Rich,
I used the Quikcrete product which I bought from Lowes (a link is at the bottom of this message). I used this on both my fiancee's and my home's floor. After doing two 2-car garages last Fall, I feel like a pro.
Step 1 -- Don't plan on using your garage for at least a week -- this process can't be rushed. Pick a week when no rain is expected and when temps are 70 or above. The first step is to prep the floor, which is relatively easy. A solution is included in the kit, which cleans, degreases and etches the concrete in one step. I recommend you buy an extra can of this stuff so you can go back over a second time, if your garage floor is very greasy. I scrubbed the greasy spots with an old broom to help clean it off.
Step 2 -- After you use this solution, make sure the solution is completely rinsed away (It didn't do anything to my driveway when I washed it down outside. I don't know what it does to the environment, but I haven't seen any two-headed geese in the pond behind my house yet).
If you don't rinse completely, then a powdery residue will remain where the water puddles after drying. This powdery residue needs to be cleaned off, otherwise the epoxy won't stick. Steps 1 and 2 took about 4 hours.
Step 3 -- Let the floor dry completely. This took three days in Oklahoma, where the humidity is near 25% most of the summer. It might take four days in Georgia. Any moisture at all will cause the epoxy to bubble and peel. Your garage floor should have no gloss to it, because all the sealant normally applied must be etched away. If your floor is cracked, you would seal the cracks after this step. I just painted over mine, and the epoxy filled them pretty well.
Step 4 -- Mix the epoxy according to the directions. When ready, paint the edges of the floor quickly around half of the garage with a two or three-inch paint brush (I am assuming a two-car garage). I suggest two people do this, because you don't want the can of mixed epoxy to sit around long.
Step 5 -- Next paint the floor in small sections (about 4 ft X 4 ft) using a paint roller with an extension handle. As you complete each small section, sprinkle the color chips over the wet epoxy (they will not stick well if you wait more than a few minutes). Plan to use the can of epoxy quickly, because the epoxy will begin to thicken in about 30 minutes and will become useless putty. If you have a two-car garage, you will need two gallons of epoxy. Don't mix the second gallon until about 10 minutes before you finish painting the first half with the first gallon.
Step 6 -- Let the floor dry for 3 - 5 days depending upon the temperature. I waited 6 days, just because I didn't want to ruin all my hard work by being too eager.
Step 7 -- Enjoy your new garage floor. Cleaning has been easy. Even when I had the winter melt-off of sand and salt, I just swept the loose stuff and then used a bucket of water and a broom to scrub the dirt away. Mopping is ineffective, due to the texture of the color flakes.
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Finished Project
