

Seems to me like you just want SOME type of protection against the elements.. An Epoxy/Urethane system will do this for you. You have 530 sq.ft. That is not a lot of area.

1 coat of epoxy primer, 3-4 gallons ~$160-$215
1 coat of 100% solids epoxy @ 8-9 mils, 3 gallons ~$170
1-2 coats of pigmented aliphatic urethane, 2 gallons ~$200
Shark Grip - ? A few bucks.

Please keep in mind those prices are estimates, but not rough estimates. You can personally get in touch with any vendor or manufacturer to get their specific pricing.

This will give you a floor that's about 10-14 mils thick and the urethane will protect against abrasion, UV, chemical and chlorides used in de-icing. You can do just epoxy if you wish, but I won't recommend it as it scratches easy and more-than-likely will not protect against the elements as well as the polyurethane. This would be a "solid color" floor, and my favorite kind You can broadcast the Shark Grip into your wet polyurethane coat, then roll over it on your second pass, if you have enough. This will aid in overall slip resistance.

Now just figure renting a grinder, roller covers, a couple clean buckets and which other items you do not currently have.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I looked at the rust bullet... not sure I am sold on that for the price.

I don't need the floor to look like some floors you find in quarter to half million dollar homes. I'm an average Joe, average life style got no one to impress.

Though I would like the floor have the same finish (not the eye sore it is now) and provide protection for the floor especially during the winter months considering all of the road salt that gets tracked in. Plus a nice finish may make clean ups easier too...

I consider myself an above average DIY person. However, I don't have too too much patience. I'd like to knock it out in a few days if possible -- That translates to about a week.

If I go the epoxy route I need to understand how much prep and time I'll have.

I think you mentioned a need for primer as well.

That said... need to understand the costs, etc...... If it's nearing or going to exceed $1,000 I may just bite the bullet and shell out the extra $600 and have it be someone else's headache and hire the one company that bid $1600.

Rust Bullet definitely not for everyone. No product is. The link I provided provides an overview of the different systems (epoxy) and what is involved regardless of whose product you end up using.

We do a lot of epoxy projects. Benwah is spot on. The only thing I would add is get it all from one source in case an issue comes up.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

So I am looking to do some projects around the house this spring and one is my garage and garage floor.

I have a older ranch style home which at one time had a single garage then expanded to a double garage.

So the garage floor needs some work. For the most part it is in good condition. There are a few level cracks and then the seam between the old pad and new pad when it was expanded to a double car garage.

I've been getting bids from some places that do epoxy floors and I simply cannot afford it - bids were between $1600 to over $2000. I've tried the cans of stuff from Menards and it last all of 12 months before its pealing off.

I am looking to see if there is anything on the market for a DIY that would perform better? I can rent a diamond grinder from a rental shop.

So I am hoping I can find some DIY product that will last a minimum of 5yrs but not break the bank.

Kao: Excellent DIY product. Visit our site and take a peek.
We help coach many 1st timers through the process.

There is nothing like the build, gloss and strength of a real industrial epoxy/urethane system.

 

[packpride85]

If you go with one of the brands on this site you'll probably spend anywhere from $600-$1000 complete if you have to rent prep tools.

It's not about the look as much as it is the quality of the product. The DIY kits you'll get at HD will look great when put down but will be thin and have limited life. Did the contractors who priced the job tell you what brand they would use?

 

[Joeys79]

I too am in the research phase of about a 1000 sq. ft. floor. At this point I'm leaning towards Rust Bullet. I like the idea of not having to mix epoxy. The timing of the mixing, laying it down, keeping the wet edge then having the next batch mixed and ready. For a first timer like me there's a lot going on there, and it's not like I'm going to learn on this one and the next one will be easier.

For me, the cost is in between the lower and higher end epoxy job. I have a clean floor, so I save on prep. With the longer pot life I roll down a coat a day, and if I have help I do, and if not, I can do it myself.

Justin said you get your 5 year limited warrantee with two coats, I'm going with four because it's a working garage. You may want to go back and check the pricing because for your 530 sq. ft. , I make it out to be about $370 for two coats and $600 for four, you may need a qt. or so extra. Plus you would have to grind to get off the old material. Check with Justin on the exact $ numbers and process, but it sounds like it's in your ballpark.

Hey, that's my two cents. There's some other good posts on the stuff. So keep reading and Good Luck.

 

[mnavillus]

I looked at the rust bullet... not sure I am sold on that for the price.

I don't need the floor to look like some floors you find in quarter to half million dollar homes. I'm an average Joe, average life style got no one to impress.

Though I would like the floor have the same finish (not the eye sore it is now) and provide protection for the floor especially during the winter months considering all of the road salt that gets tracked in. Plus a nice finish may make clean ups easier too...

I consider myself an above average DIY person. However, I don't have too too much patience. I'd like to knock it out in a few days if possible -- That translates to about a week.

If I go the epoxy route I need to understand how much prep and time I'll have.

I think you mentioned a need for primer as well.

That said... need to understand the costs, etc...... If it's nearing or going to exceed $1,000 I may just bite the bullet and shell out the extra $600 and have it be someone else's headache and hire the one company that bid $1600.

For me it comes down to value! and $1600 "seems" like a very fair price!


If the contractor who's performing the installation is going to perform a quality surface preparation? (diamond grind or something equal) " utilizing quality products? "You should ask him what products or floor system he's installing and request a link to the PDS "Product Data Sheets" on the web?
Finally, and most importantly provide a reasonable warranty for the installation?

does he have other jobs in your area you can look at?

Question: was your contractor going to apply full broadcast/partial color flakes or solid color floor?

question: is there already a coating on the existing garage floor?

Ask your self if the extra money is worth the cost difference and what your personal time is worth?


The only exception to the above is if you personally want the satisfaction of installing your floor yourself?

here is a rough time line for DIY process
1-2 days clean/degrease floor ---- and diamond grind or equal
1-3 days depending on the materials and process for the application of floor
1-3 days cure time.. depending on environment.

let me know if you have more questions?

thanks

 

[Kaoskido]

I would personally like to save money... that is more important and it keeps my wife off my back!

I can get a diamond grinder... never used one but seems like a simple process.

I have a couple areas in the floor that need attention. One area was patched and one area is low so need to level that out as during the winter I have water puddle and then freeze over.

Some guidance would be great if someone wants to offer that up to me. I can take some pictures of the problem areas, etc.

There is some coating on the floor but with diamond grind I am sure it will come off. It was a coating from a big box and has been down for about 4 years.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I would personally like to save money... that is more important and it keeps my wife off my back!

I can get a diamond grinder... never used one but seems like a simple process.

I have a couple areas in the floor that need attention. One area was patched and one area is low so need to level that out as during the winter I have water puddle and then freeze over.

Some guidance would be great if someone wants to offer that up to me. I can take some pictures of the problem areas, etc.

There is some coating on the floor but with diamond grind I am sure it will come off. It was a coating from a big box and has been down for about 4 years.

Call me and I can give you a hand. Just send pics to [email protected] and we will take a look at the problem areas.