Instructions on How to Paint Your Garage Floor

Some home improvement projects are done to improve the look of your home and others are done to add functionality. Then there are those projects that offer both beauty and functionality to your home. Painting your garage floor may not have been on your list of projects to get done soon, but it is the kind of project that can make a huge difference in your home and your life.

Why Paint Your Garage Floor?

Why invest good money in painting your garage floor? For one thing, you are doing more than just painting the concrete. Garage floor paint is actually an epoxy that creates a protective coating over your concrete. This protective coating will allow you to easily clean up liquid spills that may otherwise stain your concrete.

When you put some creativity into painting your garage floor, then you can create some spectacular effects. Take the time to investigate the different kinds of epoxy available and you will find that you can make your garage floor look like it was made of marble, or you can paint your floor the colors of your favorite sports team. The visual impact of a painted garage floor is significant and well worth the investment.

Buy The Proper Materials

The only primer and paint you should be using for your garage floor are materials specifically designed for that purpose. When you go shopping for garage floor paint, you will see a variety of paints for different concrete surfaces. It is critical that you take the time to read the labels and get the right materials.

Step 1 - Make Sure The Air Is Flowing

A safe garage painting project requires that there be plenty of ventilation to allow the fumes to dissipate properly. Good ventilation will also accelerate the drying time of your primer and your paint. Before you start painting, make sure that you can get good air flow throughout your entire garage. This means being able to open windows in the back of the garage as well as opening the front garage door.

Since you will be opening the windows and doors to paint your garage floor, you will want to avoid doing this project when it is raining or snowing out. The weather can be hard to predict, but try to set aside two or three good weather days in a row to get the project done properly. To keep out the bugs and inevitable debris that flies through the air, you should consider putting up some screens over all of your garage openings.

Step 2 - Remove All Debris

Start the cleaning process by sweeping garage floor completely. Debris left on the garage floor can get trapped under the paint and weaken the paint's adhesion to the concrete.

After sweeping away all of the debris, you will then need to scrub the floor with a stiff brush. It is best to use a cleaning combination made of bleach and warm water to get all of the debris cleaned away. You could also invest in a garage floor cleaning solution as well.

After brushing the floor, let the solution sit for a few minutes to get into the concrete pores and bring up deep-seated debris. As the final step, power wash the cleaning solution into the garage drain. Allow the floor to dry completely before moving on.

Step 3 - Patch All Holes And Cracks

Do not rely on the paint to fill in holes and cracks in your garage floor. Once the floor has been cleaned, the next step is to fill in the cracks and holes. For the smaller problems, you can use a repair compound. The larger cracks and holes will require concrete repair compound. Be sure to smooth out all of the repaired areas so they blend in with the rest of the floor when it is painted.

Step 4 - Open The Pores

In order for your the garage floor paint to create a durable protective coating, it needs to have a strong foundation of its own. The way that concrete paint creates its own foundation is to get into the pores of the concrete and establish a solid surface that will not peel.

Take a water misting bottle and spray a small amount of water on your concrete garage floor. If the water is immediately absorbed into the concrete, then you are ready to start applying primer. If the water bubbles up and takes time to seep into the pores, then you will need to etch your floor. You can buy concrete etching at any home improvement store and applying it is as simple as using a paint roller with a telescoping handle. Allow the etching to dry overnight and you will be ready to go.

Step 5 - Primer

Apply your primer in an even coat that covers the entire concrete surface. The easiest way to apply the primer is by using a telescoping paint roller. A bad primer application will cause you final results to look undesirable. Make sure that you apply the primer evenly and allow the primer to dry overnight.

Step 6 - Painting Your Garage Floor

It is critically important that you read the application instructions from the manufacturer before applying your paint. This is especially true if you bought a paint with special effects such as swirling colors or color flecks. The manufacturer's instructions will also let you know how many coats you need to apply and if you need any special equipment to apply your paint.

Allow your paint to dry for at least 24 hours before walking on your garage floor. Realistically, you should wait at least a week before you start using your garage as you normally would.

Painting your garage will give you immediate and spectacular results. Plan your painting project and use a little creativity to get final results that you and your family will truly enjoy. Check out our garage floor paints here.