Painting a garage floor is one of the oldest and most cost-effective ways to transform your dull looking garage floor into something you can be proud of. The most important benefit of painting your garage floor is that it provides the floor with a good amount of protection with a variety of colors to choose from.
As a result, cleaning the garage floor becomes easier. Also, besides giving your garage a great look and feel, painting your garage floor makes it durable and flexible to impacts like chemicals, stains, and abrasion. With a painted floor, you don’t need to worry about damaging the floor if you drop a heavy garage tool or an auto part by any chance.
Garage Floor Epoxy Paints
There are many types of epoxy paints you can use in painting your garage floor, but three of them are very popular because of their cost-effectiveness. These include the following;
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100 Percent Solid
100 percent solid epoxy paint is the purest of the epoxy paints. Although it is durable, it is difficult to apply since it hardens quickly. It is also expensive and is recommended best left to professionals.
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Solvent-Based
Solvent-based epoxy paint is made up of 40-60 percent solids that are combined with chemical solvents. Solvent-based epoxy is popular because it comes in many different colors, but the fumes emitted from this type of epoxy are very potent. Although it goes onto the floor nicely, it is best to wear proper gear to protect the lungs when applying it. The pricing is quite moderate.
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Water-Based
Water-based epoxy paint is made up of 40-60 percent solids that are combined with water. The fumes are not dangerous, so water-based is best used in homes
Preparing Garage Floor For Painting
At this point, it is clear that you are probably interested in painting your garage floor, so here are a few easy steps on how you can go about that.
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Clean and Prep the floor
Concrete is very porous and easily collect dirt and grime, so cleaning with a power washer or floor buffing machine is best. Do not skip this part! If your pressure washer allows it, you can add a degreaser to the water as well to get things cleaned. At this point, it is important that you allow it to dry well.
If it so happens that you do not have access to a power washer, you can use a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush (on a broom handle) and a hose with a high-pressure nozzle as an alternative. This will still get the job done. You will need to use a lot more elbow grease to get that dirt out of there.
Use a degreaser, TSP, or laundry detergent for added cleaning power and, for extra dirty floors, allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes before giving it a final scrubbing. Just make sure that you do not allow the cleaning solution to dry on the concrete. Do note that if you have any old paints or sealers on your floor, you will need to remove this first with a chemical stripper before proceeding to the next stage.
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Fill in any cracks in the concrete
There are various products on the market to help you fill in the cracks. For smaller cracks, you can use a concrete/mortar repair compound; however, you will need a concrete patch for thicker cracks or holes. If it is a deeper crack, you will need to fill the crack in layers allowing adequate dry time between layers (this can take a while). Wipe the excess product off the crack with a wet rag or scraper to level it out and create a smooth surface.
Be sure to read all of the manufacturer’s instructions on your repair product for recommended cure times before painting. Cure time here refers to the period it takes cementitious materials to harden and acquire enough strength for work to continue on them. The waiting period could be up to a week while some others may be recommended up to a month.
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Etch the Floors
Depending on the surface of your concrete floors, you may need to etch the surface. Etching opens up the pores of the concrete to allow the paint to absorb better. To test if your floor needs etching, drop a small amount of water on the floor and see how quickly it is absorbed. If it is absorbed quite quickly, you likely do not need to etch. If it tends to pool on the surface of the floor, using a commercial concrete etcher is recommended. Remember to allow it to dry thoroughly.
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Apply a Bonding Primer
The primer is a pre-treatment for porous concrete and is designed to promote the adhesion of the paint. You can use a paintbrush to cut in on the edges around the garage and use a roller for the rest. It goes on a little milky, so you can see where you are painting, but it dries clearly. Allow it to set for at least 4 hours (and no longer than 30 days) before applying your paint.
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Apply the Epoxy Paint
Ensure that the paint goes on smoothly and covers the floor well. As with the primer, you can just cut around the edges using a brush and then roll on the rest. It will look pretty good after just one coat, but you should apply a second coat to be safe.
It is recommended that the second coat be applied in the opposite direction to the first coat (i.e., if the first coat was applied lengthwise, the second coat should be applied width wise). You can then allow it to dry for a day and then your new garage floor is ready for use.
Conclusion
Painting your garage floor will instantly make your garage look cleaner, fresher and is a relatively easy and inexpensive transformation. Compared to plain concrete floors, painted floors will provide extra protection against mold and mildew and automobile fluids. They are also water-resistant, easier to clean, and will eliminate the dust that bare concrete floors produce. It’s a win-win!
Above all, it is important to recruit the service of a professional epoxy painting company within your locality. This reduces the stress associated with doing it yourself or doing a shoddy paint job. When it comes to garage painting, Epoxy Central is your go-to destination for a cost-effective and professional painting service. With over 20 years’ experience offering unparalleled services coupled with a team of qualified staff, Epoxy Central is a force to reckon with.
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