Why Garage Floor Paint?

By Suzy Garret

Considering garage floor paint may be a good idea if you're trying to decide on a garage floor. Not only doe sit 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 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 Mandatory 30 Day Wait

New concrete is susceptible to a slightly different set of conditions. You can usually tell it's new if it's unusually dark for concrete, such as a slate gray color, even if you can't still carve your initials in it. If your concrete is at this stage, you will have to wait before preparing it for painting. Most paint manufacturers will tell you to wait at least thirty days, but different instructions may vary, so be sure to check the directions that come with your kit. If you're unsure as to when the garage floor was laid, you'll probably want to speak with the contractor, or wait at least thirty days from the first time you personally laid eyes on the completed floor. As it will have to be prepped and cleaned regardless of condition, it's okay to go ahead and use the garage for storage, be it cars or boxes. Consider your own likeliness to move all that stuff back out, though, before you trap yourself in a hole of procrastination and never get the job done.

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. - 30435

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