Learn the tips and tricks for how to paint garage floors including the pros and cons of various kits. This DIY project for concrete floor coating has been durable, easy to clean, and non-slip when wet!
*Update: It’s been 4 years since we painted our garage floor, and we have even done two more. this project has held up very well. Even with all of the woodworking projects we’ve done in there, I’m still thrilled with the results.
This garage is the epicenter of our DIY world. It’s filled with hopes, creativity, and a whole ‘lotta sawdust. I have written about effective ways to manage tool storage and maximize wall organization to create a respectable home shop to work in, but this painted floor is one of my all-time favorite upgrades.
Benefits of a Painted Garage Floor
We needed a product that was beautiful but functional. We’re NOT gentle on this space. Our criteria:
- Easy clean up, both during the painting and spills while using the floor.
- Non-slip coating
- Not reflective or glossy
- Not slippery when wet; epoxy floor coatings are awful when wet.
- No 2-step epoxy, this is so much easier!
- Durability – resistant to car fluids, tire tracks, dirt, grease & stains.
- Wide range of neutral colors to match the house.
- Floor coatings sometimes reduce temperature fluctuation. For example, after painting our garage floor, the concrete floor is noticeably warmer in the winter.
Here is our before:
Proper prep and materials will make or break a project like this. Although it may look labor intensive, we did all of the prep work, (minus emptying the garage), in a single day.
Recommended Supplies and Materials
- Strong degreaser or cleaner
- Long-handled scrub brush
- Muriatic acid
- A large Bucket for mixing acid.
- Safety gear (large rubber gloves, closed-toe shoes, safety glasses)
- Baking soda (1 cup per gallon of water)
- Hose with water connection.
- Adhesive roller or rent a textured paint sprayer.
- Paint supplies (paint pole, paint trays, large stir sticks).
- Garage floor coating (see below for brands)
What Floor Coating Should I Use?
After testing many products over the years, I’ve found that Epoxy-based coatings are the most durable option. I recommend this list as a jump point for your own research:
- Homeowner/Durable but Budget Friendly – Rustoleum EpoxyShield or Rocksolid
- Professional Grade/Maximum Durability and Chemical Resistance – Armor Garage or ArmorPoxy Armorclad
- Weather Resistant/Non-slip/Non-gloss – Behr Granite Grip
Behr Granite Grip was the best choice for our garage, since we use it for woodworking. If we did more mechanically inclined work, I’d choose one of the professional grades. Adding texturizer to the epoxies makes them less slippery, a HUGE deciding factor for us.
Beginner’s Guide to Acid Etching
Acid etching preps concrete to accept and bond with a coating. If you don’t create a good environment for the product to bond to, it may contribute to failure. This is not something that many DIYers have done often so I am giving some detailed tips here for this sort of project:
- Always pour acid into water, NOT water into acid. Does anyone else remember those “What Not to Do in the Chemistry Lab” videos from school? The boiling acid example makes this rule pretty clear.
- Both the acid etching and the paint or epoxy products must be applied when air/surface temperatures are above 50 degrees F.
- Read and follow all manufacturer’s instructions for the muriatic acid and use only with adequate ventilation.
- Neutralize & Rinse: Mix 1 cup of baking soda + 1 gallon of water and sprinkle over the floor. Allow to sit for 10 minutes and rinse with a garden hose.
- When mostly dry, wipe your hand across the floor to make sure there is no powdery white residue left behind. If so, thoroughly rinse again. Allow the floor to dry completely (2 days).
- If your concrete has been previously sealed, you may need to abrade the surface with a grinder rather than acid etch or do multiple coats.
While etching isn’t hard, safety is the priority here. Muriatic Acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, is a strong acid. Wear safety goggles, rubber gloves, and old shoes that you don’t care about. Hubby is sensitive to fumes, so he wore a respirator mask. That would be overkill for most.
Pro Tip: The concrete should be approximately the roughness of 150 grit sandpaper. If not, repeat the etching process.
Expert Tips for Painting Garage Floor
I’ve never had a floor coating fail when following these steps – however, the hard truth is that paint coating failure such as chipping, peeling, and not curing correctly does happen. These tips will help ensure your success:
- Perform a moisture test. If your concrete floor collects moisture it can get under the coating and prevent a proper bond.
- Regularly stir the aggregate/flakes to keep them evenly suspended.
- Work in 4 foot by 4 foot sections so that you aren’t going over semi-dry paint.
- Raw concrete is porous so it may suck up the paint quickly. Second and third coats are easier to smooth out.
- Apply at least two coats to get full, even coverage. We applied 3, but our coats were thin, so it kept within the 50 sq ft per gallon recommendation from Behr.
- Between coats, wait the manufacturer’s recommended time. It’s ok if you walk on it to recoat, imperfections get covered.
- Many brands recommend spike shoes in order to walk on the fresh paint for subsequent coats. We didn’t use any and it worked perfectly fine.
More DIY Home Projects we have done
- Garage Tool Storage Ideas for Pro Organizing
- Baseboard Repair and Caulking
- What to Know Before Finishing Your Basement
- Building A Kitchen Island
- All Of Our DIY Room Reveals!
- How To Paint Garage Doors
The floor is ready for light traffic in 24 hours but allow coating to dry for 72 hours before subjecting to automotive tires. Longer dry time is required in cooler temperatures and in higher humidity. Don’t rinse the floor for 30 days for a long-lasting workshop quality garage floor!
FAQs
For areas that may get wet, a non-slip paint is highly recommended. Use an epoxy based coating plus an aggregate like Rustoleum Rocksolid plus Shark Grip textured additive. Another durable option for weathered concrete is Behr Granite Grip which is ideal for garage floors, patios, and porches.
If your garage floor is well weathered, it may not need to be etched. To ensure maximum durability and chip resistance, concrete should be etched to where it feels rough, like 120-150 grit sandpaper.
As long as the existing floor coating is still well bonded to the floor and not peeling up, it can be repainted. Epoxy may need to be sanded or chemically removed.
The Behr Granite Grip we used does not require a topcoat. Most epoxy based highly recommend a topcoat, which may or may not be included in the kit.
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How To Paint A Garage Floor
Tools
- Hose with water connection
- Bucket for mixing acid
- Paint Brush
- Paint Pole
- Long Handled Brush
Supplies
- Safety gear large rubber gloves, closed toe shoes, safety glasses
- Baking soda 1 cup per gallon of water
- Strong degreaser or cleaner
- Muriatic acid
- Adhesive roller or Rented Textured Paint Sprayer
- Garage floor coating see Notes below for recommendations
- 3 Paint Tray
- Large Stir sticks
Instructions
- Moisture Test. Tear off a few feet of clear plastic wrap and lay it on the floor. Use Duck Tape or another well sealing tape around all of the edges. I would recommend leaving for a day or two and check periodically if any moisture, color change, or condensation collects on the floor or the underside of the plastic wrap. If the moisture test fails, consult a professional to find the source and solutions.
- Clear the Area. Remove everything off the floor.
- Clean the Floor. Make sure you scrub off any oil, dirt, or chipping paint from the floor. Use a good degreaser and a long-handled scrub brush to remove any contaminants.
- Acid Etching. Wear safety goggles, rubber gloves, and old shoes. Wet the concrete first before pour the diluted acid on the floor. It should begin bubbling and fizzing immediately. If not then you will want to increase the strength.
- Lightly scrub the acid solution. Use a push broom or long handled scrub brush. This helps to create a uniform etch of the concrete. Let the solution sit for 10 – 15 minutes while it continues to fizz and bubble. Do not let the floor dry out.
- Neutralize and Rinse. Mix 1 cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water and sprinkle over the floor. Allow to sit 10 minutes and then rinse with a garden hose. When mostly dry, wipe your hand across the floor to make sure there is no powdery white residue left behind. If there is, thoroughly rinse again. The concrete should be approximately the roughness of 150 grit sandpaper. If not, repeat the etching process.
- Allow the floor to dry completely (2 days). The concrete should be approximately the roughness of 150 grit sandpaper. If not, repeat the etching process.
- Fill Cracks. Large cracks can be filled in with concrete patch. For small cracks, the aggregate will fill in with a brush. Paint one coat and let dry before your roller coat.
- Apply Floor Coating. Rent a textured paint sprayer or use an adhesive roller (not a regular paint nap roller) to apply the paint. Working in a 4×4 area, make sure to minimize roller marks by working in a random pattern.
- Allow to Dry. The floor is ready for light traffic in 24 hours but allow coating to dry for 72 hours before subjecting to automotive tires. Longer dry time required in cooler temperatures and in higher humidity. Don’t rinse the floor for 30 days and you have yourself a great floor!
JENNIFER STEPHENS says
Firstly, thank you for the details on how to do this. I feel I read the comments but I may have missed this response. I am wondering what advice you have if the garage floor is already (poorly) painted. Can I simply paint over it if all other factors are properly in place?
Rachel says
For a surface like you are talking about, you should make sure to remove any loose or chipped paint. Presence of moisture and/or sealers will prevent the coating from adhering properly and may cause product failure. To test paint bonding, you can follow these steps:
1. With a razor blade, cut an X through the coating and down to the concrete.
2. Apply a 4” piece of duct tape over the X and press firmly.
3. Completely remove the tape with one quick pull.
4. If less than 25% of the taped area is removed, the existing coating is adhering well and you may apply the over the existing paint.Thoroughly clean the surface to remove any dirt or contaminants. Prior to applying the Granite Grip, the previous coating will either need to be scuff sanded with coarse sandpaper.
5. If more than 25% of the taped area is removed with the tape, the original coating is not adhering well, and the floor should not be coated unless all previous paint is removed using a concrete floor sander or suitable paint stripper.
Hope that helps and good luck with your project!
Charles says
Excellent article – it’s now 18 months later. Can we see a picture and a brief update on how it’s holding up?
For any one else who has used this to re-do their garage and parked their cars on it, how is the coating holding up?
Thanks
Rachel says
We are in the middle of a few furniture building projects in the garage, so photos would be hard. However, I am super happy with the durability and longevity of the granite grip. We have driven, dragged, dropped stuff, and generally been pretty harsh on the floor. (It’s the DIY Life!) However, it hasn’t stained or discolored no matter low long between cleanings. No flaking, chipping, or scuff marks either. I need to touch up a few areas because my 9 year old son dragged a trash-bag full of white paint supplies across the floor and left paint marks, but nothing would have helped that. Honestly, I am really impressed and I would be honest if it wasn’t.
Angel says
Hi! I’m wondering how this would do on a pool house floor. We are looking for a waterproof coating but it must be nonslip as well. Any ideas? You
Rachel says
I have heard that this is perfect for a pool area application, so long as it is allowed to dry properly and passes the moisture test I described in prepping. For maximum success on outdoor applications, I would pick a time when rain isn’t likely to happen for at least several days, and use a sprayer rather than a roller if it’s a large area just because it’s faster to lay down. Many Home Depot stores have them available for rent. It is definitely non-slip, which I love, but it isn’t as rough as concrete applications you see at community pools.
Lora says
Hi
I live in Ohio and during the winter salt is transferred on to the garage floor from the tires. Will the salt damage this coating?
Thanks for the post.
Rachel says
Salt would be abrasive, but I don’t think chemically it would do any damage. We have thrown just about everything at this coating and it looks just as good today as it did when it was new, except where my son spilled some white paint. That we will have to touch up.
Extreme Epoxy Coatings says
Thank you for taking the time to provide such an informative and helpful post.
Kim Carter says
I applied the granite grip coating to My heated garage about 6 weeks ago and it cured very quickly due to having a heat pump. Do you know What should I use to clean the floor when necessary? I am going to be using it for a dog kennel area and will need to be able to clean the floor periodically. I have searched the Internet and cannot find a recommended cleaner. I normally use a non-toxic, bleach free kennel cleaner that kills bacteria and any animal viruses. Do you think a product like that would be safe? I don’t want to compromise the integrity of the coding so that the flooring will last many years. Any suggestion from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Thank you-Kim
Rachel says
I have honestly been cleaning ours with water and a decent scrub brush. We use simple green to clean up things like grease if necessary. A kennel cleaner probably has a neutralizing agent in it, so it should be fine.
Kim Matlock says
Hey, Kim, Kim here. How’s your kennel floor holding up ? I found this while searching for an easy to clean , no skid but not too rough flooring option.
Janet Horseman says
hi I’m wondering if you know if we can cover Granite grip with an epoxy or other clear finish to smooth the surface a little bit. I love the look and the depth and would really like to give it a Sheen or glossy look. I just want to make sure the product I use is the correct one.
Rachel says
That is a great question! I’m sure that it would be fine actually as long as you waited a few days to put the second coating on. I would check with either Behr directly (try their FB page or customer service line maybe?) for a specific product to use.
Larry says
Did you end up putting a clear finish? I was thinking the same. THanks
Jack says
You emphasize the importance of the moisture test but did I miss the follow-up? If there is moisture are there additional steps or is that the end of the project?
Rachel says
For this particular paint, I probably wouldn’t recommend it if the moisture test fails. That isn’t to say that there aren’t products out there that would work. I would probably check with Rustoleum or a local paint company like Sherwin Williams if they have something that would work.
Michelle says
Two questions:
1. If we didn’t have the concrete folks apply a smooth finish, could we skip the step of etching?
2. Would this also work for patios made of concrete? Is it scratchy to the touch or uncomfortable to sit on. Random but helpful if there are kids sitting on the ground of the patio.
I’m happy I found your post! I was just asking my husband the other day if it would be crazy to try to epoxy our new garage (we’re building in December) and he said yes. I feel like this is an awesome and affordable option!!!
Rachel says
Thank you so much for your questions! With any kind of “paint” or epoxy, proper bonding means increasing the surface area. It’s just like sanding before you paint furniture, if that makes sense. If your concrete floor feels about the equivalent of 150 grit sandpaper or rougher, then I think you would be fine without etching first, as long as you give it a good cleaning and remove any oil, stains, etc. Secondly, an outdoor concrete patio is perfect for this (see my last note). It has a non slip surface, so the closest I can compare it to is like a nonslip bathtub bottom. I walk on it in my bare feet all the time. I feel like it’s much more comfortable than bare concrete! It also doesn’t seem to be as prone to temperature fluctuations. Concrete can be so cold but I notice this coating isn’t as cold. Lastly, my experience is painting a garage floor and I looooooove it! I love that it isn’t shiny or glossy or dangerously slippery when wet like epoxy based coatings can be. But I do think that the considerations are different for something like a non-shaded outdoor patio. Ours has been great, but I have seen a few reviews say that it chipped off their outdoor concrete. That could be user error (i.e. they didn’t do a moisture test and condensation got under the paint), but I like to be thorough. I hope that answers your particular situation and good luck with your project!
Hal says
How does it hold up under car tires. The stuff I used previously gets stained from the tires.
Rachel says
I can’t personally vouch for tires, since we have only driven a motorcycle on it a few times and parked the bicycles. Ours has held up really well to grease, machine oil, and our son who somehow never makes it to the street with the kitchen trash. The smoker leaves tracks on it when we wheel it around, but those have rinsed off easily. The directions say that it’s made for driving on, so that is all I know. Either way, I would absolutely not drive on it until the floor was fully cured. I wish I could be more definitively helpful! You can probably message Behr through Facebook/twitter or ask a paint expert at Home Depot.
Lianne says
We just did our garage 15 days ago and we waited 10 days before parking our vehicles on it and it peeled right off under 2 tires so I definitely recommend using cardboard under tires if you have to park on it prior to waiting the 30 days, which we weren’t aware of until we saw a few reviews with similar issues. It also shows the black tire line were we drove in which might also be due to being before curing for 30 days. We actually did 3 thin coats as 2 coats didn’t seem to give it a nice even coverage and after reading reviews a few others did 4 coats and were very happy that they did.
Luf says
Nice Work! How many boxes did you use all together?
Rachel says
I used about 8 gallons of the floor coating. We purchased 2 5-gallon buckets so there is some left over.
Nicole Q-Schmitz says
I think we’ll be tackling our garage floors this year too… and they definitely need this stuff! Seems super simple 🙂
Leanna says
Our garage is in constant use. We have it very well organized but its still more of a workshop with the big power tools than a car garage. I want to reseal the floor like this and from the looks of your example it would be well worth the time and effort. Great makeover.
simple nature decor says
My garage floor is in great need of a waterproof paint job like this! The concrete is in bad shape. My husband says he will do it this summer and hopefully he will. Nice update.
Maria
Rachel says
Thank you! We love it. It was a really big improvement and it is holding up very well.
charlestoncrafted says
What a huge upgrade! I love the look.