Considering garage floor paint may be a good idea if you’re trying to decide on a garage floor. Not only does it put a nice, shiny coat on the garage floor, but it’s also easy to clean out. Most people find this the most attractive garage flooring option. If there’s already something on the garage floor, such as a previous paint coat that’s either worn or just nasty, then you can generally just lay the new coat right on top as long as the floor is clean and free of any other types of contaminants. Since it’s pretty thick, garage floor paint generally doesn’t need to be matched to the current color of the floor.
How Long Does It Usually Take?
Many garage floor paints kits take only three hours to apply, including preparing the current flooring. Though a much more permanent solution, this time frame is similar to other garage floor solutions such as mats or tiling. This estimate also is only for a normal garage; laying down garage floor paint will take longer if you have an unusually large garage.
Preparing Your Concrete Garage Floor
Before laying your garage floor paint, the concrete must be prepared as per the paint manufacturers direction. This applies even if your garage floor is brand new and has never had so much as a bicycle parked on it. The cement still has to be prepared if the garage floor paint is going to adhere to it as it should and provide you with a long life and beautiful finish.
The Wait
If the concrete is brand new, as in has just been laid down and still has that darker color that indicates it’s not completely dry, even if you can’t carve your initials in it, then you’ll have to wait a bit before you can begin preparing the garage floor for painting. Most paint manufacturers recommend waiting at least thirty days, but be sure to check with the instructions before starting, as different kits will have different instructions. If you’re not sure when the cement for your garage floor was laid, you may want to get with the contractor and find out. Either that, or you could always wait thirty days from move in to apply the garage floor paint. Since the garage floor will have to be prepped, regardless of condition, there’s no harm in using the garage until the thirty days has passed. That being said, it probably wouldn’t be wise to pile half your belongings in the garage, as that would surely deter you from applying the garage floor paint when the time comes.
Is Painting Your Garage Floor The Best Option?
Garage floor paint can be time consuming and difficult, but the rewards are great. When done correctly, it’s very shiny and pretty and will last a long time.
Suzy writes about garage floors and epoxy garage floor coatings.
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