Epoxy applications are not difficult DIY projects and only require a weekend to complete. First, it is ideal to consider these things before beginning your project: Remove everything from your garage so the area is an open space. Use painter's tape and plastic to cover the lower wall areas around your project site.
Epoxy garage floors are a great DIY project you can do to spruce up your home. Epoxy will make your floors look nice, clean up easily, and give your garage a finished look. Over the years I've epoxied about 10 garages for friends and family. All of them have turned out great, and the floors have held up extremely well.
It's not difficult but there is a ton of prep work if you want it to last. Some videos say just a good acid etching is enough but I would rent a floor grinder. I did my two car garage and it turned out great. Wear golf shoes and get the good self leveling epoxy with decorative flakes.
For those with a knack for DIY projects, installing an epoxy floor is doable. The process, while time-consuming, can save on labor costs. Materials for a DIY epoxy floor installation typically range from $2 to $5 per square foot.
For a typical one car garage, two gallons of epoxy should be more than enough for two coats after a primer has been applied. Three gallons should cover the average two car garage, and five gallons will generally be needed for a three car garage.
Fast installation.
Looking for a floor coating that won't take days or weeks to cure? E2U's One Day Garage Floor System can be walked on in just a few hours and driven on within 24 hours of job completion. *Temperature may affect curing time.
Estimate Amount of Epoxy Needed Per Square Foot
(or 6.4 ounces per sq. ft.) Divide your square footage by 20 to get the gallons required (or multiply by 6.4). You can use 4.5-6.5 ounces for your artwork layer and then do a clear full epoxy flood coat to smooth it out and protect it.
The cons of garage epoxy floors include a complex installation process, higher upfront costs, sensitivity to temperature, potential for odors, and difficulty in repairs.
While DIY epoxy flooring can be done, hiring a professional eliminates the stress and uncertainty that often comes with these projects. You can enjoy peace of mind knowing that the job will be done right the first time, with quality materials and expert techniques, as well as minimal disruption to your daily routine.
The longevity of an epoxy floor system will vary based on thickness, use and maintenance. Typically, epoxy floors last between 10 and 20 years; much longer than a painted concrete floor, which will chip and wear quickly in high-traffic areas.
Garage floors have to endure a lot and eventually they'll start showing their age. So which material comes out ahead in the polyaspartic vs. epoxy debate in terms of floor protection performance? If you want the highest level of floor protection, Floortex™ polyaspartic coating is vastly superior to most epoxy coatings.
When estimating the epoxy garage floor cost per square foot, it's essential to consider the size of your garage and the existing floor conditions. Larger garages will generally incur higher costs, particularly if the floor requires significant preparation or repairs.
If the water absorbs into the concrete, so will our water-based floor epoxy. For a proper bond, the surface of concrete must be opened up or roughed up to feel like 80 – 180 grit sandpaper.
DIY epoxy costs $2–$5 per square foot, while professional installation ranges from $4–$12. DIY saves on labor but requires additional repairs if mistakes occur. Professional installation includes higher-grade materials, skilled labor, and proper preparation, ensuring a durable finish.
One of the most affordable garage floor ideas is concrete paint, which is, essentially, a tougher version of interior wall paint for your home. Highly susceptible to damage from road salts and other chemicals, floor paint is not as tough as the other options on this list. It is, however, the least expensive by far.
The cost of epoxying a 250-square-foot one-car garage ranges from $750 to $3,000. The average cost for a 400- to 500-square-foot garage is between $1,200 and $6,000. Epoxy coating costs increase with the size of the surface. Cheaper options include solvent- and water-based epoxy.
In some cases it may be necessary to level a concrete floor with leveling epoxy before applying a floor coating or an epoxy cast floor. Concrete floors with a coarse structure, holes or damage can be made flat and smooth in this way.
Can I epoxy my garage floor myself? While you can hire a professional contractor to complete this job, if you have the time and the patience to learn how to apply garage floor epoxy, then adding one or two coats of epoxy to the garage floor is a great DIY project that even beginners can tackle.
An epoxy coating generally will last between 2-5 years in perfect conditions. A polyaspartic one on the other hand will last over 15 years and never have to be replaced if cared for. Here at FloorTek, we pride ourselves on being South Florida's #1 concrete coating company.
UV Degradation
Problem: Epoxy floors exposed to direct sunlight can yellow and degrade over time. Solution: Opt for epoxy formulations with UV inhibitors or consider using UV-resistant topcoats to protect the epoxy from UV rays.
The estimated epoxy floor system cost ranges between $4.00 – $5.00 per square foot, including materials and labor.
Typical two-car garage: Typically between 400 and 550 square feet, we recommend one (1) three-gallon kit and an additional 1.5-gallon kit. Use the smaller unit to trim in hard-to-reach areas, then mix and apply the larger kit over the main area.