Frequently Asked Questions — DIY Epoxy & Flake Garage Floors

1. Is an epoxy garage floor worth it for a DIY homeowner?

Yes! DIY epoxy garage floors can save you to 70% compared to paying a company to install it. The key to success is proper preparation—we recommend diamond grinding your concrete to a 60–80 grit profile to ensure the epoxy bonds well and lasts for years. With patience and the right products, many homeowners achieve professional-looking, industrial quality results.

2. What’s better for a garage floor: epoxy or polyaspartic?

Both have their place. For most DIY projects, we recommend using an epoxy base coat for durability and color, then finishing with a clear polyaspartic topcoat for superior abrasion, chemical resistance, and faster cure times along with UV resistance (all polyaspartics are Aliphatic, meaning they won’t yellow). Our DIY-friendly epoxy and polyaspartic coatings come with longer working times to make application easier.

Epoxy Selection: Click Here

Polyaspartic Selection: Click Here 

3. Can I epoxy over old concrete or paint?

It’s best to remove any old paint or coatings before applying epoxy. Epoxy bonds to the surface underneath, so if the paint peels, your epoxy will peel too. After removing old paint, prepare the concrete properly—usually with diamond grinding—to create a rough surface that promotes adhesion and long-term durability.

4. How slippery are flake floors when wet?

Flake floors typically have more texture than smooth epoxy, so they’re less slippery. However, there is still the risk of slips and falls when the floor is wet. For extra slip resistance—especially in wet areas—we recommend adding our Polybead Anti-Slip Additive to your clear topcoat. It adds texture without significantly changing the floor’s appearance and is easy to clean.

Flake Selection: Click Here 

5. How long before I can park my car after coating my garage floor?

Cure times depend on the product system and temperature:

• Most epoxy floors are walkable within 12–24 hours**
• Vehicle traffic is generally safe after 48–72 hours**
  Using a polyaspartic topcoat speeds up cure times but shortens working times. Warmer temperatures accelerate curing, cooler ones slow it down. Check product pages for exact times or contact us for personalized advice.

** Please check each of the coatings you order for their individual cure times **

Give us a call at 630-675-4509 for personalized product selection for your DIY garage project as well as preparation / application support. At Exterior Coatings “Your Project is Our Project”. Let us help make your project a success!