Epoxy Concrete Floor Paint

"Epoxy concrete floor paint will give your floor that incredible showroom look!"

Tired of that boring old gray concrete in the garage or basement? Cover it up and make it look sharp with something that's strong enough to withstand the constant beating that floors take.
You can give your concrete a showroom look using epoxy concrete floor paint. Epoxy coatings aren't new. They have been used for years on industrial floors because of their toughness, durability, and resistance to oil, grease, and most other chemicals that ruin regular paint. That's why many mechanic's shops and dealerships use them. In the past few years, however, it has become a growing trend for homeowners.

Epoxy concrete floor paint is a great idea for garage floors and basement floors to cover dull, gray concrete and give you attractive, easy to clean surfaces. It prevents stains from spills and leaky automobiles and helps maintain a strong concrete surface. It will greatly reduce the need for floor repairs down the road caused by salts and chemicals that chew up concrete. The benefits of epoxy floor paint include:

Strong Adhesion
Long Lasting
Rustproof
Waterproof
Heat Resistant (no hot tire pick-up)
Salt and Acid Resistance
Reduced Maintanence Costs
Nontoxic when dry

The biggest advantage of epoxy concrete floor paint is that it's become relatively inexpensive for typical homeowners and an ideal project for the do-it-yourselfer. In most cases it can be done for a few hundred dollars or less, depending on the size of the floor and the type of epoxy.

Note: If your floor has spots that are always wet or "sweats" then you shouldn't apply concrete floor paint because there is too much moisture coming from underneath and the paint won't last very long.

There are basically three types of epoxies: 100% solids, solvent-based, and water-based.The 100% solid type is the strongest, most expensive, and most toxic and should only be handled by professionals. The solvent-based epoxies aren't as strong, but are usually reserved for industrial use. They contain 40-60% solids. The solvents are also very toxic. Take proper precautions such as good ventilation and a respirator if you choose to use solvent-based. You have to go to industrial supply stores to find them. The cheapest type is the water-based epoxies. They are not as durable as the solvent-based epoxy but are strong enough for residential use and much more user friendly with no hazardous fumes and ideal for the nonprofessional. Water-based epoxies can be found at most home improvement stores.

Epoxies also come in a variety of colors and some manufacturers even offer computerized color matching. You can also throw blended chips on top of the wet paint for a not-so-plain look.

When shopping for epoxy floor paint, you will find that most brands claim epoxies are good for exterior use also. This may be true for some of the stronger coatings, but if you live in a harsh climate, I recommend that you check out acid-based and acrylic concrete stains before deciding to use paint. Stains hold up much better against mother nature.

If you decide to use epoxy concrete floor paint, the most important key to a longlasting finish is surface preparation, surface preparation, surface preparation. I stress this point because there are many brands and types to choose from. For residential use, most of them perform well. Applying them to a properly prepared surface is the difference between success and failure. This is true for any concrete coating or topping. Also, a clear coat of concrete sealer on top will act as a sacrificial coat and keep the paint looking nice. Your best bet is to find an epoxy kit with compatible sealer that has all the materials and instructions to complete your project.

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