The Best Garage Floor Coatings to Prevent Oil Stains

Image Gallery Garage floor coatings are available in several colors. Some companies offer products with flecks or chips in the coating. GARAGEFLOORCOATING.COM

Of all the surfaces in your home, the garage or shop floor probably has the toughest duty. Though a concrete floor is a durable surface, it does have one major shortcoming. Concrete, even if finished to a smooth surface, is actually quite porous. Fluid leaks from vehicles and grime from tires can quickly work their way into the concrete and stain the floor. Besides being ugly, oil and fluid stains tend to attract and hold more dirt and grime, which is then tracked into the house or car.

Fortunately, the cure for this is simple; seal the concrete floor with specialty garage floor paint or cover it with mats or a modular decking system. The most common garage-floor coatings are epoxy-based paints and coatings. You can easily apply these in a weekend. Other options include polyurethane paint and even soy-based paint. Look for low- or zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) products that are better for human and environmental health. Finding low-VOC garage floor coatings from a local retailer may be more challenging than finding low-VOC wall paint. But check companies, such as H & C Concrete Coatings and eco-Protective Products, to begin your search.

After they’re applied, these garage-floor coatings really dress up the appearance of the garage and make the surface much easier to keep clean. You can simply wipe up spills and fluid leaks before they can be tracked into the house — and they generally won’t stain the floor.

Preparing the Floor

Like all paint projects, much of the secret to a professional looking garage floor is in the preparation. The first step is to remove everything from the garage and thoroughly clean the floor surface. First, sweep up all the loose dirt. Then, follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions to prep and clean the floor; a commercial concrete cleaner or mixture of household bleach and water may be necessary to clean tough stains. A pressure washer can also be helpful for removing stains, but operating in a semi-enclosed area such as a garage can soak the walls and put a lot of moisture in the air. After the concrete is clean, it should be allowed to dry completely before moving on to the next steps. Some products recommend “etching” the surface with a concrete etching solution to make the surface rougher for a better bond by the coating.