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How to Paint a Garage Floor
Step 1: Ensure that the garage is well ventilated.
Make sure your garage is well ventilated since you will be working with epoxy paint and bleach, both of which have strong fumes. Open a window or your garage door to ensure that air is circulating through the space. Next, pull on the proper protective gear: rubber gloves, dust mask, safety goggles, as well as a set of clothes you don’t mind splattering paint on.
Step 2: Clear the floor of dust and dirt.
Sweep the floor, and wash away all stains using a mixture of bleach and water so that it’s completely clean and clear of dust and dirt before you start painting. (Follow the product instructions to get the ratio of bleach to water exactly right.) If you encounter any stains that are especially stubborn, switch from a standard scrub brush to one with metal bristles to work them out.
When you’re done, rinse the entire area with clean water. Pro tip: Using a pressure washer may make this part of the job easier.
Step 3: Fill in any imperfections in the concrete floor.
If you notice any cracks in the floor, you’ll want to fill them in before painting over the full surface, otherwise they would leave noticeable dents in your renewed floor. Use a concrete filler to take care of smaller cracks and a concrete patch for larger ones. Be sure the cracks are completely clean and dry before applying the compound.
Step 4: Apply concrete etcher to the floor.
After everything has dried, both the bleach solution and any filler you may have used, check to see if you’ll need to etch the floor’s surface. (Etching is a process that will help the paint absorb better.) To test the floor, sprinkle a few drops of water onto the floor. If it absorbs quickly, you can move onto the next step; if the droplets don’t absorb quickly, your best bet is to apply a concrete etcher to the surface.
Concrete etchers can be purchased from hardware and home improvement stores. Following the package’s instructions, dilute the concrete etcher with water and mix it in a plastic bucket. Apply it to the entire floor using a stiff-bristled broom to move it around. Let it stand as long as the product requires, scrub with the broom, then rinse and mop up the extra water. In the end, your floor will have a texture similar to that of a medium-grit sandpaper. allow the floor to dry overnight before you begin painting.
Tried-and-True Advice
“When I painted my garage floor, I found that putting painter’s tape along the edges of the floor where it meets the walls helped me achieve a crisp, professional finish.
I also used a small foam brush to carefully paint along the edges before rolling the epoxy paint onto the larger areas. This helped prevent the roller from accidentally splattering paint all over the walls and saved me from doing touch-ups later. I kept a damp rag nearby to quickly clean up any accidental smudges while the paint was still wet.”
—Paul Rankin, Contributing Writer
Step 5: Prime the floor.
Next, just as you would on walls or furniture, apply a primer coat of paint to your dry garage floor. To take the back-breaking bending out of the application process, though, swap a standard paintbrush or roller for a long-handled paint roller instead.
Let it dry for six to eight hours before moving on to the topcoat.
Step 6: Apply two coats of epoxy.
Mix the epoxy paint well, and apply the first layer using a nylon brush and a water-resistant roller cover. Give that first coat 24 hours to dry before applying the second one.
Then, wait at least five days before walking (or driving) on the floor’s surface. A week later, when you’re rolling your car over the new garage floor, you’re sure to agree that this is one refresh well worth the wait.
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