Epoxy Flooring 101 – The Basics

Garage Floor Coating Information

Although we get many people asking about epoxy flooring, we currently do not sell these products.  We simply haven't found a product that we can feel good selling.  Most DIY flooring kits have low solids and just don't perform very well.  There are several commercial products that are excellent but they are not very forgiving to work with therefore do not lend themselves to a DIY'er.  No to mention the DIY kits do not require grinding and we simply have not found any coating that is going to perform well without grinding the floor.  So this page is simply information to help you if you are looking to coat your garage floor.

Epoxy flooring is a great way to improve the look of your garage while protecting your floor. Although GarageCabinets.com does not distribute or endorse any floor coatings, many of our customers want to install epoxy flooring as part of a garage makeover. The following will give you a basic understanding of epoxy floor coatings. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, this is information you should know.

Why epoxy garage floor coating?

What’s the big deal about having an epoxy flooring? Most garage floors are just plain, simple gray concrete. Eventually garage floors become stained from grease, oils, and chemicals, turning that smooth concrete into an ugly eyesore. Transform your plain concrete floor with an epoxy garage floor coating to add years of service, durability and stain resistance. Epoxy flooring can enhance your home and even increase your property value. While there are many different types of floor coatings, epoxy floor coating is widely used for residential garages and basements, as well as floors in large industrial facilities, and even offices.


What is epoxy floor coating?

Epoxy is made from two different liquid polymers that change into a solid when mixed together in the correct amounts, causing a chemical reaction which changes the liquid polymers into epoxy. Epoxy is made of two components; resin, which is light, odor-free and colorless, and a hardener, which is usually dark in color and has a strong odor. Epoxy is resistant to almost any form of decay, is mechanically tough, and highly adhesive to the surface with which it bonds. 


Are there advantages to epoxy flooring?

Epoxy garage floor coatings are very reliable and durable in all kinds of environments. The resin mixture can be adjusted to meet the required hardness or elasticity needs of your personal garage or facility. Color and color flakes can be added to the mixture to create a completely custom look for your floor. Epoxy floor coating will create a highly durable, long-lasting flooring that is unique and looks great. Epoxy is superior to floor paint in every way.


Preparation of the concrete surface

Proper surface preparation is critical to the long-term success of any installation. All surfaces that will be coated must be cleaned to remove any contaminants that may cause a problem with the bonding process. Depending on the product and the manufacturers recommendations,  concrete may be power washed, and acid-etched, shot-blasted or diamond-ground. After the preparation, the concrete surface must be carefully inspected for any holes or cracks. If any are found on the surface, they will have to be promptly filled and ground level. Once the final preparation is completed, the installation process is ready to start

Epoxy garage floor coatings can be easily cleaned with mild, liquid detergents, hosed down or dust mopped. Now that the floor is protected, grease, oils, and most chemicals will not stain or mark the floor.  

For more information, download our free Garage Floor Coating 101 below, or contact a flooring professional in your area.

Gray Fleck Epoxy Flooring
Tan fleck epoxy flooring
Brown fleck epoxy flooring