Garage Floor Painting - Attractive and Protective
You may be considering garage floor painting purely for aesthetic reasons but it is a great project to protect your floor from stains and degrading too. Garage floor painting reduces the chances of needing to repair the floor later and it boosts resale value of the home.
You will need some materials to get started on this project and some of them involve protective rubber gloves as well as eye protection. It is very important to have these as some of the materials are quite caustic and can be quite hazardous. Protecting yourself is paramount so check and make sure that the garage area will also be well ventilated as the fumes may be harmful.
Preparations
You will need specially formulated epoxy paint for garage floor painting as well as primer, concrete cleaner, paint rollers, concrete or mortar repair compound for cracks, concrete etcher, nylon paintbrushes and stifle bristle brushes. In order for the paint to adhere properly, schedule your garage floor painting project for a day that is between 50° to 90° F.
Before you can even think about garage floor painting, the concrete floor needs to be cleaned using a commercial concrete cleaner or even a bleach mixture. Using the stiff bristle brush, scrub the floor with the cleaner to loosen dirt, grease and grime and then rinse well with water. You may need to rent a pressure washer if there are any stubborn stains that will not readily come out.
After the floor is dry, use the concrete mortar compound to repair any cracks in the floor as this will help create a smoother surface for your garage floor painting. Allow to dry and etch the surface of the concrete floor (a special chemical you spray onto the floor) so that the surface opens up enough to allow the paint to become absorbed more readily.
The Painting
Using a long handled paint roller, apply a coat of primer onto the floor and allow to dry at least 8 to 10 hours before applying the topcoat epoxy in your garage floor painting project. It is important that you use epoxy paint specifically made for garages as it is the only kind which will adhere well to the concrete and provide a smooth finish. Use the nylon paint brushes or lint-free rollers to apply the epoxy garage paint.
Once you apply the epoxy, allow your garage floor painting job to dry at least 24 hours before attempting to walk on it and at least a week before driving a vehicle on it. You may also buy garage floor painting kits with the epoxy along with decorative flecks and a special top coating. It is up to you as to which option to pursue but either way, you are likely going to have to make some paint touch-ups in the heavy traffic areas about once a year.
