Apply Epoxy Garage Floor Coating
Category: Flooring ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Time: 7.8h ·
Estimated cost: $320
Tools needed
- Stiff push broom
- Wet/dry vac
- Garden sprayer
- Drill with paddle mixer
- Paint roller with 1/2" nap
- Extension pole
- Edging brush
- Spike shoes
- Painter's tape
Materials needed
- 100% solids epoxy kit — 2-car garage (450 sf) (1 kit)
- Concrete etching solution (gallon) (2 gal)
- Decorative color flakes (5 lb bag) (1 bag)
- Polyurethane clear topcoat (gallon) (1 gal)
- Plastic mixing buckets (3 ea)
Execution steps
Clear and degrease
Pull everything out of the garage. Power wash or scrub with degreaser to remove all oil stains. Any oil under epoxy = peeled coating.
Duration: 1h 30m
Etch the concrete
Mix etching solution per label. Sprayer-apply, scrub with stiff broom, let bubble 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Floor should feel like 100-grit sandpaper when dry. Test with a water bead — if it beads, re-etch.
Duration: 2h
Dry 24 hours
Concrete MUST be bone dry before coating — moisture under epoxy causes blistering. Run a dehumidifier or fans.
Duration: 30 min
Tape edges and mix base coat
Tape baseboards and door jambs. Mix Part A and Part B per directions (usually 2:1) with the paddle for 3 minutes. Once mixed, working time is 30-45 minutes — don't dawdle.
Duration: 15 min
Cut in and roll
Brush edges with the edging brush. Roll the field in 4-ft x 4-ft sections with the 1/2" nap roller, working back toward the door. Spike-shoe walk into the wet coating.
Duration: 1h 30m
Broadcast color flakes
While coating is wet, broadcast flakes by tossing handfuls upward and letting them fall naturally. Aim for 25 percent coverage. Stop adding flakes when satisfied — you can't take them back.
Duration: 30 min
Cure and topcoat
Let dry 24 hours. Sweep up loose flakes. Apply clear polyurethane topcoat the same way as the base. Park cars after 7 days minimum.
Duration: 1h 30m
Safety first
- Epoxy fumes are strong — open the garage door, run a fan, wear an organic vapor respirator.
- Once Part A and B are mixed, the clock is ticking — you have ONE shot at the pour, no breaks.
- Spike shoes only on wet epoxy — flat shoes will leave permanent dents.
When to hire a pro
If the slab has any active cracks wider than 1/16" or visible moisture from below — these need pro crack treatment and a moisture mitigation primer first.
Back to all DIY Guides ·
AyX Estimator — Take the guess out of construction.