Get matched with top epoxy flooring pros in Pelion, SC

You’ll usually need to prime a garage floor before painting—especially if the floor is unpainted. Garage floors are made from concrete, which is porous and produces dust. The dust can contaminate the paint and cause issues with adherence. 

Primer creates a barrier and gives you a clean surface to work on. It also minimizes absorption to help give you an even, pro-looking paint job. Make sure you choose a primer that’s specifically designed to cover concrete flooring.

Generally speaking, epoxy is the best garage floor coating. There are two main types of garage floor coating you can consider: epoxy and polyaspartic. Epoxy coating comes at a more affordable price but loses when it comes to durability and long-term use. Polyaspartic coatings cost more and don’t offer as much traction, but they withstand accidents better and don’t tend to fade. Most homeowners choose an epoxy coating.

Polished concrete floors also have downsides. Some homeowners, for example, might dislike the coldness of the material (though area rugs can help warm up the space). Concrete floors are also hard, which isn’t always ideal for children and pets. What’s more, these floors are susceptible to cracking, and repairs can be costly. Some homeowners might not like that installation isn’t DIY-friendly. 

Whether it's better to stain or paint concrete depends on your budget, desired aesthetic, and DIY skill level. Generally, staining is a more durable option because the stain soaks into the concrete's surface and won't wear away like a topical paint coating. Painting concrete can trap moisture underneath the paint layer, which may cause the concrete to deteriorate over time. However, concrete paint offers a wider variety of colors, is typically easier and less expensive to apply, and is effective at covering up existing stains or blemishes on the surface.