How to Epoxy Coat a Garage Floor | This Old House

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor assists epoxy-coating expert Doug Fasching in creating a good-looking, hardwearing, stain-resistant garage floor. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

Shopping List for How to Epoxy Coat a Garage Floor:

Tools for How to Epoxy Coat a Garage Floor:

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How to Epoxy Coat a Garage Floor | This Old House

[plaid]

Those color flakes are important. Without them it would be far too easy to spot any nut or bolt or tiny screw you drop. But with them added you have lots of little spots to catch your eye and distract you.

[gibsonvarcelone]

I work in a paint store. Whenever I have anyone say they are doing epoxy for the first time I always make them watch this video. Even if they are Spanish speaking they get it. I used to have complaints because they would mess up somewhere, but since I started using this video to show them the process it hasn't happened since. Great video, guys! :D

[ChErRyaVepK]

"the floor feels dry"
"How dry should it be?"
"Dry"
Lol.

[MorrMedia]

This video felt like the editor couldn’t wait to finish it

[DIYApprentice]

For my own personal tastes, I would have fixed the cracks as part of the prep.

[Clem]

"So no concerns with washing this plutonium 239 into the driveway?"

[mbur]

Two tips.
1) to fill in cracks, use a paint thickener such as cabosil to make a thick puddy with the epoxy. Apply with a small trowel or squeegee before the first coat.
2) broadcast the chips by hand by throwing into the air to allow the chips to evenly disperse

[DavideNastri]

"How does that look Brian?"
"I think that looks really good."
"That looks like a good job."

* Classy country outro *

[McRambleOn]

I like the flakes, or rather the idea of them, to hide floor inconsistencies, distract from future scratches and scuffs, and to also add a bit of “flair” or movement- especially considering how big a space is being painted and that it’s a light color. I think the Terrazzo floor look that they’re going for is attractive but while it’s the most common design that these treatments/kits use, there’s a lot of ways one can customize the look to fit personal taste and also help meet or even improve functional needs. You can use enamel additives like sand to improve traction, and that added texture would help improve the look as well as hide imperfections.
Someone made a very good point about dropping a nut or screw and looking for days to find it on a floor with such a busy pattern, which is so accurate it makes me anxious just thinking about it. So it’s important to remember what you’ll be doing in the space when choosing the base color and any design elements. You could get around this particular problem by installing a bright or very dark base color. And FYI- you only need flakes to be a few shades off from the base in order to break up the look or get the impression of texture/movement. So don’t be afraid to create some visual impact/interest in your garage/workspace. The impact will obviously be dampened once there’s cars, equipment and other furnishings added in. It will actually be helpful and more safe since it can make it more obvious to see an object in your path, a puddle, or something else that’s out of place.

And don’t let resale fears stop you bc potential buyers down the road won’t care about the color of the garage floor- they will simply appreciate that the treatment exists in the first place and assess it on its utility and upkeep. So go ahead and put in a red, blue or burnt orange floor bc it matches your branding or complements the color of your car. Throw in some clouds of glitter to match your personality. Put a big Logo of your business or favorite sports team in the middle, delineate work/caution areas by adding lines or colors changes. Just make sure the material of the decal or appliqué is compliant with type of flooring you are adding. Then a top coat will cement the look.

There are other options like different sizes, shapes, colors and finishes of whatever flake/ product is applied at the end. Example: different flake spacing, more uniform shapes, monochromatic colors, metallic shine... Consider painting patterns with another color enamel, or color blocking to delineate work spaces, you could have one color flake in an area but more mixed in to it in others. Make the floor matte or add custom appliqués... use an entirely different material and process than what everyone else does and always has done...
Just don’t be afraid to create something that’s more pleasing to the/your eye, that will help you make the best use of the space and enhance your experience while in it. Spend a few extra dollars on a certain type or color flake, order a custom monogram or additive to get a certain finish.

Sometimes it takes a little more research, viewing other videos, and knowing there’s other materials available than what comes in a typical, pre made kit. You put so much work into the preparation that the outcome and final look should be one that represents your hard work and helps make smart use of the space. Don’t be afraid to be creative, think a little harder, and make a unique and personalized finished product that best meets your needs, takes into consideration how you will use and move in the space, and makes you proud and happy to be there- especially since with a weekend of work you could end up staring at the results for 20 years.

[chrisesposito]

Try using Delta Polymers industrial strength Polycoat with some sand in between the 2 coats. It will give the floor some grip and then top it off with Polythane 1005. You will not have to worry about your garage floor for the next 20 years.

[priscillawilliams]

Great all the way till the end. You barely let us see the finished product!

[TheAhoyk]

Great work ..love it thank you very much

[chriscoco]

I've done several epoxy commercial floors including my own, and we always chemically clean then acid wash and power wash, use a commercial epoxy that is resistant to all chemicals including battery acid.

[raynutty]

Why didn't you fill in the cracks and the rock pops? Self leveling caulk would have made it look so much nicer. Those cracks are just gonna get bigger over time.

[ronaldphelps]

Good video, Would this be good for a prebuild garage floor made of wood? Thanks

[karenbenton]

Non Skid paint for garage floors is the trick, like many of you stated fill the cracks fist. larger cracks might need to be filled 2 or 3 times.

[IVAOify]

It's an easy and must do project. Now, with that said, you have to be careful of how wet it gets or hope you have great balance.

[jimcole]

If I did a floor and added glitter to stick and didn’t can I add a clear epoxy on top to hold the glitter/specks down? If I roll if it will stick like a lint roller I wonder if I can spray it

[edwinvelasquez]

Great video. how do you charge? by sf?

[sqmp]

I had painted my floor with an acrylic waterbase paint, then there was some scrath here and there on top, can i touch up and paint over this existing floor paint with and epoxy paint ( that epoxy paint with hardener one) without removing the waterbase floor paint?