There are several options for painting garage walls, but latex paint is the most durable and long-lasting. It's ideal because it's water-based, has a faint scent, and dries rapidly. You'll require paint thinner and much more time for drying between coats if you go for oil-based paint.
There are basically two types of paint that you can use on your garage floors -- latex acrylic paint or an epoxy paint. While the latex paint is a bit of a cheaper option in the short term, epoxy paint is more durable and will provide a better bond to the concrete making it more chip resistant.
The best choice for painting your garage walls is a durable interior paint such as acrylic latex paint. This water-based paint is superior because it will dry quickly, is easy to clean, and has a long lifespan.
Garage walls should be painted satin if you want them to be easy to clean, wipeable, and reflect more light. Flat paint is more difficult to clean and is best for low traffic spaces.
For most attached garages with moderate climates, interior paint is the better choice. Though it is not as flexible as the exterior variant, it will not expose you to harmful VOCs.
If a lighter shade is preferred, a semi-gloss paint is a wise choice. Semi-gloss paint makes dirt less evident and is better for cleaning without showing any wear. If you have garage condensation issues, a more resilient exterior paint might be more ideal.
The amount of paint needed can vary based on the size of your garage and the type of paint, but typically, a 2-car garage could require around 5-6 gallons for two coats of paint.
Soft gloss or satin are the best paint sheens for garage doors, forming a hard, protective coating that is easy to clean. Flat finishes may cover blemishes well, but they scratch or scuff more easily.
Avoid using eggshell paint in high-contact, high-traffic areas such as door and window trim, baseboards, cabinetry, and doors. It's best to use semi-gloss paint in these areas.
Garage walls with stains through the topcoat should be primed with an oil-based primer before being repainted. To be safe, prime the entire wall if there are many huge stains to cover. When priming and preparing your garage for a new coat of paint, tighten any loose baseboards, remove any nails, and fill any holes.
However, designers recommend using satin paint on garage walls, given that compared to flat paint, it is easier to clean, more durable, and reflects light better.
Of the two, satin is more durable and is slightly less likely to scuff or mark than eggshell and it's easier to clean when it does get marked. This makes it a better choice, especially for woodwork such as painting skirting boards, than eggshell for high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
Storing Paint in Unheated Spaces
It's tempting to store paint in your garage or shed, but this can be dangerous for your paint's longevity during winter. When these areas get too cold, your paint can freeze and become unusable, especially if temperatures fluctuate throughout the season.
Conclusion. Painting your garage floor can be a great way to enhance the appearance of your garage and make it a more welcoming and organised space. It can also offer some protection against wear and tear, make it easier to clean, and increase the safety of the area.
Interior | Premium Stainblocking | Paint and Primer in One. Our most technologically advanced paint and primer in one, KILZ® Tribute® is 100% acrylic, low VOC, and offers both excellent stain-blocking performance and exceptional durability.
The typical rule-of-thumb is one gallon for about every three to four hundred square feet. However, some paint formulas and wall textures may require more specific amounts. One gallon can of paint will cover up to 400 square feet, which is enough to cover a small room like a bathroom.
Eggshell paint offers a soft sheen that adds elegance and is more washable than flat paint, making it ideal for moderate-traffic areas. However, it shows imperfections more than matte finishes and lacks the durability of glossier options, so it may need more frequent touch-ups in high-traffic areas.
Poor quality of some trades, like drywall contractors, or framers, can make imperfections pop out if there is a sheen in the paint. Using flat paint keeps imperfections from being so noticeable.
Short or medium pile microfibre mini rollers are the best when applying water-based, woodwork paints, such as Quick Dry Eggshell, Quick Dry Satinwood or Quick Dry Gloss. Avoid using foam mini rollers when applying Quick Dry products, as these can cause paint bubbles to form when rolled onto the surface.
Latex paint, also called acrylic latex, is water-based and easy to apply. It's beginner-friendly, dries quickly, and emits fewer fumes than other options. This type of paint is flexible, meaning it resists cracking over time, making it ideal for garages with temperature fluctuations.
With a choice between two of the most common finishes — flat and satin paint — which do you choose? Overall, a satin finish is the more practical choice for your garage because it is easier to clean and best for high-traffic areas.
An average size 2-3 car garage would take 7 gallons to spray walls and ceilings one color. Garages are usually bare drywall and are all open wall space that eat up paint very fast.
Most projects require one coat of primer and two coats of paint for the best results. If your garage door is already painted and in sound condition—and the color change is not drastic—a primer may not be necessary.
Q: How many square feet does a 5-gallon bucket of paint cover? A: A 5-gallon bucket of paint can cover up to 2000 square feet of space.