So, after a year of new home ownership...
11-21-2006, 04:49 AM
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So, after a year of new home ownership...
...I finally have two cars in the garage.
The S6 has been parked in there since I bought it last year, and no matter what, there was room in there for that car. The other bay was always for tools, or bike repair, or staging area for painting of the interior walls, etc., etc. It's cleaned out, the wife is happy about having a place to park her car, and load and unload the kids in the dry, and with some light. Now I'm thinking about putting some sort of coating on the floor - like epoxy paint.
Anybody done this?
The S6 has been parked in there since I bought it last year, and no matter what, there was room in there for that car. The other bay was always for tools, or bike repair, or staging area for painting of the interior walls, etc., etc. It's cleaned out, the wife is happy about having a place to park her car, and load and unload the kids in the dry, and with some light. Now I'm thinking about putting some sort of coating on the floor - like epoxy paint.
Anybody done this?
11-21-2006, 06:23 AM
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The only thing that sucks about painting the floors....
is that you will have to maintain them and paint them for ever more. Its kinda like painting a brick house that has never had paint on it. Turning something that is maintenance free into something that needs annual or semi annual attention. The garage I worked at that had painted floors needed to be repainted every year and the paint was nasty. But it was a commercial space so there was lots of wear and tear. On the other hand they are nice when painted.
11-21-2006, 06:35 AM
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Maybe true.
After half year and some abuse I can tell that it won't look "new" all the time. And you better don't drop heavy stuff on it. I bought tool cart and this was one of the reasons. I didn't want to have stuff on a floor anymore
Have to wash it almost after every sizeable project (like clutch on UrS)
There is different paints though. Properly applied good epoxy should be fine for years in home DIY environment.
Have to wash it almost after every sizeable project (like clutch on UrS)
There is different paints though. Properly applied good epoxy should be fine for years in home DIY environment.
11-21-2006, 06:36 AM
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I completely agree with Turbo Anarchy....
If you don't work on cars and have nice new cars that don't leak anything... by all means, paint your floors.
If you actually use your garage like a garage, I strongly reccomend NOT painting them with anything.
Bare concrete is the best thing and actually easiest to keep clean.
I've spilled fuel, paint thinner, brake fluid, etc all over my floor and it eats up the paint like crazy. It gets stained and looks worse. Nothing you can do about it but redo it, and that's expensive and time consuming. I just ended up covering a good part of the garage (where I work) with cheap roll indoor/outdoor carpet.
I'd never do it in a house I own. Best thing is to acid finnish bare concrete floor to a polished surface. Then you just use concrete cleaner on it and hose it out.
If you actually use your garage like a garage, I strongly reccomend NOT painting them with anything.
Bare concrete is the best thing and actually easiest to keep clean.
I've spilled fuel, paint thinner, brake fluid, etc all over my floor and it eats up the paint like crazy. It gets stained and looks worse. Nothing you can do about it but redo it, and that's expensive and time consuming. I just ended up covering a good part of the garage (where I work) with cheap roll indoor/outdoor carpet.
I'd never do it in a house I own. Best thing is to acid finnish bare concrete floor to a polished surface. Then you just use concrete cleaner on it and hose it out.
11-21-2006, 06:47 AM
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What paint are you talking about?
I use my garage "as garage" at least 4-5 times per month with spilled fluids, etc. Sure, it's not workshop or source of income. Some of my cars drip oil and it's just a matter of wiping it off from the floor.
Washing can't be easier. Pressure wash and you get brand new looking floor.
There is 3 things that my floor don't like:
1. Brake fluid
2. Dirt and traffic. I.e. when you work on a car you want to keep it clean, otherwise you will carry dirt all over place. It's the same with concrete, you just don't see it.
3. Dropping heavy sharp stuff like hammers will dent/chip epoxy
I'm only 1 year with it but have friends from s-car list that have epoxy floors for years and can't be happier.
Very easy to clean, very easy to find dropped small part, don't carry concrete/dirt to the house.
Washing can't be easier. Pressure wash and you get brand new looking floor.
There is 3 things that my floor don't like:
1. Brake fluid
2. Dirt and traffic. I.e. when you work on a car you want to keep it clean, otherwise you will carry dirt all over place. It's the same with concrete, you just don't see it.
3. Dropping heavy sharp stuff like hammers will dent/chip epoxy
I'm only 1 year with it but have friends from s-car list that have epoxy floors for years and can't be happier.
Very easy to clean, very easy to find dropped small part, don't carry concrete/dirt to the house.
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11-21-2006, 06:51 AM
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You're still in the "honeymoon phase" with your floor covering....
Talk to me after a few years.
Hot tires can peel it. It gets damaged, then you can't pressure wash anymore as it will flake away and peel up.
Epoxy paint on floors works okay if the house/floor is new. Any oil underneath it will eventually come up through it.
Hot tires can peel it. It gets damaged, then you can't pressure wash anymore as it will flake away and peel up.
Epoxy paint on floors works okay if the house/floor is new. Any oil underneath it will eventually come up through it.
11-21-2006, 06:55 AM
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I know :)
Thats why I did research, I did rent concrete sanding machine, I did test for moisture and I did acid etching few times...
Also, I used rather expensive industrial epoxy.
But true. Will see in a few years. I know the guy who has it for more then 5 years, but it was applied in new construction.
P.S. Knowing all problems I can face I did it anyway thinking that even if I will have to re-coat in a few years - I just can't stand dirty bare concrete.
Also, I used rather expensive industrial epoxy.
But true. Will see in a few years. I know the guy who has it for more then 5 years, but it was applied in new construction.
P.S. Knowing all problems I can face I did it anyway thinking that even if I will have to re-coat in a few years - I just can't stand dirty bare concrete.
11-21-2006, 06:57 AM
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before you lay it on a used floor, have someone come by with....
a machine that will dual action sand the surface and give it a new face. this will ensure that the epoxy will bond with the surface. If you don't do this and have been working in the garage it won't last.