Weekend project, here we come.
Marisa Spyker is the Senior Writer at Southern Living, where she enjoys dabbling in stories throughout the magazine, from gorgeous home features to profiles of the South's creatives. Prior to joining the team in 2019, Marisa was an editor at Coastal Living, coastalliving.com, and Luxe Interiors + Design. Her career spans nearly 15 years, much of which has been spent staring at photos of pretty homes and gleaning inspiration for her next beach vacation. paint concrete block wall
While born and raised in South Florida and a proud University of Florida alum (Go Gators!), she currently lives with her husband and two daughters in Santa Cruz, California. She can often be found schooling West Coasters on the joys of Southern charm and Key Lime Pie.
Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest.
When we talk about our floors—be it good or bad—we're usually talking the aging hardwood that clads the kitchen or the once-cushy carpet that coats our bedroom. Rarely do we talk about our garage. But this hardworking space deserves some recognition: It's seen oil leaks, paint can spills, and has probably managed to weather more than its share of use.
Which means it might be time to pay those hardworking floors some attention.
If you're refreshing a floor that's been neglected for a while, you'll want to dish out a little TLC first. According to Behr, it's important to not only sweep away debris and clean up any grease spills, but also to scrub the surface with a proper concrete cleaner. Once the surface is cleaned and rinsed, allow it to thoroughly dry before moving onto the next step.
Just like your walls, garage floors need a primer. And not just any primer. Look for one specifically formulated for concrete or garage floors like Rust-Oleum, which is designed to coat previously painted or stained surfaces and eliminates the need for sanding or grinding. Apply primer with a regular paint roller and allow to fully dry before adding a topcoat.
As far as which type of paint is the proper topper for your garage floors, the answer depends on several factors. According to Car and Driver, most people typically choose between latex, acrylic, and epoxy paints. Each have their own benefits, with latex concrete floor paint (like Drylok) popular with beginners for its low price, easy prep, and solid coverage. Epoxy paints, on the other hand, tend to be a little more durable. While one-part epoxy paints are an option for the time-crunched, those wanting a job that'll add years (or decades) to their garage floor's pristine appearance should opt for a two-part epoxy kit. While pricier and requiring extra steps during prep and application, two-part epoxies are more resistant to flaking, chipping, and staining.
Now, who's ready to give their garage the makeover it deserves?
Rust-Oleum Epoxy Shield Battleship Gray Satin
stone spray paint black Resistant to the pressures of stains, hot tires, and spilled chemicals, this paint is a good choice for a garage that gets heavy usage.