Painting Your Garage Floors - A Pro Approach

Our floors can take a beating in the home, spills, dropping heavy objects, you name it. This goes double for our garage floors. Our garage can be our storage room for heavy duty items, oils and other acidic liquids, and it also is where we keep the car a majority of the time. It also suffers from hot and cold temperatures in the extremes. Have you taken a look at your garage floor lately? It probably isn’t the prettiest sight to see.

But did you know that you could make your garage floors feel brand new just by adding a fresh layer of paint to them? And not only that, but painting your garage floor can help to seal and protect it, which will help it be more resistant to damage and increase its longevity. This is an easy and inexpensive way to improve the look and quality of your garage flooring.

Step 1: Clean the Floor

Prepping your garage floor is just as important as the actual painting of it. You will need to clean it in order to have the greatest results. Follow these steps if you have unsealed concrete:

• Use a masonry etcher and a cleaner on your floor. Leave it on for 20 minutes following package directions.
• Get a stiff bristled brush or broom (not metal) to scrub your floors vigorously. Don’t let it dry out.
• Use a garden hose, pressure washer or bucket to thoroughly rinse your floors with clean water. Use a squeegee to remove the excess water.
• Allow the floor to dry.

If you have sealed concrete, omit the masonry etcher but follow the same steps without it.

Step 2: Primer

You must prime your floors before painting them, just like you would for the walls of your house. You can use concrete bonding primer for untreated concrete, which will give it the most protection and durability.

• Use painter’s tape to tape the edges of where the walls meet the floor.
• Start in one corner of the garage and make your way around the room.
• Use a roller to get the main area of the garage.
• Allow to dry at least eight hours before following up with a top coat.

Step 3: Topcoat

Once the floor is primed and dry, add the topcoat. Using exterior concrete and patio paint would be the best option as it is made to resist garage-level wear and tear. Use the same technique you did while priming and let it dry for at least 24 hours before using the garage again.

Visit paint stores or contact one of our two handy Monarch Paints locations today and one of our professional paint & finish consultants will help you choose just the right products and answer your questions. We have everything you need in stock for beautiful, long-lasting results.