Beautiful flooring is not just for the kitchen and the living room. Before you ever step foot inside your home, both the beauty and functionality of new flooring can greet you inside the garage. Several options are available for painting your garage floor that will provide it with a style that fits your personality and not interfere with its practicality. We’ve listed the top five best paints on the market to help you choose the right one to paint your garage floor.
If you’re looking for epoxy-specific paint, we also have a guide for picking out the Best Epoxy Paint for your Garage.
Best Paint For Garage Floor of 2020
1. KILZ 1-Part Epoxy Concrete and Garage Floor Paint – Best Paint to Withstand Hot Car Tires
One of the benefits of painting your garage floor is to get rid all of the unwanted dust. When the garage floor consists of naked concrete, fine dust particles can come into your home and settles everywhere. Inside the garage, dust collects on your cars, settle on workbenches, and fall on other items. Painting your garage floor will prevent the unsightly concrete dust from accumulating and keep it from settling inside your home.
KILZ 1-Part Epoxy Concrete and Garage Floor Paint is perfect to use on new and bare concrete, masonry surfaces, or sealed, stained, or painted concrete.
Use on New and Unfinished Concrete or Masonry Surfaces:
If you are using KILZ 1-Part Epoxy to paint new concrete, wait at least 30 days before painting the floor. Prepare the concrete with a masonry cleaner and etcher and a bonding primer, so the paint can stick to the surface.
Options for Use on Sealed, Stained, or Painted Concrete:
Two options are available when it comes to using this product on sealed, stained, or painted concrete. One option is to strip the floor bare using a concrete and masonry paint stripper.
The second option is to recoat over a floor that already has a coating. Remove any paint that is loose or peeling. Then use a concrete and masonry cleaner and degreaser to clean previously coated surfaces.
The biggest complaint heard when it comes to painting the garage is that parking the car inside the garage causes the paint to peel off of the floor. Homeowners find this frustrating because it defeats the purpose of painting the garage floor in the first place. It is important to use the right type of paint to prevent hot car tires from sticking to the coating. KILZ designed 1-Part Epoxy concrete and garage floor paint to withstand hot-tire pickup.
This paint is resistant to most automobile fluids if you clean it fast enough. However, fluids like anti-freeze and oil can stain the paint if allowed to sit. If left on the floor, brake fluid and gasoline will actually cause the paint to wrinkle and peel away. With that said, One-Part epoxy is still more resistant than latex acrylic to most automobile fluids.
One-Part epoxy paint is dustless, easy to clean, mold, mildew, and water-resistant. It is highly-durability and can be used on coated or bare concrete, brick, masonry, and stone. The fact that it is effective in high-traffic surfaces makes it a good choice to paint garage floors.
This paint comes in silver gray with a satin finish. Touch a surface painted with KILZ 1-part epoxy acrylic paint two hours later, and it will be dry. It will be ready for a second coat in four hours. Once applied, this paint can last up to three years, which is almost twice as long as latex acrylic. Most garage flooring finishes are going to need some type of touch up every one to two years. The amount of reapplication and the time frame will depend on how much the garage is used.
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2. True Value Painter’s Select – Best Paint for Areas with Minimal Ventilation
If the desired effect is to have an anti-skid textured finish, Rust-Oleum’s dove gray satin porch and urethane finish paint is a good choice. Once completed, in addition to an elegant design and smooth finish, the garage floor will be scuff and scrape resistant. A brush roller or pad is all that’s needed to apply this finish.
It works great on floors, concrete, porches, and stairs. It dries quickly, has a low odor formula, and is suitable for use in areas where ventilation is minimal. Once applied, this paint makes a tough coating that’s wear-resistant and easy to clean with soap and water.
True Value Painter’s Select satin porch and floor paint dry within one hour. The time before a second coat can be applied is 72 hours. If you need to cover scrapes and scuffs from toy trucks, tricycles, or gym equipment, this paint may be a good choice. It is highly durable and cleans well with soap and water. This paint is manufactured in the United States.
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3. Valspar 1500 Latex Satin Enamel – Best Wear Resistant Paint
Valspar 1500 latex satin enamel dries, leaving a hard surfaced and high gloss finish. Before painting the garage floor with latex satin enamel, it must be clean. To make sure all stubborn stains are scrubbed away, use an all-purpose cleaner or scouring powder. Add a degreaser if there is any wax or grease. Also, scrape away any chipped or peeling paint.
Before using Valspar 1500 latex satin enamel on new concrete, allow it to cure at least 60 days before painting. First, apply muriatic acid to the floor to help the paint bond to the concrete. Care must be exercised when handling acid. Personal protective clothing, such as goggles, and rubber gloves, should be worn. Mix one quart of muriatic acid with one gallon of water and flush the floor with the acid solution. Open the garage doors or windows, if they exist, to make sure there is plenty of ventilation. Be careful not breathe in the vapors. The acid solution should no longer be bubbling after 30 minutes have passed. After 30 minutes and the bubbling stops, clean the floor with a scrub broom. Next, rinse the floor with water to remove the powdery residue and then let it dry. Then, apply two coats of the latex floor enamel. The first coat should be thinned using one pint of water per gallon of paint. Thinning is required because the concrete is new. Otherwise, thinning is not necessary.
Valspar 1500 latex satin enamel white paint leaves garage floors with a clean white finish. This paint is both an exterior and interior paint. Some of the surfaces recommended for protecting with this paint include concrete, floors, porches, primed metal, railings, steps, and wood. It adheres well to the surface and is weather-resistant, so the finish will last a long time. Floors painted with Valspar 1500 latex satin enamel paint only takes water to keep them clean.
Within an hour of using Valspar latex satin enamel to the floor, you can lightly walk on it. You can commence normal foot traffic within 24 hours. The new garage floor will be tougher and last longer with Valspar latex porch and floor enamel paint.
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4. RUST-OLEUM Urethane Finish Paint – Best Anti-Skid Texture Finish
When raw fish oil spilled on rusty metal decks, it prevented corrosion from spreading. Robert Fergusson noticed this and founded the Rust-Oleum company in 1921. Since then, Rust-Oleum has been manufacturing protective paints and coatings for home and industrial use. The brand name Rust-Oleum is synonymous with the industry standard for rust-preventive paints and primers. Rust-Oleum offers a wide range of colors and finishes to choose from.
Rust-Oleum porch and floor coating provides excellent adhesiveness and maintains its color. It protects against mildew, water damage, and UV rays on both concrete and wood surfaces. This acrylic formula is long-lasting. Because it repels water, it is resistant to cracking, fading, peeling, and scuffing. It is an interior and exterior paint recommended for wood and concrete surfaces. Also, use it on all types of pressure-treated lumber. It hides the signs of aging on weathered wood. It can also be used on walkways and concrete patios.
Whether the surface is unfinished, previously sealed, stained, or painted, Rust-Oleum porch and floor paint coating is an effective product.
Bare Concrete:
Resist any temptation to take shortcuts. Proper preparation of the surface is critical for optimum performance. Remove all grease, oil, salt, and other contaminants with Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield degreaser. If necessary, use a sander or some type of wire brush to get rid of any loose concrete or masonry. For proper penetration and maximum adhesion, use Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield concrete etch. Allow the floor to dry completely. Wipe your fingers over the clean, dry surface. If you see any dust or powder on your fingers, continue scrubbing and rinsing until the floor is clean.
Previously Sealed, Stained, or Painted Concrete:
Before you begin painting, remove any old paint that may be peeling by using a wire brush or other method. Then, clean the floor with Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield anti-grease cleanser and it with a broom or stiff bristle brush. Etch all unfinished concrete flooring in spots where it may be necessary using Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield concrete etch. Rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry completely.
Rust-Oleum porch and floor acrylic paint only when the relative humidity is below 85%. The temperature should be between 50-90°F. Do not apply on any surfaces outdoors if it is expected to rain within 24 hours.
When using Rust-Oleum porch and floor acrylic paint, two coats should be applied. This will ensure the best coverage. The first coat is expected to dry within two hours. Allow a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of drying time before re-coating. Brushing is the preferred application method. When rolling or spraying this paint, make sure to back-brush along the grain. This will eliminate any drips, runs, uneven coverage, or surface puddles.
Add Rust-Oleum porch and floor coating to any walkway, porch, or patio. When the Rust-Oleum porch and floor acrylic formula is applied, it leaves any surface with a solid color that’s made to last. Regardless of whether the surface is wood or concrete, the finished product will be a polished finish that hides any signs of aging.
The paint dries so fast that it is not necessary to hang signs warning others about getting wet paint on their fingers from accidentally touching the surface. After a couple of hours, the painted garage floor can handle light foot traffic and will be dry enough to replace the furniture.
This dove gray satin porch and floor urethane has an elegant design and smooth finish. It comes in one-gallon size cans. It has an anti-skid textured finish and is excellent for use on both wood and concrete. Scuff and scrape marks will not show easily with this finish. The weekend Do-It-Yourself expert will find this paint easy to apply using a roller, brush, or pad. It is manufactured in the United States.
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5. KILZ Masonry, Stucco, and Brick Flat Paint – Best Paint to Camouflage Small Imperfections
Garage floors, even if freshly poured, are not always perfectly smooth. Over a period of time, it is not uncommon for small dents, chips, or cracks to appear, created by items dropped on the floor. Others come from normal wear and tear. Painting the garage floor is one method used to hide these imperfections. When flat paint is used, the paint absorbs light, which helps make small dents, dings, and texture changes invisible. KILZ masonry, stucco, and brick flat paint is a quality interior and exterior flat paint that hides imperfections and makes your garage floor look brand new.
When painting your garage floor with KILZ masonry, stucco, and brick flat paint, be sure to clean the surface well to make sure there is no loose paint and patch any cracks. The manufactures recommend using an acrylic-latex masonry primer first. Afterward, roll on the KILZ masonry, stucco, and brick flat paint. When using self-priming paint on new raw surfaces, apply the paint directly to the existing surface. Two coats are required. The first coat will seal the surface well enough to apply the second coat. The gray color and a flat finish of this paint will leave your floor with a natural look. It’s also mildew resistant.
KILZ masonry, stucco, and brick flat paint is made for concrete or block surfaces. Persons using this paint have reported having good success with using it to paint their concrete garage floors. The manufacturer does not recommend this particular paint for use on horizontal surfaces that are subject to foot traffic. For those projects, they recommend KILZ porch and patio latex floor paint.
The disadvantage of using flat paint is that it tends to show dirt and does not stand up well to washing or scrubbing.
KILZ, a reliable brand known for its top performance, is a recognized name that customers have trusted for over 40 years. As a maker of premium primers and paints, in 2015, the Harris Poll Equitrend Rankings named KILZ the Paint Brand of the Year.
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Buyer’s Guide
Product Preparation
Regardless of what product you choose, there are some basic instructions for preparing this paint to use on your garage floor. First, stir the paint thoroughly before and during use. If you are using more than one can of paint, make sure it is the same color. Also, mix the two cans together to ensure the color will be consistent. Add one cup of clean, dry sand when applying the finishing coat to increase traction in areas where persons can accidentally slip. Stir the paint can frequently while painting to keep the paint from settling.
Recap of Steps to Paint the Floor
- Prepare the garage floor by cleaning it. For a more thorough cleansing, use a power washer. If necessary, consider the use of a degreaser in the water. Afterward, let the garage floor to dry completely.
- Fill in any holes or cracks using a compound made for repairing concrete or mortar.
- If necessary, etch the garage floor for better absorption.
- Depending upon the paint product, use a bonding primer for better adhesion.
- Then apply the chosen paint product. A general rule when painting a garage floor is to use a good paint roller. For other surfaces, a pad applicator, polyester brush, or airless sprayer can be used. If spraying, do not use sand. Apply the paint generously over the full length of the floor to avoid lap marks. Finish the area with long even strokes in one direction.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many options for painting your garage floor to get a finish that looks great and is easy to maintain. The type of garage paint you choose will depend on your situation and the condition of your garage floor. KILZ offers two great products that we have included in our review. One is a good choice if there is a need to camouflage small imperfections. The other is made to withstand hot car tires. Valspar’s latex satin enamel is good wear-resistant paint. Use True Value Painter’s Select porch and floor coating in areas with minimal ventilation. Finally, use RUST-OLEUM Urethane finish paint for an anti-skid textured finish.
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