RUST-OLEUM EpoxyShield Garage Floor - Showroom Floors!

For several years, I used my garage floor as my biggest worktable... Yep. You would see me here, building, gluing, and painting to my heart's content without using any surface or material to protect that floor. All those memories smeared on the floor weren't that attractive, so I decided to give my garage floor the Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield treatment.

It's been a year-long journey coming to this point, with the first task being decluttering this space and the building of a mudroom being the last project tackled here. I had no time to record a video of my new mudroom because I had to run to clean that garage floor.

Temperatures were dropping drastically, and that's one of the essential factors you need to consider if you want to epoxy your garage or basement floor. The outside temperature needs to be between 60 and 85 degrees, and the humidity not greater than 85%. You can find more information within the kit.

The shop vac, power washer, and all the Rust-Oleum products were ready to go, as shown in the picture below, when we were about to start.

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| Ryobi Power Washer | RIDGID Wet/Dry Vac |

I'm going to give you a recount of what I did. The complete instructions come within the Rust-Oleum kits you buy. I tried to follow them to the t. But I will also give you some tips and tricks that worked for me, and you may find them helpful.

If you're going to embark on this project, let me tell you that it's very doable, and you can complete the most crucial part during the weekend. However, the cleaning process might be arduous depending on the condition of your garage floor.

1. EMPTY YOUR GARAGE

That first task took me a year to complete. :D 

Yes, it took me a whole year to eliminate tons of stuff I had scattered around the garage. I had to build storage solutions and get organized.

Look at the mess this garage was before!

Most of my builds are now on wheels, except for one. That tall cabinet full of tools was going nowhere, even empty. It was too heavy. It stayed in place, but we propped it on two 2 x 4s and secured it to the studs on the wall. The only space we didn't epoxy was underneath those 2 x 4s, but people will only know when we move that cabinet.

2. CLEAN, CLEAN, AND CLEAN SOME MORE!

One full day was dedicated to cleaning that floor.

I first used my shop vacuum to get the biggest mess, and then Mr. RLC used his trusted blower to remove what remained there. 

Pff, that was a cloud of dust!

RUST-OLEUM CLEANER AND DEGREASER

You need to wash that floor to remove dirt and grease! 

Enter here Rust-Oleum cleaner and degreaser. 

We used two gallons of Rust-Oleum cleaner and degreaser for our garage, which is approximately 500 sqft.

As per instructions, we mixed it with water.

| Rust-Oleum Cleaner & Degreaser |

This is when the fun begins! Just kidding. 

The scrubbing begins. 

We divided the area into four parts. The first part was this one, the back-left area. Mr. RLC is here, using a scrub brush, which I recommend. I was using a broom, and even though it was one of those heavy-duty brooms, the brush was better for this job.

| Professional Scrub Brush |

Once you see the area free of grease and dirt, it's time to rinse it. We used our Ryobi power washer, which also removes stuck-on dirt.

After rinsing that left area three times and squeegee-ing the excess water, we went to the other side of the garage to do the same.

EDGING

The cleaning continues; the next step is using the citric acid or concrete edge that comes with the Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield kit.

The powdery stuff is mixed with water, then you return to scrubbing. 

Then, rinse the citric acid off the floor.

And going to the other side of the garage... edging and rinsing again.

We rinsed that floor about seven/eight times. 

Really! 

We didn't want any residue of those products compromising the adhesion of the epoxy.

| 24 In. Floor squeegee with handle |

This is how the floor looked at the end of the day.

After 24 hours, the floor was dry, and I went to see if there was any dusting. I passed my fingers through several sections, and it was clean!

If you find dust on your fingers, you must rinse the floor more.

3. FILL HOLES AND GAPS

I could've applied the epoxy at this point, but I first needed to fill holes and gaps. I used the Rust-Oleum Concrete Patch and Repair kit. It is a two-part product that you mix. 

I filled in a few holes in the middle of the garage. Then, I started to fill in a section of that gap where the floor meets the foundation wall, but my oh, my! This small section ate half of the product, and look how it ended... Just the same as it started! 

I wasted no more time or product on that gap.

| Rust-Oleum Concrete Patch and Repair Kit |

4. APPLY THE EPOXY

I taped the area to be epoxy. My kids were the ones helping me on those corners, and those guys can't keep a straight line with the brush.

I waited 48 hours after washing the floors to apply the epoxy. 

The Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield is a two-part product you mix in the burst pouch. Pushing part B into part A and then mixing it.

Depending on the temperature, let the mixed epoxy sit/rest before applying it. See the instructions for more information.

While my two helpers brushed the product on the corners, I rolled it into the central area.

| Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield | Epoxy Roller |

My son was in charge of adding the paint chips. He didn't like them, but there was no way I was not going to use them. They distract from the imperfections on the floor, and they look cute. :)

This is how the floor looked right after we finished applying the epoxy. 

A completely new space!! 😊😊 

I could've stopped here; the floor looked perfect, but I went the extra mile...

5. APPLY A TOP COAT

Yes, I wanted that shiny coat!

This topcoat is another Rust-Oleum kit with a two-part product that you mix in the burst pouch and the anti-skit additive to prevent it from being too slippery, especially when wet.

Applying the product is easy. Mr. RLC brushed the corners, and I rolled it. However, I had a tough time keeping an eye on those wet lines. It is transparent... HARD TO SEE!

| Rust-Oleum Clear High Gloss Garage Floor Kit | 

Of course, as you can see below, I had plenty of missed spots. The bright spots reflect the light coming through the little windows on the garage door. But the missed spots are there.

To solve this problem, I applied another coat of the transparent high gloss product. This time, I did it in the opposite direction that I had first done. I took advantage of the light, showing me which areas were covered and which weren't. 

The missed spots from the first coat were saturated with product, and in the end, the entire floor looks shiny, but the variation of color/shade on those spots persists.

Well, guys, that's a little issue because this garage looks a million times better!!

| DIY - Lumber Rack |

| Ryobi Devour Debris Sweeper | Garage Shelves |

We already rolled in the workbenches and lowered that charging station/tool cabinet. It all looks fantastic!

| DIY Pegboard | Husky Mobile Workbench | DIY Miter Saw Station |

Can you believe this is how this garage looked a year ago?! 🤮 👇🏼

It certainly was the wrong way to keep our garage.

Well, change did come to this garage. Check out all that was done here! 👇

1. The Garage Overhaul - The Plan
2. DIY - Lumber Rack
3. A great storage solution
4. Some more cleaning was done here
5. DIY - Miter saw station
6. Mudroom Plan
7. DIY-Garage platform
8. Framing the mudroom
9. Mudroom Staircase
10. Slate Tile install in mudroom
11. DIY - Mudroom cabinets
12. Mudroom back cabinet and sliding door
13. Mudroom bench
14. Mudroom Shaker cabinet doors & faux cabinet
15. Mudroom reveal
16. DIY -Epoxy garage floor

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