“Proper cleaning will produce the desired results while
improper cleaning may worsen the appearance of the floor. “
When painting garage floors, adequate preparation is essential. Preparation is often a tedious, time consuming task which may involve heavy lifting as well as careful planning.
Regardless of the product selected, a thorough cleaning of the floor surface is essential. Proper cleaning will produce the desired results while improper cleaning may worsen the appearance of the floor.
Some floor paint products requiring additional preparation. Check the package contents and instructions for details.
Cleaning a Garage Floor – The Vital First Step
Sweep First – Sweeping the floor is only the beginning, but an important step to remove surface debris and dirt.
Pressure Wash if Necessary – With the aid of a pressure washer (available at most equipment rental stores), all embedded dirt is easily and quickly removed, producing a garage floor that is both clean and free of sediments that may interfere with the application of the floor paint.
Removing Concrete Stains – How to Remove Oil and Grease
For those areas that have become penetrated with oil and grease, a deep cleaning solution designed to thoroughly clean these areas is recommended. Three commonly used methods include:
- A water and bleach solution mixed 3 parts water to 1 part bleach.
- TSP (trisodium phosphate) cleaner. Be sure to wear protective equipment (eyes, hands, etc.) when using any form of chemical cleaner. TSP should also be kept out of storm drains as phosphates negatively impact foliage and sea life in lakes, streams and waterways.
- Another common cleaner will likely come from the supplier of your garage floor paint. For example, Behr, Rustoleum and Quikrete all have their own brand of concrete cleaner that they recommend.
Read a more thorough discussion on how to clean concrete.
Painting Garage Floors – Visually Inspect the Floor
A visual inspection of the floor should be conducted to determine the overall condition of the garage floor surface. Old garage floor paint that is peeling or cracked will need to be removed by scraping or sanding to provide a smooth surface for the new paint to adhere to. For large garage floor areas with peeling paint, a commercial chemical may be needed to loosen the paint, followed by scraping and a thorough rinse.
Garage Floor Paint is one option
to protect your floor from ugly stains
Etching Concrete – How and Why to Do It
Depending on the floor paint used, you may need to know how to etch concrete. In many cases, etching of the garage floor is recommended. An efficient and inexpensive way to determine if the garage floor surface requires etching is by sprinkling a small amount of water on the existing surface. If the water is absorbed into the concrete, then the surface requires no etching.
When painting garage floors, etching opens the pours of the concrete and allows for better adhesion of the paint or epoxy. Concrete etching chemicals can be either purchased separately at a home improvement store, or may be included as part of your epoxy garage floor painting kit.
Garage Floor Repair
Cracks, chips or crevices in the garage floor surface should be filled with a matching material. Specially formulated calks and sealants can be used for smaller cracks, while concrete patching material will be needed for larger chips and cracks.
Most hardware and big box stores carry a selection of these products. For those areas that have extensive damage, a qualified and competent cement contractor should be consulted.
Read a more thorough discussion on garage floor repair.
When painting garage floors, preparation is (almost) everything!
Regardless of the garage floor paint selected, inadequate preparation of the floor will likely result in product failure and a lot of time and money to re-do what was already done. When preparing your floor, be diligent, allow sufficient time, plan on a lot of hard work and look forward to results that will be both satisfying and rewarding as a job well done.
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