How to Epoxy-Coat a Garage Floor

Lets be honest unless you previously epoxy-coated your garage floor or have a new garage floor odds are your garage floor is a oily, dirty, stained, gross mess. Adding a a colorful, shiny epoxy floor coating will breathe new life into your garage and give it a showroom finish. Applying an epoxy-coat also helps your garage floor resist oil stains and hides imperfections in the concrete. With an epoxy-coat finish cleaning up your garage floor will be a breeze, your garage floor will wipe clean like a kitchen counter. Applying an epoxy finish is an 7 step process:
Step 1- Prep the area you will be working in. Start by removing everything from the garage, next you are going to want to run plastic sheeting to the walls along the edge of the foundation using painters tape. Once that is complete sweep away any dirt and dust that is on the floor. If the garage floor was previously painted lightly sand it to deg-loss the paint, sweep away any debris, use a bristle broom to scrub down the surface with an all-purpose cleaner.Then, rinse away the cleaner
Step 2- For this step you will need rubber gloves, rubber boots and safety goggles. Mix the etching solution with water in a plastic watering can, following the manufacturer’s directions. Next Scrub the floor with a bristle broom. Once solution is applied and scrubbed into the concrete, water down the garage floor and let the floor dry for at least 4 hours.
Step 3- Now its time to mix the epoxy paint and the hardener together. Begin stirring the epoxy paint, then slowly pour the hardener into it mixing slowly and firmly for 3 minutes
Step 4- Once the epoxy paint and hardener is mixed you have 2 hours to use it for it to work properly. Start by pouring the mix into a roller tray and using an angled paint brush to cut the edges of the garage, make sure to get in any seams and corners that you otherwise would not be able to reach with a roller.
Step 5- Now its time to roll on the epoxy. For this step you will need a 3/8-inch-nap roller fitted with an extension pole. It is important to make sure you don’t paint yourself into a corner, always have an exit plan. Start by painting the back area of the garage farthest away from your exit and work your way towards the exit.
Step 6- Now its time to mix the top coat and the hardener together. Begin stirring the epoxy paint, then slowly pour the hardener into it mixing slowly and firmly for 3 minutes
Step 7- For the final step you will have 2 hours to use the top coat for it to work effectively. The final step is very similar to step 4 and 5. Pour the mixture into a roller tray and cut along the edges, corners and seams. Next, roll on the top coat with a new clean 3/8-inch-nap roller fitted with an extension pole. make sure not to paint yourself into a corner. Allow 24 hours to dry and the job is complete.

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