Garage Floor Coatings

OKJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:24 am

Indirectly related to the Liberty...We're building a house and I am wanting to coat the garage floor prior to moving in.
Does anyone have any experience/recommendations on floor coatings?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:40 am

1st thing is to make sure the concrete is completely cured, that usually takes quite a while before it should be coated. 2nd is to make sure it is completely clean....shouldn't be a problem w/ a new garage floor.
There are several good epoxy style floor paints available. Should be able to find them at local Hardware or chain home improvement or paint store.
Ask for receomendations at a good paint store, they probably know best.
Maybe you know, but try to never park hot tires on it either, give them some time after a trip to cool down before pulling into garage. Ummm....thats all I know bout that...... :wink:

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:24 am

JJsKJ wrote:

1st thing is to make sure the concrete is completely cured, that usually takes quite a while before it should be coated. 2nd is to make sure it is completely clean....shouldn't be a problem w/ a new garage floor.
There are several good epoxy style floor paints available. Should be able to find them at local Hardware or chain home improvement or paint store.
Ask for receomendations at a good paint store, they probably know best.
Maybe you know, but try to never park hot tires on it either, give them some time after a trip to cool down before pulling into garage. Ummm....thats all I know bout that...... :wink:

I was thinking about doing the same thing, but not parking hot tires on it??
Din't know about that. Man, if I left the Jeep in the driveway to cool the tires down, they would melt

Guess i'll stick to bare concrete.

Ed

KJKev · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:27 am

A great idea, but I've yet to find one that won't peel up after a few months.
KJKev

OKJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:31 am

I've seen several that say they will hold up to hot tires and turning wheels fine. These are always the multi-step systems, acid-etch then epoxy paint. There are quite a few brands like this available. Then I'm not sure about whether the vinyl fleks are just for decoration or offer any non-slip properties. That is one of my concerns.

This stuff actually looks like a good deal and a complete kit with the non-slip aggregate and glaze.

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/viewprodu ... tem=841905
or
www.supercoat.us

Also, the lighter the color you use, the better light reflection you get thus giving you more light from your available lighting (does that make sense?).
A lot of the professional race shops will use white flooring and white cabinets to give the maximum lighting.

02LIBRT · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm

I recently moved in to my new home (4/1) and did quite a bit of research on this topic.

I found that the 2 step kits are the only way to go.

Just because the garage is new does not mean it is clean.
First sweep it with a push broom - be methodical to remove all dirt.
Next sweep it with a dust mop.
Then mop it. Make sure that there is no wind and the doors are closed when doing this. (I adjusted my garage doors to stay open about 6 inches when closed)

Then apply the acid wash per the instructions. I recommend that you do this on Saturday morning.

When it is dry, mop it again.

If it is hot in your area, apply the epoxy the following morning. If it is cool or if the concrete shows signs of still being wet you should wait.

Wait at least 5 days (pad a day or two more than on the instructions) before you put anything heavy on the floor.

For the first week or two I taped (using painters tape) cardboard squares to the floor where my tires sit.

These are the steps that I took and I am happy with the end product. Although I think I would do 1 thing different. I used the kit with the flakes in it (I really like the look - if you use this type make sure you take all the bags and bix the flakes together in a bucket before you apply as there are differences in each bag). Now, I would have doubled up on the epoxy to get a thicker coat. So in other words, do the prep work - apply 1st coat - let dry - apply 2nd coat and flakes.

You can kinda' see the floor in this picture:

BTW, I park on it daily (hot tires and all) without any problems. There are 2 'stains' on it now. 1 from battery acid and 1 from PVC primer. :evil:

Later,
J

OKJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:21 pm

Great information, Thanks.
I'm a firm believer in prep work, it sure pays off in the long run.
A new floor is far from clean with all the dust, dirt, paint, sheetrock mud, etc.

I'm torn between flecks or no-flecks. Yours looks nice. I guess it's kindof like carpet, the specs hide the dirt better.

02LIBRT · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:52 pm

OKJeep wrote:

Great information, Thanks.
I'm a firm believer in prep work, it sure pays off in the long run.
A new floor is far from clean with all the dust, dirt, paint, sheetrock mud, etc.

I'm torn between flecks or no-flecks. Yours looks nice. I guess it's kindof like carpet, the specs hide the dirt better.

They hide the dirt and also give it some additional traction. It is a matter of personal preference. I also added cabinets and workbenches and a TV, fridge, microwave out there and the flecks, to me, gave it a more welcome feel. The single color, again to me, seem more industrial. I guess it depends on the look you are going for. I saw one example with a gray floor and black/stainless cabinets that was stunning.

I would also add that about 1/4 to 1/3 of the flecks will sweep away when everything is cured.

Later,
J

VTNomad · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:18 pm

I'm opting not to put down the flecks this time. This last place I lived had them and I didn't like them. It's too hard to find anything you drop. Small screws, nuts and washers were hard to find and I spent too much time tracking them down. A magnet worked good for the metal stuff.

OKJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:40 pm

Those are the exact reasons I'm torn: I like the look and that it would hide the dirt, but I would also hide the little things you drop...oh what to do, what to do.
I'll probably go for the look since I'll look at it more than work with little things. I think a sand and brown colour might help offset a the grey/black steel colour of most parts.

02LIBRT · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:49 pm

OKJeep wrote:

Those are the exact reasons I'm torn: I like the look and that it would hide the dirt, but I would also hide the little things you drop...oh what to do, what to do.
I'll probably go for the look since I'll look at it more than work with little things. I think a sand and brown colour might help offset a the grey/black steel colour of most parts.

That is what I have but there are black and white flecks along with the browns. I have not had any trouble finding dropped nuts, botls, screws, etc. Obviously I am partial to the brown/sand myself.

Later,
J

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:40 pm

There are tiles and panels for the garage floor.....You can get all types of patterns done to the floor. If you are a sports fan, get a logo put on the floor. I have a Fighting Irish friend with it on his garage floor.

OKJeep · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:27 pm

I considered the tiles, panels and matts as well. I quickly decided they would be far more expensive than the coatings. I like the interlocking tiles, but that money was spent on the house! I figured I was lucky to have been able to give up a bedroom for extra garage (tandem) as well as moving the side out 2'. My budget is tighter now.

Burchie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:31 pm

Quote:

I also added cabinets and workbenches and a TV, fridge, microwave out there and the flecks, to me, gave it a more welcome feel.

5 gallons of ice cold beer?

02LIBRT · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:37 pm

Burchie wrote:

Quote:

I also added cabinets and workbenches and a TV, fridge, microwave out there and the flecks, to me, gave it a more welcome feel.

5 gallons of ice cold beer?

Nice!!!

I am going to put the kegerator in the back yard (BBQ island). :wink:

Later,
J

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:29 pm

So why build a house and live in it? Just build a garage, have a TV, Kegerator, microwave, and KJ in it.

Sit in your KJ while watching TV, drinking beer, and step out to the microwave for popcorn (JUST LIKE BEING AT THE DRIVE-IN when you were a teen)

Burchie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:44 pm

I agree completely. The garage is the biggest room in the house, and everything in it is MINE!!!. MINE, MINE, MINE. :lol:

02LIBRT · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:16 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

So why build a house and live in it? Just build a garage, have a TV, Kegerator, microwave, and KJ in it.

Sit in your KJ while watching TV, drinking beer, and step out to the microwave for popcorn (JUST LIKE BEING AT THE DRIVE-IN when you were a teen)

The rest of the family has to have a place to go... That is what MOST of the house is for. :lol:

J

OKJeep · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:32 pm

I like where this has gone. I've decided on the flooring, the move has provided and extra TV and microwave for the garage and I already have a stereo system in the garage now. I think we are selling one refrigerator since we are buying a new one, but the extra fridge is moving inside. Looks like I am loosing the kegerator and moving my glass fridge from the patio to the garage. I will have a 2'x2' acrylic tub/sink with a hose bib. I think I'm almost set!

Burchie · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:50 pm

I always wanted to build a small bathroom in the corner with a toilet and a urnal. And have the glass case above so I can put the cover of the sports page in. Must have the metal dividers, with the tighten only screws, and of course, an drain in the floor.

Is this heaven or what???

-mark

Garage Floor Coatings

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