I wanted my garage to feel clean. Bright. Like a small workshop that doesn’t smell like old oil. So I did the thing I kept putting off: I epoxied the floor myself. No crew. Just me, a borrowed grinder, and a weekend that got real long.
Here’s the thing—this was my first full floor. I’ve patched concrete before. I’ve painted walls. But mixing two-part epoxy and racing a timer? That’s different. It’s doable though. And you know what? I kind of loved it. If you're looking for the blow-by-blow version—every tool, time check, and mishap—I laid it all out in a separate guide: I Epoxied My Own Garage Floor: What Worked, What I Messed Up, and What I’d Tell a Friend.
The plan I could stick to
My garage is a two-car, about 420 square feet. Concrete was 12 years old. It had oil spots, a long hairline crack near the door, and some light pitting by the water heater. I priced pro coats at around $2,200–$3,000. My budget said no.
If you’d rather leave the hard work to experts, the folks at Service Center Team can give you a quick quote and explain the coating options.
I used a Rust-Oleum RockSolid kit in Gray, plus a second clear top coat. I added SharkGrip for traction. Total spend was around $480 with extra rollers, a squeegee, and cleaner. I did it in September, before the cold hit. That mattered for drying.
If you’re hunting for discounted kits or second-hand tools instead of paying full retail, swing by fucklocal.com to browse hyper-local classifieds where nearby DIYers list leftover epoxy, spare rollers, and even coupon codes—handy for scoring supplies cheap and skipping long shipping waits.
That same DIY confidence came from the project where I made my own countertops a few months earlier—once you’ve poured epoxy on your kitchen island, a garage floor feels totally doable.
Prep: the part no one brags about
Prep was 80% of the work. And it shows if you rush. If you want to see the entire prep sequence spelled out in pictures, this ultimate DIY epoxy floor guide covers everything from degreasing to final rinse.
- I degreased twice. I used Purple Power first, then a citrus cleaner. On two stubborn oil spots by the right tire path, I put on kitty litter, mashed it in with a brick, and let it sit. Old trick from my grandpa. It helped.
- I etched the floor with the kit’s acid etch. I wore boots and gloves. It foamed and smelled sharp. I rinsed until the water ran clear and the floor looked like dull chalk.
- I had one small pit cluster near the drain. I used Quikrete epoxy patch. It sands like rock after it cures.
- I borrowed a floor grinder from my neighbor, Pete. It was a single-disc machine with a 30-grit wheel. I did a quick pass to open the surface more. Dust everywhere. I ran a box fan pointing out the open garage door.
- Then I let it dry overnight. I taped a 2-foot square of plastic to the floor. No fog under it by morning. Good sign.
I wish I could say I stayed neat. I did not. I tracked white dust into the house. My husband gave me that look. Fair.
Mixing and rolling: the 45-minute sprint
Epoxy has a pot life. Mine gave me about 45 minutes where it rolled easy. After that, it gets thick, like honey left in a cold pantry. The only thing trickier than a fast clock is keeping epoxy exactly where you want it—a lesson I learned when I tried DIY molds with resin tape and discovered how sneaky the stuff can be once it starts flowing. Watching a step-by-step epoxy garage floor tutorial the night before made me less panicky about the ticking clock.
I cut in the edges first with a brush. That took 10 minutes. I mixed Part A and Part B into a bag inside a box (the kit makes a little heat when it starts). I popped the seal, squished it all around, and poured a ribbon into three lines on the floor.
I used a notched squeegee to pull it thin and even. Then a 3/8-inch nap roller. Slow strokes, in a “W” pattern, back and forth. I tossed chips as I went—light sprinkle, not heavy. Chips help hide roller marks and small dust, but too many can look like confetti. I learned that the hard way near the door, where I got a bit excited.
I wore spiked shoe covers (the green kind that strap on). You can walk on the wet coat without leaving prints. It feels goofy. It works.
By minute 40, the mix was thicker. I could feel it. So I kept my sections small. I also kept the garage door halfway down to block sun. Warm floor makes bubbles. Bubbles make pinholes. I popped a few with a heat gun on low. Quick wave, don’t burn it.
The clear coat and anti-slip stuff
After 24 hours, I added the clear coat. Same mix, same timer. I stirred in SharkGrip. Think fine sand, but softer. It keeps the floor from feeling like ice when wet. I went a little heavy by the entry door from the house. That spot is where socks meet slick floor, and no one wants a cartoon slide.
It dried to a soft satin gloss. Not glass. Not dull. Somewhere happy.
The good: brighter, tougher, and easy to clean
- The garage looks bigger. Light bounces. It’s like someone turned on another bulb.
- Oil wipes up with a paper towel and a spritz of Simple Green. No dark stains so far.
- I can sweep the whole floor in five minutes. It doesn’t hold dust like raw concrete.
- The chip flakes hide little sins: tiny holes, a faint roller line I missed.
- My skateboard wheels roll smoother now. Odd perk, but I’ll take it.
Three days after the top coat, I parked my Toyota in there. No peel. No stick. No marks from hot tires.
The bad: my mistakes, not the kit
Let me be honest.
- I left a thin edge along the garage door where I pulled back too hard with the squeegee. After a few weeks, I saw a faint peel line there. I sanded that strip and brushed on a little extra epoxy from a leftover bottle. It’s fine now, but it bugged me.
- The weather jumped from 72 to 82 during the first coat. I got a few bubbles by the water heater. I should’ve started later in the day, after the slab cooled. Concrete breathes. Warm air rises through it and makes pinholes.
- I tossed too many chips in one small patch by the tool bench. It looks like I dropped a snack mix. My kid laughed. I will live.
Real-life test: six months later
- Winter salt: We had two slushy storms. Salt puddles dried white. I hosed the floor and pushed water out with a foam squeegee. No dull spots.
- Hot tire pickup: None so far. I do wait a minute when I pull in after a long drive. Habit.
- Dropped tools: I dropped a 10mm socket (of course) and a small pry bar. No chips. The clear coat has tiny scuffs if you look at an angle. Normal wear.
- Spills: A splash of brake fluid sat for about 10 minutes before I noticed. I wiped, then rinsed. No haze.
- Dogs: My lab, Daisy, came trotting in with wet paws. She didn’t slip. Thank you, SharkGrip.
A small side story: the smell
People ask about the smell. It’s there. It’s sharp. My eyes watered a tiny bit when I mixed the first bag. I ran two box fans—one blowing out, one pulling fresh air in from the back door. I wore a simple respirator. By the next morning, the smell was faint. By day two, gone.
Is it actually “easy”?
It’s not hard, but you can’t daydream. You move steady. You plan your path. You keep your roller wet. Think of it like making pancakes for a big crowd. First ones are easy. Then you glance at the clock, flip faster, try not to burn anything. Same vibe.
If you can paint a room and follow directions, you can do this. Just respect the clock.
Tools I used and liked
- Rust-Oleum RockSolid kit in Gray (two boxes for my size)
- RockSolid clear top coat (one box)
- SharkGrip anti-skid additive
- 3/8-inch nap rollers (I used three)
- Notched floor squeegee (18 inch)
- Angle