Garage Floors

[gfmucci]

I can't decide to do it myself or get an experienced person to epoxy my garage floor. S & S Enterprises will charge a total of $425 to do a 2-car plus golf cart garage using Quikrete Epoxy system. The materials alone will cost about $150 at Lowes. (2, $64 kits, plus etcher, plus tax) It is a two day job: Day 1, etch the concrete; day 2 apply the epoxy - probably 2 to 3 hours per day. To get the high gloss finish, a separate application of clear epoxy is needed - another $135 worth of materials, plus labor. Otherwise the finish is somewhere between satin and semi-gloss.

Any advice? Experiences? I know many people have had good experiences with S & S. And the guarantee will probably outlive me, provided they stay in business.

[Muncle]

My neighbor just did his garage. Ran out of "paint" and had to go back and get another expensive gallon when all he needed was probably a pint. When I saw him, he was sweatin' and cussin' and muttering "I shoulda paid somebody to do it! :edit: , I shoulda paid!" And it wasn't nearly as hot as it's going to be in May or June.

[Mintjulep]

GFmucci,
Last month I did my villa 1 1/2 car garage floor all by myself in one day.
Moved the stuff out of the garage, etched it, let it dry for 4 hours as recommended.
Then rolled on the epoxy and sprinkled the flakes as I went.
One kit ($64) did it, tho I bought two just in case, and then took the extra one back.

It looks terrific, can't imagine it could look any better even if a pro did it.
I didn't do the clear top coat. But have found if I have a tire mark, I can rub my rubber sole shoe across it and the tire mark comes right off. Like an eraser.

The hardest part for me was leaving the car and cart outside for 72 hours for it to totally dry.

[JohnM]

What product did you use and where did you buy it? What are "flakes"?

John

[gfmucci]

So, the two replies so far are perfectly reflective of the internal conflict I am experiencing about whether to do it myself.

My two major concerns are: Adequate material (that can be addressed by buying extra at the beginning) and adequate preparation (I would feel better by having the first step dry overnight.) My situation is a bit easier because there is nothing to move out of the garage - the house is still unoccupied. :)

I do like the idea of having a reliable contractor guaranteeing the work if something goes awry. But that process in itself could be time consuming and unproductive.

[gemorc]

The on constant I have found here in TV is "Labor is cheap".

[gfmucci]

The on constant I have found here in TV is "Labor is cheap".

Who's labor? The homeowner's or the contractor's?

[SteveFromNY]

GF, what risk are you taking doing it yourself? I could see where a job involves plumbing (you could have leaks) or electric (maybe a fire) where you'd want to protect yourself from the risk of the job done wrong, but it's a garage floor you're talking about, right? What really is the very worst thing that could happen? You'll still be able to park on it and walk on it.

If you are capable of the job (and I assume you are or you wouldn't be making this decision) then I'd suggest doing it yourself. If it comes out right (which I am sure it will) you'll be proud of what you did, rather than what you bought. Go for it!

[Muncle]

GF, what risk are you taking doing it yourself?


Well, Steve, if he's married, he's taking the ultimate risk. Do this job and then when the subject of lawn care, power washing the house, or any other job that requires a relatively strong back and a weak mind, the first words out of the other half will be "Well, you painted the garage floor and that came out okay. Why can't you . . . " :yikes: :yikes:

[Mintjulep]

What product did you use and where did you buy it? What are "flakes"?

John


I used the Quikrete Epoxy Kit, I bought it at Lowes. I picked the tan color as our siding is tan.
The flakes are little speckles (3 complementery colors) that come in the kit in a shaker bottle that you can shake into the wet epoxy after you roll it on (or not, your choice). Adds a little interest as the floor then doesn't look like a flat, solid color. I like them too because now you don't notice every little speck of dirt on the floor.

Gfmucci,
If you're are any kind of a 'do it yourselfer', you'll find this is a very easy job, especially if you don't have anything to move out of the garage.
To etch it, I bought a scrub brush with a long handle. I stood up to do it. I did park my vehicles at the road (not in the driveway) just so the etching stuff wouldn't have any chance of spattering on my car or cart.
Then rinsed it with the water hose.
Let it dry, overnite if need be.
Then I put a long handle on a roller, went around the edge with a paintbrush, and stood up and rolled the rest on. Very quick and easy...
I chose not to do the gloss clearcoat. Thought it may make the floor slippery. Also figured every time I pulled something across the floor, it may take some of the shine off.

[SteveFromNY]

Well, Steve, if he's married, he's taking the ultimate risk. Do this job and then when the subject of lawn care, power washing the house, or any other job that requires a relatively strong back and a weak mind, the first words out of the other half will be "Well, you painted the garage floor and that came out okay. Why can't you . . . " :yikes: :yikes:


Thanks for that fresh perspective Muncle. I've been married for many years, and that bridge was crossed a long time ago - I'd forgotten all about it!

[Mintjulep]

Well, Steve, if he's married, he's taking the ultimate risk. Do this job and then when the subject of lawn care, power washing the house, or any other job that requires a relatively strong back and a weak mind, the first words out of the other half will be "Well, you painted the garage floor and that came out okay. Why can't you . . . " :yikes: :yikes:


Hey guys,
That can certainly go both ways.
"Can't ya epoxy the garage floor AND bake my favorite cookies while the etching is drying".
I'm kidding of course.
Thank goodness we are BOTH do it yourselfers, and both know our limits!!!

[gfmucci]

The worst thing I've heard go wrong is the epoxy lifting in little circles at random locations, especially under hot tires.

This would usually be caused by the floor being slightly damp when applying the epoxy OR driving on it prematurely. Waiting one full day between the etching and the painting ought to be adequate, provided the humidity isn't 99% with a windy drizzle outside.

[Mintjulep]

The worst thing I've heard go wrong is the epoxy lifting in little circles at random locations, especially under hot tires.

This would usually be caused by the floor being slightly damp when applying the epoxy OR driving on it prematurely. Waiting one full day between the etching and the painting ought to be adequate, provided the humidity isn't 99% with a windy drizzle outside.


You are probably right, but I am always itching to get the job done ASAP.
Haven't been there in a while, but it was OK when I was there.
I did wait the recommended time and also didn't drive on it for 72 hours.
It was a warm, dry, sunny day when I did it. And the concrete had turned from that dark damp color to very pale color when I started painting.

[Mintjulep]

Here's pics:
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii280/gwenniewoo/101_0647.jpg

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii280/gwenniewoo/101_0651.jpg

[gfmucci]

That looks great. I would NEVER drive on a floor like that!!!

[Lil Dancer]

My husband did ours - he didn't buy a kit, just a gallon or two of the special concrete paint/sealer from Lowes. He etched the garage floor, and also did the lanai, rinsed thoroughly, waited overnight then painted with a roller. It turned out great - its been two years, and no sign of paint coming off. He didn't use the flakes though,and the finish is between a satin and a semi-gloss. If you don't mind a little elbow grease, it looks like a pretty easy project to accomplish.

[The Great Fumar]

OK OK MINTJULEP

My wife saw your pic and now I have to do it........Thanks a heleva lot...

One stroke fumar >:( >:( >:( :edit: :edit:

[renielarson]

My son did his garage floor with gray paint and black/gray flecks...looks absolutely great! We plan on doing it this summer to our villa garage floor.

Son said it was time consuming but easy...that says a lot for someone who is not all that handy.

Have fun, Fumar!

[crazyeddie]

Folks, if you don't mind a newbie jumping in on this, as a Corvette enthusiast, many folks on the corvette forum are using a product made from plastic. It may be a bit more expensive than epoxy, but it won't come up. Google Racedeck, some great looking floors there--e

[nitehawk]

just wondering if you etch the garage floor and wash it off does it hurt the driveway - or can you wash it off the driveway before it etches the driveway

[renielarson]

As I looked at Racedeck I thought of my laundry room linoleum floor with the small grooves and how dirt finds its way into those little grooves. The only way to keep it clean is to use straight clorox or ammonia, a scrub brush, face mask, and lots of elbow grease.

I wonder about the depressed pattern in the Racedeck system and how dirty my garage floor gets. I'm thinking it would take a lot of time and trouble to keep it vacuumed and clean looking. I'm thinking, too...that it would have to be wet mopped to keep its nice appearance.

Anyone have first hand experience with this system?

[Mintjulep]

just wondering if you etch the garage floor and wash it off does it hurt the driveway - or can you wash it off the driveway before it etches the driveway


It didn't do anything to my driveway.
I did move my car and cart out of the line of any possibility of spattering tho.
Didn't want to chance spots in the paint.



OK OK MINTJULEP

My wife saw your pic and now I have to do it........Thanks a heleva lot...



One stroke fumar >:( >:( >:( :edit: :edit:



Sorry fumar... ::)

[gfmucci]

Now my brother got me all worried about doing this myself in a limited timeframe... during the three or four days when I visit later in May. He cautioned that if the humidity is high or rainy outside that the concrete may not dry thoroughly enough after the etching. If you HAVE to do this when the humidity is high outside, e.g. over 80%, close the garage door, have a large fan blowing across the surface to dry it out, maybe with a dehumidifier running. Now this is the "iffy" part. Once it gets thoroughly dry, and it's still humid outside, and you feel a need to paint anyway with the garage door closed, you better wear an appropriately designed respirator.

Anyway, my delemma is should I plan a 200 mile trip for this purpose with the chance of it being too humid in mid- to late May. I will not apply epoxy with the garage door closed.

[REDCART]

A word of caution. My neighbor who has had years of experience with epoxy on garage floors mentioned that you want to tape the floor on the inside of the door rather than at the edge of the garage floor meets the driveway. He said it doesn't matter how long you let the epoxy dry, the rubber door seal under the garage door will stick to the epoxy and pull off from the bottom of the door. Seems kind of stange that hot tires won't stick to the epoxy but a garage door seal will. I pass the advice along because it comes from an experienced do-it-yourselfer. George

[renielarson]

Thank you George...will remember that

We plan on doing our garage floor this summer.

[chelsea24]

:bigthumbsup: Wow Minty, that floor looks great! Now I have to see if I can get vetman to do it! I like the color and the fleck effect.

[REDCART]

Other questions: I understand that you use a watering can to apply the muriatic acid or whatever you use to etch the concrete with. Then you have to use either a garden hose or power washer to rinse the acid from the garage floor. Doesn't all that spray wind up wetting the wall surface in the garage, unless you use painters plastic to cover the first three feet of the wall and tape it to the baseboard molding? Has anyone who may have used S&S or another professional service recall how they protected the wall surface in the garage? Do you then squeegee the water out of the garage or pick it up with a shop vac?

[gfmucci]

I could probably do this epoxy procedure in my sleep by now...with all the advice and thought that's gone into the pros and cons of do it yourself, and all the horribles to watch out for. :o

But I just signed up today to have S & S do it...around Memorial Day.* I decided there are too many variables with the weather/humidity, quantities, fleck uniformity, tools and materials to be transported to the site (I don't live there yet.)* I will have plenty of other tasks I can do while I'm there for the several days - and I get to report back to everyone what kind of job S & S Enterprises did and how satisfied I was with them.* While they're there, they will install the attic stairs and the two sheets of plywood to create an attic floor for storage. :)

[Muncle]

Great move. You're retired and shouldn't have to put up with the rigors of the labor or the self recrimination if something went wrong or even if it were less that perfect. Everyone here raves about S&S, so they'll likely do a good job for you. Congrats.

I got the garage, drive, etc. painted last year by Amy Newsome and simply love it. Not only does it improve the looks, but it makes the garage and especially the lanai so much easier to keep clean. And it's so much more comfortable to walk on barefoot than just concrete. The only issue was when Amy and her assistant, another attractive young lady, did my place it was really hot outside. So of course, they dressed accordingly. Consequently all the dirty old men in the neighborhood felt obligated to come over and check out the work --- all day --- every day.

[JohnnyM]

Hi GF, I hope you don't mind me checking back with you after the holiday as I would like the same work done. I would appreciate it very much, Johnny

[gfmucci]

Hi GF, I hope you don't mind be checking back with you after the holiday as I would like the same work done. I would appreciate it very much, Johnny

Yah, sure, you-betcha (and I'm not even from Minnesota!) I'll give a report.

[graciegirl]

Okay guys. I am really sticking my neck out here.I don't know anyone here in my "nice" neighborhood that has finished the garage floor. I have lived my whole life and in eight different houses and have never had a finish on my garage floor. I hose it out and straighten it up and never anguish about it. NOW, before you jump to conclusions, behind my back people have called me Mrs. Clean and Martha Stewart, and no, I don't have a hand washing obsession, but close.

Whats the deal with the garage floors in Florida?

P.S. I hate the designs on driveways too, but once I live there, who knows?

GracieGirl

Oil does not drip from MY car!

[graciegirl]

AND further. My husband (aka Sweetie), was terrified at the pristine interiors of the garages of our retired friends in Florida. I kept saying, "Sweetie, did you see their garage? You could do surgery in that garage." And he kept saying, "omigawd!! It looks like they have too much time on their hands." He is retiring again, in the next few months and he is frankly frightened about not being busy with the things he is used to doing.

So what is it my new friends? Explain your garages, please.

[gfmucci]

Well, GracieGirl, if you must know (wink wink) I plan to do surgery in my garage.

Seriously, if I can explain this from a personal social evolution perspective, and guys, chime in as appropriate...

After years of rushing around, going to work, and using the garage as an afterthought, utility shed affair, just a place to pakh the cah and store dirty smelly lawn equipment, and a place for my sweet wife to just toss anything and everyting into* that she didn't want in the house, I see this as my chance to control this space in a nice way.* And I'll have the time.* Bare concrete gets dusty - it constantly excretes concrete dust.* And it absorbs stains - no, my car doesn't leak oil either.* Short of installing oak floors or spanish tile in the garage (come to think of it, that would be pretty neat!!) this is my next choice.* In my previous house, I painted the garage floor.* But it had a flat (as in "non-glossy") look and the paint wore off after a few years.

Bottom line...even though I will pakh my cah in it, I also plan to use it as another room of the house - for hobbies (trains), music and other pursuits.* It will be air conditioned.* I also hope to have pristine shelving and cabinets.

Are you beginning to worry about me?

[graciegirl]

VEDDY interesting! I want to know more. Just when I am abandoning the obsessive upkeep of a formal home and six sets of china for casual Florida living, my husband is gonna go Stepford in the garage?

Hmmm. I am not worried about you GF, but maybe a little....concerned. :dontknow:

[gfmucci]

The WORST thing you can do is feel compelled because 'that's the way the others do it.' Whatever you or your hubby do, I hope it is because you have your own unique reasons for wanting to do it. Thank goodness there are no deed restrictions on garage flooring! :cop: :cop: :cop:

[handieman]

Great move. You're retired and shouldn't have to put up with the rigors of the labor or the self recrimination if something went wrong or even if it were less that perfect. Everyone here raves about S&S, so they'll likely do a good job for you. Congrats.

I got the garage, drive, etc. painted last year by Amy Newsome and simply love it. Not only does it improve the looks, but it makes the garage and especially the lanai so much easier to keep clean. And it's so much more comfortable to walk on barefoot than just concrete. The only issue was when Amy and her assistant, another attractive young lady, did my place it was really hot outside. So of course, they dressed accordingly. Consequently all the dirty old men in the neighborhood felt obligated to come over and check out the work --- all day --- every day.



Thanx Muncle, I had Amy do my drive, lanai, sidewalks, and patio in my absense. My point is, I'll now have her do my garage this August when I'm there ;D
You get my point?
Handie :joke:

[gfmucci]

I hope Amie and her co-workers work for S & S ;D