new guy, help if you can!

[emprbasist]

I have been looking through these threads trying to find out some information on epoxy coating my garage floor, but I haven't been able to find a recommendation on the best brand to use. Here is a little background:

Our house is being built and will be completed in a few months. I would like to get some sort of an epoxy coating (or similar) down when we move in, before I start filling the garage with toys. I really don't know anything about epoxy coating, but my father in law is a journeyman painter, I'm hoping he will be able to help me with the project.

Can anyone recommend an epoxy (or similar) coating brand/kit that would be somewhat DIY-friendly? The first one I had looked at was H&C Shield-Crete. Is this stuff not very good? Right now I can get the single-car garage kits on sale, Sherwin Williams is having 40% off sale and it is included, but the sale ends today. I have a 3-car garage, so I'd plan on buying three of those kits. Should I also be planning on putting down an epoxy clear coat? And if I put the clear coat, doesn't that eliminate the "non slip" effect of the deco flakes? I'd really like to get a coating that won't stain under the tires of our cars. I should also note that I can get his "contractor" price on other epoxy coatings from Sherwin Williams, if there is something better than the Shield-Crete stuff for my application.

Any help would be great! I would really like to get some of your opinions prior to investing in this stuff. I'd like to do it "right" the first time!

 

[AlphaGarage]

We've helped with around 400 DIY project just with Garage Journal members, search "Wolverine" and check out their results.

The deco flakes don't provide a lot of traction, further more it's best to coat them since they're not really designed to be the exposed surface. There are good grit additives that are used in the clear coat that do a great job of mitigating slip & fall potential and easy to clean.

 

[regguy1]

My epoxy floor install thread is the 4th link on this page, also videos showing the floor: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

New Guy:
Prep is the most important factor, do it poorly and it won't matter what you use.

 

[Edger]

Do not trust your father in law. He may be a great bloke, but painters are notorious for poor preparation when it comes to concrete floors.

Seek out excellent preparation methods, then the epoxy you use will not matter too much as long as it is a floor epoxy and not a metal epoxy.