Best garage floor finish?

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Iciclehead

I am always befuddled by the difference between my garage floor and that of a commercial parking garage or industrial shop.

For example, the parkade I park at for work has what looks to be a textured epoxy coating, seemingly very thick (perhaps as much as 1/8 of an inch) and it gets cars running over it, dripping on to it, slamming on brakes, grinding gravel into it and it still looks new every time they wash it down.

Where do I get THAT stuff? Can I just apply it over my epoxy? Should we be seeking more of a membrane than a coating?

D.

I can't remember what they used on mine, but I can't forget the can in came in 1 gallon, white can with an Orange strip across the top. I believe from a google search that it's called "Devoe"

Devoe Coatings : Epoxy Superstore Contractor Center, Epoxy Superstore Contractor Center

But this was just the pain in a huge stack of cans he used. The entire floor was acid etched before the base, I remember that as well. And some special slip coating stuff was applied as well.

[skunked]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Porcelain tiles...not joking either

Yep.

after seeing Jack Olsen's garage and a few others on Garage Journal we decided to go with 18" porcelain tiles with a tight black grout.

[Scott R]

I have definitely cracked tiles on a garage floor before. Once with a rolling floor jack, and the second time when I dropped an air impact from about two feet up. Maybe I'm tough on my floors though.

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by Scott R

I have definitely cracked tiles on a garage floor before. Once with a rolling floor jack, and the second time when I dropped an air impact from about two feet up. Maybe I'm tough on my floors though.

Always a risk for sure....but then again, you can screw up epoxy pretty well as easily! I would think that one could also replace a really screwed up tile if it got that bad.

I would worry about the slippery when wet problem, epoxy has some of that concern as well.

Dennis

[skunked]

Originally Posted by Scott R

I have definitely cracked tiles on a garage floor before. Once with a rolling floor jack, and the second time when I dropped an air impact from about two feet up. Maybe I'm tough on my floors though.

We decided we would rather replace a cracked tile than try and reapply a section of epoxy or stain/poly that came up. We've done acid stains with a poly clear and several different epoxies in the past and know it's all about the floor prep. This floor was a little rough and would have required resurfacing if we went with an epoxy or stain process.

[chocolatelab]

For those with tile floors.

Are they extra slippery?

[R K T]

My last two garages....one I did with vinyl tiles and my favorite was commercial grade indoor/outdoor carpet. Heated and cooled, surround sound and flat screen.

[skunked]

Originally Posted by chocolatelab

For those with tile floors.

Are they extra slippery?

That would depend on the tile used.

[911_Dude]

That carpet looks great... until the spill. Im guessing you dont do much heavy work in there. But thats ok. It really does look amazing.

I used Devoe, as mentioned above. Etched, primed, two coats of color, two coats of clear. It looks fabulous. And I abuse the crap out of mine. It needs a polish coat to touch it up after a few years.

I just think the commercial stained and sealed concrete floors look and wear much better. My grocery has these amazing brown stained sealed concrete floors. They are flat as a mirror, which I have never seen in a garage. I think they must grind them smooth somehow. The store is 5 years old and the floors look brand new. I just dont know if its cost feasible.

[R K T]

Originally Posted by 911_Dude

That carpet looks great... until the spill. Im guessing you dont do much heavy work in there. But thats ok. It really does look amazing.
.

Thanks....but I actually did a lot of dirty work in that garage. Since it was a commercial grade carpet coated with some sort of scotchgaurd stuff, spills or drips wiped up really easy with no stains. I would do it again.

I just visited a friend of a friend that put wooden flooring in his garage. It looked great and was very tough. He had one of his cars on jacks and when he removed them there was no indentation at all. I should have snapped a pic or two.

[azasadny]

My father just had his kitchen floor done with porcelain tile that looks just like Oak, so I would do that! I would have to win the lottery, 1st...

[juan ruiz]

Juan, I recently did my garage and this are my suggestions.

Pre Work- That's the only way that the product will stick to the ground.

In my case I removed all the paint down, then washed with degreaser, then Acid etched, washed with the degreaser, acid etched again, then primer, paint, then a non slip clear coat.

Stay away from the home depot or inexpensive coatings, stick with a manufacturer of professional grade products, in my case I choose

Legacy HD System 600 sq ft. [HD600Kit] - $293.00 : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

Again, Prep work is the key, any short cuts will result on the paint coming off.

I ended taking all the paint by hand, however there's a machine to strip the paint



Fully Done



Closer Look



Is going on about 3 moths and so far still looks fantastic.

I hope that helps