Garage floor coating......

49erRider

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Thought this might be the best place to ask.

At the end of August we will be moving into a new home. It’s a new build so I thought great, this go around I’ll do a floor coating to keep the stains and mess away.

I was shocked to see even on a new build all the companies recommend an etching and full install process similar to if your garage floor is oil soaked and stained.

I was hoping to just be able to buy a kit at Lowe’s and DIY. Is this not going to be the case. Any success or horror stories.

Thanks

Brad
 
I close 8/6 on a new build and was think about the same thing.


Please keep me updated on your process. My current house was a new build and kept kicking myself for not doing it. I do a lot of work on cars in my garage so I have stains all over the place currently.
 
Do the etching...

Prep prep prep... Makes the finish.

Why skimp? Are you only going to be there a couple years, so it will be someone else's mess to etch and do right later?
 
Do the etching...

Prep prep prep... Makes the finish.

Why skimp? Are you only going to be there a couple years, so it will be someone else's mess to etch and do right later?
The idea behind it was I was hoping with a new build it wasn’t necessary. I can always look into renting an etcher and still trying one the home kits. Different company quotes look like 3.5-5k to do a garage which is way out of the question.
 
Like any paint job, the devil is in the prep work to get a finish that looks good and works like you want it to.
 
Did you do it or have a company come out?
I had the guy who power washes driveways, homes, etc for the builder and others. Cost me $1600 which is why I took the chance with him as my neighbor paid $3500 from Carolina Garage Floors.
Mine is holding up very well though a bit slippery when wet even with the flakes.
I would refer you to him but don’t think he’d travel to Charlotte.
 
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Did you do an etching? The concrete will have cured for an excess of 60 days so no worries there. Was hoping I could bypass the etching on a new floor.
yes, etching was done before epoxy was applied
 
The DIY kits come with a etch solution, or you could rent a machine. The first garage I coated 10 years ago with the rustoleum kit and the floor still looks good, but you can see some wear spots in the decorative chips over the years.

I coated my current garage floor a couple months ago with the same kit and applied a clear coat with anti skid additive. I recommend the clear coat.
Like mentioned above, floor prep is key.
 
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In my honest opinion, if this is a new home and the garage floor is still untouched, I would recommend contacting a company that polishes concrete floors.

It's not cheap, but it is the way to go in my opinion. Take a close look at the floors in Lowe's or Home Depot. Not sure if all the stores have polished concrete, but the stores that do that I've seen, the floors look awesome.

I wouldn't go the epoxy route myself. But that's me.

@49erRider Do a little research on polished concrete floors before making your final decision. I wish I would have had my garage floor polished 13 years ago when we built our house.
 
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I researched this when I bought my new built home in April. The reason I didn't do it is there's a huge difference between the kit you buy and professional epoxy installations. Research the thickness, rustoleum etc are about 2 to 4 mil thick where a professional job winds up about 11 or more. For me I figured I'd wait and get it etched and done professionally when ready. That just the information I found. I've seen some diy jobs that look amazing though also.
 
My family is sales supplies to concrete contractors and DIY. Etching works....however a grind is far superior for prep. If you add a metal flake before a clear the flake will establish a mechanical bond along with a chemical.

It's all in the prep.....how much? ALL OF IT


Had a customer (DIY) that called us because he had don his own floor. After it was cure and driving his Vet around, he parked in the garage. Next morning when he backed out he heard popping noise...the hot tires had glued to the floor and literally pealed it up.
 
friend of mine does it down that way... Cross Coatings.. does a lot of commercial jobs.. race shops and such...
 
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