Thanks for the compliments guys.
Flip -- The biggest job was emptying the garage. It gave me a good excuse to get rid of a few things, and to move some less-used items into the attic.
After clearing the garage, you sweep and rinse off the loose dirt, and use degreaser to remove any oily spots. Then you use the acid solution to etch the concrete. I found it also strips old drops of latex paint from the floor. I waited two days to make sure the concrete was completely dry before painting the floor. Any moisture will cause the epoxy to not stick properly. Use a 2 or 3-inch paint brush to paint along the edges of the walls and other obstacles, and a roller with and extended handle to paint the rest. paint 4-foot by 4-foot sections at a time, and spread the colored flakes by tossing them onto the wet paint. I used the Rustoleum brand kit on my floor, since it was given to me.
The Quik-Crete kits have a one step cleaning solution that removes the oily spots and etches the concrete to allow the epoxy to stick better. After painting, it cures within three days, instead of the seven days required by the Rustoleum product. I used the Quik-Crete kit on my fiancee's floor, and I prefer it over the Rustoleum product. The only problem is that if you take too long, the Quik-Crete product will thicken into a putty-like substance, which doesn't spread properly. After mixing the epoxy you have only two hours to use the product, before it thickens into a useless goo.
The whole process took nine days for my garage, but only five days for my fiancee's. Mine turned out a little nicer, since I wound up practicing on hers first. One thing I learned on hers, is not to do huge sections at a time, since the colored flakes don't attach themselves well, if the paint has begun to dry. Hers looks a bit splotchy because of this.
