Garage floor: Sealer or epoxy?

[SailTrac]

I just had a new garage built, and the question is epoxy or a sealer? I live in Central New York, so snow, freezing temps, and lots of road salt will be applied almost daily to whatever I put down.
Thank you for your input and suggestions.

Mike

 

[MotorSeven]

If your going to do it don't chinch....the cheap paint/epoxystuff will not hold up at all and in 6 months will look like ****. The bad part is that the "good stuff" will cost over $70 a gallon. I can't advise on the sealer as I never tried any.

 

[frogfish]

and floor preparation is a big part to a successful application for the epoxy to last.

 

[9973720wb19]

check out this website for some floor options. I found it on a fourm called "the Garage Journal" ...Garage Flooring, Garage Floors, Garage Tiles, RaceDeck

good luck!

 

[jonyyuma]

Approach this very carefully, Epoxy has been applied here at work 3 times for same project. Plus it brings out ALL imperfections, don't expect it to cover large flaws...Kind of like when we painted the kitchen floor at home 12 gallons of primer, paint and several different colors for the patterns.

 

[Fixemall]

Clear concrete sealer from your mix supplier is your best bet, oil and grease will hose right off, epoxy etc will not handle prolonged exposure to salt, brake fluid, round up, and hot tires.

 

[Car Doc]

I have used sealer on one of my garage floors and I cant tell if its still working or not but an actual color cote would help imo.

I have done a concrete breezeway floor in china mart gray epoxy at my rent house and I like it a lot easy to clean its a visible covering, dont know how long it will last but it sure looks good for now.

 

[JB4310]

I used an expensive moisture cure, single part colored urethane on my basement floor that held up perfectly, but did not hold up good at all on my garage floor.

I would stick to a good quality clear sealer and just reapply when needed, works great for keeping the dust down.

JB.

 

[sawduster98]

I had good luck with a 2 part epoxy paint on my last garage floor. It lasted 4yrs before showing any problems however it was extremely slippery when wet. It was so bad that the company sent me replacement paint and silica sand to mix in.
I just built a 5 car garage and applied a sealer to the half that will be my wood shop. The parking area I left a little rough so epoxy paint has something to bite into. I'll do the 2 part epoxy again.

 

[beppington]

I've read that moisture in the concrete before applying the coating is about the biggest problem there is. And, if it's new concrete, it's prob still damp? There have ways to check it; you should research them as I can't recall how.

I wanted to paint our garage floor, & after reading so many horror stories of the coatings peeling, chipping, etc., I decided it wasn't worth the gamble/ money/ effort/ time, etc. Doesn't look that bad as-is, & could certainly look worse.

 

[Danno1]

.


Epoxy. Without a doubt.

You have to let new concrete cure for min 30 days. Proper surface prep is key to a lasting job. Mine's been on for 6 years w no failures.

This stuff is expensive but will not peel, chip, etc. It is immune to grease, oil, salt, etc.

.

 

[kco]

I had good luck with a 2 part epoxy paint on my last garage floor. It lasted 4yrs before showing any problems however it was extremely slippery when wet. It was so bad that the company sent me replacement paint and silica sand to mix in.
I just built a 5 car garage and applied a sealer to the half that will be my wood shop. The parking area I left a little rough so epoxy paint has something to bite into. I'll do the 2 part epoxy again.

I can relate to the slipperyness. I used a 2 part epoxy paint around 1987 or 1988 after reading about it in Consumer Reports. They recommended against it due to the dangers of applying it because of the fumes. But this was in a well-ventilated garage (big doors not installed at the time). We were there for another 15 years and there wasn't a scratch on it. It was brutal when wet though.

I will use 2 part expoxy if I decide to paint the floor in the present garage. But as sawduster says would mix sand in with it.

 

[kco]

.


Epoxy. Without a doubt.

You have to let new concrete cure for min 30 days. Proper surface prep is key to a lasting job. Mine's been on for 6 years w no failures.

This stuff is expensive but will not peel, chip, etc. It is immune to grease, oil, salt, etc.

.

This post came in as I was posting. I believe it was Benjamin Moore expoxy I used those many years ago as I remember we could only get it at the Benjamin Moore paint store. Amazing product.

 

[ray66v]

I have used this product:

Epoxy Coat Garage Floor Coating | Photo Gallery | Page 1

If you want it to last and be functional, you need to lightly grind the entire surface, use the color chips, and anti-skid sand, both of which help keep you from slipping.

It's 100% solids, very low odor, it looks great, and is as bullet proof as it gets.

It's expensive, and a lot of work.. But, I was starting to get pitting from the salt, and I did not want to end up with another pot marked floor.

 

[Molerj]

I have used this product:

Epoxy Coat Garage Floor Coating | Photo Gallery | Page 1
It's expensive, and a lot of work.. But, I was starting to get pitting from the salt, and I did not want to end up with another pot marked floor.

Hi Ray, I see you are from Ohio too. My house is 22 yrs. old. Starting to get some pitting from the salt. Not too bad yet but I don't want it to get worse. How does this epoxy hold up against the salt? I've got a two car garage 26X28.

 

[RaytheOne]

I used a two part epoxy on a 30x30 floor. It was Tnemec 66. Did the acid etch for prep, and turned out fine.
TNEMEC.com: Series 66 | Hi-Build Epoxoline

You need to ventilate well, or wear a respirator. Only negative was when wet, it was like wet ice. very slippery.

As others have said, it will bring out all imperfections in the surface. Any patching can be smoothed with a brick rub.

Good luck!!

 

[Soundguy]

i did the expensive but good way.

acid washed the concrete on my lania, then bought the expensive epoxy floor paint, and added the grit modifier to it.

did 2 coats with it.

was spendy.. but is holding up great 2ys later.

buddy did the floor paint, and it picks up where his car pulls in, and his lawnmower. also has worn a path wher e his door is.

soundguy

 

[crbr]

I just had a new garage built, and the question is epoxy or a sealer? I live in Central New York, so snow, freezing temps, and lots of road salt will be applied almost daily to whatever I put down.
Thank you for your input and suggestions.

Mike

good luck with your floor.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do not like either. My dad had Epoxy put down on his new 30x30 garage. Slicker than snot when wet or saw dust on it. Snow takes days to go away because it does not soak in.

Sealer is a pain also. I have it in 2/3 of my 52x44 pole barn. If I spill a little gas it turns tacky. Rest of my barn is just raw concrete and its just fine.

Chris

 

[5030]

My comment...

I live in Michigan, home to CaCl on roads, in the house and garage in the winter. I have PEX in floor heat so the floor temperature in the winter is maintained at 70 and that dries the salted water to a fine white dust.

I opted for sealer instead of epoxy because the epoxy, when wet, becomes very slippery. Sealer don't. I don't want to fall on my arse and break something. At 63 I don't heal fast anymore.