You must prep the concrete properly or the epoxy will come off. Any oil or other chemical will prevent the coating from adhering. Read the instructions for prep and follow it completely - if not more. I like to scuff up a floor before applying anything to it. We have rented the round floor buffers and used a #5 sanding pad to scuff sand the floor. Then vacuum thoroughly. Keep it dry - do not mop or add moisture to the concrete before coating....best of luck.

Thank you for your advice. Sounds like the hard part is all in the prep?

I am in the same position and after having clients who had epoxy floors that failed, I plan to purchase the garage floor that comes in rolls that can simply be rolled out over the existing floor. From Costco and Sam's Club.

Texas has issues with high ground water...garages typically have issues with moisture because the slabs in garages are NOT poured like the home's slab...NO VAPOUR BARRIER.

So you add a troublesome area (TX) to a troublesome slab (garage slab) and you are asking for complete and utter failure inside of 1-3 years. Cleaning concrete is normally done with some basic chemicals...but those chemicals can PREVENT the epoxy from sticking. PROPER use of the cleaning system is issue #1. Then you get to SHOT BLAST the concrete!!! You need to know the TYPE/size of shot you want to work with. Then you need to know the MOISTURE CONTENT of your garage slab. That means you need to KNOW HOW to measure it...and then you need to know WHAT IT MEANS.

Once you've cleaned, blasted, tested the slab...now you need to know how and with what you will do the moisture remediation. Once the moisture barrier is put down....NOW we can use the HD epoxy.

Whew. Lots of things to know just to get a "bad" epoxy on a garage floor. I would spend the $3K - $5K and have it done professionally. At least you will have recourse if it doesn't work...

A properly installed epoxy floor should last decades. Home D. product should last 3 years....and that's assuming you are NOT in Texas. Which you are.

OMG, Thank you for this info. I had no idea. so maybe I should rephrase my question to "What is the best flooring for a garage?", is the concrete the best, just leave it alone. I HATE maintenance, I want to do it once and not have to worry about it. I don't want something that is going to require a touch up/redo in 3/5 years. Any input on anyone and their garage floors is appreciated.

I have a husband and he thinks he is the pro, so he is GOING to DO IT. If I did not have a husband I would be able to hire a pro. Problem solved.

have you thought about having the concrete polished? Alot of older buildings in Shreveport are polishing and re-staining concrete.

cieradavies - lol! At least you have someone to help: no husband = I have to do it, no matter how un-fun or how badly I *do not* want to do it. When it comes time to deal with my garage floor, I think I'll go with super-cheap carpet (the kind that doesn't have any backing) from HD. I think it's 35 cents a square foot? It's easy to cut it to size and vacuums up real nice. In any case, it's good enough for a garage!

Best floor for a garage that is being used as a garage: the concrete it came with.

Thank you all for your wonderful feedback. After my "yacking" to my husband about the pitfalls of do it yourself epoxy, we just ended up doing nothing, and I could not be happier. I like what Cancork Floor said, "the best floor for a garage is concrete", plus you are not acting like a "rhymes with witch" when oil is spilt or it gets gouged from dragging the 200 pound "whatever" across the floor. I love that we did NOTHING, and it works just perfect. Thanks Houzz people.....