painting a garage floor

[Kozworth]

My buddy is renting space in a garage. The floor is pretty dirty, and has its fair share of grand canyon cracks.

We are talking about power washing the crap out of the floor, maybe filling the cracks, and then laying a ton of coats on the floor. Since we are working on jacks its annoying to get dirty no matter how much we sweep.

Does anyone recommend a diy paint to cover the floor, thats decently durable for jacks/stands? Maybe something to fill cracks in a floor besides just concrete?

Appreciate it!

[z31maniac]

Need to use epoxy.

Power wash floor, scrub with phosphoric acid, wash again, let dry, apply epoxy.

But I wouldn't go through all that for a space I don't own.

[bimmerteck]

I wouldn't go through all that for a space I don't own.

Honestly this x2

If you do go ahead with it I found that color flecks over epoxy really help hide the imperfections in the concrete.

[Kozworth]

Yea sounds like a bit of work. I was hoping to get it done in a day.. I was wondering if a basement paint would do some what of an improvement.

Since its more or less our "car getaway" from the daily grind, we usually just go there to fix some things and hang out. It doesnt really need to be some industrial garage style floor ment to last for years.

We might just powerwash the crap a ton, and see how she is underneath.

[mikeedler]

basement paint will work, but not sure how long it will hold up. I painted a section of my new garage with that kinda stuff- but it is the section where the cars are just parked.
like stated before, Epoxy is what you need, and it will fill the cracks too, but it gets VERY expensive.

[DEV0 E30]

basement paint will work, but not sure how long it will hold up. I painted a section of my new garage with that kinda stuff- but it is the section where the cars are just parked.
like stated before, Epoxy is what you need, and it will fill the cracks too, but it gets VERY expensive.

And you want to get the solvent based epoxy, not water based.

I got the "pro" version at home depot that is solvent based, and it seems to be holding up. But that's just for my tiny two car. Next garage/shop is going to be done by pros that offer a lifetime warranty or something so I never have to worry about it again.

[M-technik-3]

I just use cardboard to lye on while I'm under the car. Plus I have plenty of old flightsuit's and coverall's that I use to stay clean.

Armed service's surplus stores for great coveralls.

[02fanatic]

Installing epoxy is very labor intensive and it can be costly...I wouldn't bother on a floor I don't own....REALLY! I'd go ahead and power wash it though, then just use something to lay on, as needed....that'll suffice...really not worth painting or anything IMO.

[Thizzelle]

I wouldn't do it to a rental garage

[Wschnitz]

Get a creeper or two, problem solved.

[adonwilson]

Power wash floor, scrub with phosphoric acid, wash again, let dry, apply epoxy.

This. You need to make sure you do ALL the prep work or it will pull up (with hot tires especially). I'd use an old shop vac to get some of the water off the floor after last wash. It will dry quicker (obviously). Definitely do not use cheap epoxy, like water based. I always use the Sherwin Williams 2 part mixture and mix it very will with a concrete drill and mixer attachment. I did this to a couple areas in one of my warehouses and it's held up well for about a year now with normal forklift traffic.

It requires a fair amount of labor if you're on your own, but does not take long to do at all. Should only need one coat too

[mbonder]

I've done plenty of them (I used to be a contractor), the process these guys are describing is correct. You could cement the larger gaps if you want, or just stuff paint into them, either way you've got a better surface than what you started with.

I wouldn't bother if I were you though. This stuff runs easily $50-75 a gallon and doesn't cover that much square footage as it's meant to go on thick so that one coat covers. It adds up quick if you've got a multi-car garage.

I'd go to home depot and buy a 50' x 50' plastic tarp (blue tarp like your father used to move leaves when you were a kid) and place it on the floor where you'll park the car. Now you are shielded from the dirt underneath. If it gets greasy throw some purple power on it and hose off. Easy and cheap.

[rturbo 930]

Personally I'd just power wash the shit out of it and call it a day.

[GT BMW E30]

I have a 1 1/2 car length garage. I did the rustoleum epoxy floor covering. There are two types. One with the epoxy mixed and one that you buy separate from the paint. I did the separate. It cost me $300 and took 2 day. First day the color and next the epoxy. The epoxy will scratch and dull when using jack stands. I use flat pieces of wood under my jack stands. There is another option. Rustoleum Restore for decks and concrete. I just helped a friend use it on his deck. It came out great but expensive depending on space size.

How big is the garage space? How long will you be renting?

You can just power wash and paint the floor with concrete paint (Benjamin Moore, Home Depot or Lowes) if you just want to work in a clean space

[SlamedIAm]

I'd go to home depot and buy a 50' x 50' plastic tarp (blue tarp like your father used to move leaves when you were a kid) and place it on the floor where you'll park the car. Now you are shielded from the dirt underneath. If it gets greasy throw some purple power on it and hose off. Easy and cheap.

+1 on this or you can even get the plastic roll sold over in the painting section. I'm living at a buddy's house at the moment and the contractors left a huge roll of the stuff after they built it (new development of townhomes). Knowing my oil pan was going to be a messy job we rolled it out and pulled my car on top of it.

Real easy to slide in/out on. Easy to locate fasteners. Any dirt/oil wipes up easily.