After hours of research, we’ve concluded that not all garage floor paints are made equally. You want to make sure that garage floor paint is a good option for you before purchasing.
RockSolid Polycuramine is our pick for best garage floor paint, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have drawbacks. Garage floor paints aren’t made to last for more than a few years and don’t offer as much protection as professional installations.
If you’re not doing much heavy-duty work and don’t mind some DIY work, then RockSolid Polycuramine is a great choice.
If you’re always in the garage and doing heavy-duty work, there are plenty of alternatives out there.
Keep reading to find out if garage floor paint is right for you.
Is painting a garage floor a good idea?
Painting your garage floor is the cheapest option when it comes to garage floor coatings.
When you purchase DIY garage floor paint, you’re normally buying a water-based epoxy. Out of the three different types of epoxy, water-based is the weakest. A 100% solids epoxy is what the professionals use, and the DIY option won’t be anywhere close to the same result.
Painting your own garage floor can be a good idea if you aren’t going to do heavy-duty work inside of your garage. DIY garage floor paint kits are prone to fading, chipping, and rubbing off from hot tires over the years. The less stress you put on your garage floor the more attractive garage floor paint becomes.
They’re a great option if you’re tight on cash and don’t mind spending a day on a DIY project. Even if your coating starts to fade away, you can put on another coat and it’ll still be cheaper than a professional installation.
What is The Best Garage Floor Paint?
Epoxy is prone to chipping and cracking over the years. RockSolid uses a Polycuramine solution which is up to 20x stronger than an epoxy floor coating.
Before installation
You will require a few other supplies to begin:
- Roller
- Extension Pole
- Scrub Brush
- Paint Brush
- Anti-Skid Additive
- Heavy-Duty Degreaser
- Concrete Patch and Repair (Vital if you want to ensure that your mixture adheres)
A 2.5 car kit “should” cover around 450-500 sq. ft, but through my research, I have found that these measurements aren’t accurate. You’ll want to apply a coat thick enough to where it doesn’t scratch off without any effort. It’s advised to get more than you think you need.
Trying to make a kit stretch out thin will end up in a poor garage floor coating that you’ll regret later on.
Preparing your garage is a vital step before installation. Through all of the reviews I read, everyone mentioned that “prep is everything” otherwise you’ll end up with peeling where Rocksolid failed to adhere.
Installation
One downfall of DIY garage floor paints is that you’re going to have to patch up your garage floor yourself. Any crack or hole in your concrete will show in the result. This adds more hidden costs to the product.
You’ll want to take your time cleaning your garage floor thoroughly. Any leftover grease, oil, or paint will make it difficult for the Polycuramine to stick to your garage floor. It’s advised to get a degreaser to make it easier to clean up so you won’t have any black spots after painting.
Start by scrubbing and etch your concrete heavily with concrete etch. After that’s done, let it dry.
Once your concrete is dry, combine the easy mix burst pouches and shake to create the self-leveling coating.
Now all that’s left is applying the coating in 4’x4′ sections with the included roller and apply the decorative chips as you see fit.
You’ll have to wait for the paint to dry and then you’ll be able to bring in all of your belongings and enjoy your newly painted garage floor.
What I like
RockSolid Polycuramine isn’t claiming to be anything it isn’t. You won’t be able to compare it to a professionally done Polyurea or Epoxy floor, but it will get the job done.
You’ll be able to easily clean your floor as liquid pools up instantly, this does make the floor slippery when wet so be careful.
You can enjoy the features of Polyurea and Epoxy together. Since it’s 20x stronger than epoxy, you’ll have less chipping and cracking over time. It’s also reasonably priced and here at Hack My Garage, we always recommend everyone to DIY whenever possible.
Not everyone should invest a ton into their garage floor as it may be overkill. You may just want to be looking for a DIY project that will spruce up your garage floor and doesn’t break the bank. That’s where Rocksolid shines, it’s a perfect fit for DIYers who don’t do much heavy-duty work in their garage.
You can check this video to see how RockSolid Polycuramine held up after one year:
What I Don’t Like
Rocksolid fails to mention that their estimates for square-footage are off by 15-20 percent. Make sure to buy more than you need. If you have a 450 sq. ft garage, you’re likely going to need a 2.5 Garage kit AND a 1 car kit.
This is a hidden cost that isn’t included in the package. Another thing is that you’re also going to need to invest in more items if you don’t have them like degreaser, roller handles, and a stiffed broom that you’re not likely to reuse.
Polycuramine also doesn’t have the UV blocking properties of polyurea, meaning that it will yellow over time from sunlight. Reviewers also mention when you purchase two different kits (almost a necessity), they can be different colors.
You will need to apply another coat in a year or two depending on how rough you are on your garage floor. In the end, all of these costs start to add up. A professional epoxy or polyurea job would be last 10-15 years while maintaining a DIY kit might be more trouble than it’s worth.
Best Alternatives to Garage Floor Paint
Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against DIY garage floor paints. The issue is when it comes time to crunch the numbers, getting a professionally done installation can match the price when you factor in the time you took to install it yourself, and the tools necessary.
Imagine this scenario. You spend upwards of $800 bucks doing your floor yourself, and to your dismay, after a few months, you start spotting that some of the paint is tearing away from hot tire pick up.
Not only that, it didn’t come out exactly how you imagined it. You’re now left with purchasing even more products, doing prep work, and wasting more of your precious energy trying to salvage your precious garage floor.
The Good
Polyurea is the best alternative to garage floor paint that I’ve found. It isn’t as expensive as polyaspartic but it is a bit pricier than epoxy. The truth is, polyurea actually is more flexible than epoxy by up to 20x. The DIY stuff claims it is, but I’d take them up on their claims.
It bonds to concrete extremely well creating a smooth surface protecting your garage floor from heat, sunlight, and chemicals. You won’t have to worry about it fading over time from sunlight, it’s UV resistant, unlike its DIY counterpart.
Polyurea moves with your concrete, reducing the number of chips and cracking over the long run.
You’ll also be able to get your garage in the exact style you want. You can choose from a variety of different colors and finishes while the DIY garage floor paints are limited.
The Bad
You’ll want to get your floor done by a professional if you’re going the polyurea route. The average cost of getting a basic 2 car garage done should be around $2000-3000 depending on where you live. Find out more about which of the best garage floor coating is right for you.
It’s surely an investment, but it will itself back in the long run when you won’t need to keep on purchasing DIY garage floor paints and recoating every few years. I’d make sure that it got done right the first time rather than trying to save a few dollars here and there.
Conclusion
Garage floor paint is a cheap option to fix up your garage floor. You’ll have to get your hands dirty and it won’t be perfect, but it will get the job done if you aren’t doing a ton of work in the garage. It’s going to save you money if you need to fix up your garage floor in a jiffy.
Polyurea is the best choice if you have the budget to spend on hiring a professional. It will last over a decade and will pay for itself over the long run. You won’t have to deal with any headaches either.
If you’re still after more garage floor covering options, you can check out this guide here.
