In terms of skill level, a DIY garage floor coating falls somewhere between painting a ceiling and building a deck – it’s not impossible, but it takes handiwork, time, and patience.
If you are thinking of applying your own garage floor coating in Vancouver, you should consider a few things first.
Your Application Will Only Be as Good as Your Preparation
Before you get anywhere near a roller, you need to invest some energy in preparing your floors. Garages are typically dirty, dusty, and often stained with oil, grease, and other chemicals. To ensure the epoxy floor coating bonds securely to the concrete, floors must be thoroughly cleaned and dry before starting. This includes chemically removing any pre-existing paint or sealer.
If your garage floor has significant areas of damage, such as large cracks, chips, or potholes, those will need to be repaired before your garage floor coating application. While epoxy can fill in minor imperfections, it cannot cover up or hide major damage.
The last step requires acid etching the surface of your concrete floor to ensure adherence. Using a store-bought chemical solution, a garden hose, and a long-handled rough bristle broom, wet the surface and divide the room into sections, then begin scrubbing the area in one direction until the entire garage has been completed.
For the best results, garage floors should be clean, slightly rough, and even.
You Will Need to Invest in the Right Supplies
Epoxy kits are available with everything you need to mix your garage coating, but you will need other tools and supplies on hand to get the job done.
In addition to the epoxy and the etching solution, you will need:
- Flat-edge shovel or scraper
- Garden hose
- Power scrubber with a brush attachment or long-handled broom
- Rubber squeegee
- Paintbrushes
- 9-inch medium-nap roller and roller pole
- Duct tape
- Plastic bag
- Cleaning/degreasing solution
- Rubber gloves
- Respirator
You Cannot Rush to Finish
A DIY garage floor coating can be accomplished within a few days; however, be prepared to work for it.
After your preparation work has been completed – which isn’t factored into installation time – applying an epoxy coating can take a few hours to apply, keeping in mind you will need at least two coats of epoxy followed by a topcoat.
It is recommended that you use plastic sheeting and painter’s tape to tape the base of the walls up to where you want your epoxy to reach. Then starting with the paintbrush, complete the trim before working your way out with a long-handled paint roller. Once the epoxy has been mixed, you have about 2 hours to complete the painting.
Between applications, the epoxy needs enough time to cure fully before the next coat is applied. Depending on manufacturer specifications, this can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours, factoring in temperature and humidity.
While not a complete how-to guide, this article gives you a rough idea of what to expect if you are considering a DIY garage floor coating in Vancouver.
