Epoxy Garage Flooring: Best Practices for Contractors

Amee Curtis
Aug 13, 2025
2 min read

Flake epoxy garage floor with high-gloss finish

Garage floors are no longer just oil-stained slabs with a shop broom in the corner. Today’s homeowners want clean, durable, and attractive epoxy floors that can hold up to heat, chemicals, impact, and rolling traffic—all while looking showroom-ready.

If you’re a contractor offering epoxy garage flooring services, this guide covers the best practices to help you deliver flawless installs, faster cures, and happy clients every time.

Why Epoxy Garage Floors Need Special Attention

Garages are unique for several reasons:

Concrete is often unsealed but heavily contaminated with oil or tire marks
High likelihood of moisture vapor issues, especially in older slabs
Exposure to hot tires, battery acid, road salt, brake fluid, and seasonal water
Customers want aesthetics—but also performance

🛑 A simple paint or DIY epoxy kit won’t hold up here. Professional systems and prep make all the difference.

Recommended Epoxy Systems for Garages

🔹 Flake System (Epoxy Base + Polyaspartic Topcoat)

Fast turnaround, decorative flake broadcast
Easy to clean, highly durable
Great for clients who want a showroom finish

🔹 Solid Color Epoxy + Polyurethane Topcoat

Budget-friendly and strong
UV-stable and chemical-resistant
Add silica sand or traction beads for non-slip

🔹 Metallic Epoxy

Best for luxury or custom homes
3D visual effect and high gloss
Requires more install experience and control over curing temps

Surface Prep = Success

Before you even think about opening that bucket:

Prep checklist:

Shot blast or diamond grind to CSP 2–3
Degrease thoroughly (multiple times if needed)
Moisture test (especially in older garages)
Fill cracks and joints with flexible filler (e.g., Metzger McGuire)

⚠️ Acid etching isn’t enough. You need mechanical prep for true adhesion.

Installation Tips for a Cleaner Finish

Cut in edges first to avoid roller marks.
Backroll every coat to prevent puddling or holidays.
Don’t over-apply flakes—scatter evenly, then press in.
Scrape + vacuum broadcast floors before topcoat.
Use UV-stable clear topcoats (polyaspartic or aliphatic polyurethane).

🕒 Want faster return-to-service? Use fast-cure hardeners or one-day flake kits for garages that need to be done by tomorrow.

Aftercare You Can Pass On to Clients

Don’t drive on it for at least 48–72 hours
Use mats under hot tires for the first week
Clean with neutral pH floor cleaner only
Avoid dragging metal or jack stands across the surface

📢 Give your clients a one-page care sheet—it builds trust and prevents “your floor failed!” calls when they wash it with engine degreaser.

Conclusion

Garage floors may seem small, but they’re a powerful profit center for epoxy contractors—and they demand just as much care as commercial jobs.With the right prep, products, and process, you’ll deliver floors that make homeowners proud and turn one garage into five referrals.

PNW ECS stocks everything you need for clean installs, from flake blends and base coats to topcoats and tooling.

📍 Pick Up Epoxy Garage Systems at PNW ECS

Swing by Fife or Sandy to grab your next kit—or ask us to help spec a custom system for a luxury client.