When it ’s the middle of winter , who want to share with mellow slush in cold temperatures ?

Although it does n’t seem like a big problem at first , letting your concrete floor roll up snow runnel - off from your driveway or garage door can lead to more than just a huge mountain — it could also destruct your service department flooring !

Avoid that hassle and protect your service department open and driveway from winter goo using flooring strengthener and cuticle solution that you’re able to do on your own !

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What You’ll Need to Protect Your Garage Floor

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Materials for Cleaning

You have several options to choose from when protect your garage floor from coke overflow and salty water . No matter which direction you take , you always set out by clean your floor .

Materials for Epoxy Coating

The epoxy glue resin fills the holey space in concrete and is a tenacious - terminal figure solution that protect your garage floor . While this is a great shield , this also has a time - consuming prep and installation process and can only be applied under specific conditions .

Materials for Vinyl Flooring

If you want the auspices but do n’t want the confinement - intensive process , containment base mats are for you ! It come in axial rotation of vinyl floor and can be easily installed at any time but is less lasting than epoxy rosin .

Protecting Your Garage Floor for Winter

Regardless of your garage flooring , your first project will always be clean - up .

Step 1: Clear garage floor

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Before doing anything else , top your garage flooring . dispatch any item on your trading floor and relocate them . When choose a irregular storage arena , be sure that your items can persist there for at least a workweek since garage storey preparation and installation will take a few days to be completed by rights .

Step 2: Clean dust and debris

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transfer all rubble and dust from your concrete garage story using a broom or a soused deck light touch , mop , and smock . Use your duster on any wall - mount item left in the distance to clear your garage of dirt and contaminant . It eases the prep and installation of your unexampled service department storey tiles and is more comfortable while working .

How to Install Epoxy Resin Garage Flooring

Step 1: Test for epoxy compatibility

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Epoxy can only be by rights apply when the atmospheric condition is between 50ºF–80ºF and to concrete barren of moisture issues and extra coatings . quiz for exuberant wet by tap a plastic sheet to the floor and letting it rest overnight . If it has any condensation or dampness , the epoxy glue wo n’t cure properly .

MoistureTest -Testing your concrete for wet

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Step 2: Degrease your floor

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When the temperatures are correct , saturate your intact garage floor with ardent weewee . Mix your degreasing solution and pour it onto the wet airfoil . Scrub the degreaser soundly into the concrete surface and keep reapplying water to your base before it dry out . you may utilise a squeegee to push the excess water out once you ’re done scrubbing .

How to Clean varnished concrete

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Pro tip : Watch your piss . Observe where weewee is run off instead of being engross by your concrete . It is a sign of an crude oil stain , and you should pay special tending to degreasing these orbit .

Step 3: Etch your floor

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break your service department level with your concrete etcher solution . Spread it on your floor with a sprinkle can and scrub it into the surface with a stiff brush . It opens your concrete ’s pores for a better epoxy base coating . Reapply until it stops foam or when it starts take over water .

DIY - How to Apply a Concrete Etcher & Cleaner

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Step 4: Repair your floor

apply a grinder to further strip your concrete and rule out imperfections such as pop cracks , pocket-sized chap , painted smirch , or remnant oil spills . practice a concrete patch outfit to fill in any gaps before grinding it again once the plasterwork dries . Aim for leveled and completely strip concrete floor when you ’re done .

Repair Cracked and Broken Concrete ( Easy DIY ) || Garage Floor

Step 5: Mix your resin

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Thoroughlymix your two - part epoxy kitand channelise it to a rouge pot or pan . Epoxy has a short pot life , lasting around two hours before it start hardening . To avoid permissive waste , mix it with clean body of water in small workable raft base on how much infinite you could enshroud within the body of work clip .

Step 6: Apply your epoxy

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Starting from the furthest quoin of your service department , apply your epoxy in all-encompassing two - foot inscrutable areas for gentle software . Use the flat brushwood for precision and use the hair curler brush for larger sphere . Spread the epoxy with up - and - down move before backrolling over it with side - to - side strokes for level coverage .

Pro - Tip : Double your coating . Although one epoxy resin coat should be enough , professional always double up to act as a protective bed . By doing a 2d layer , you ’ll have a more thorough Navy SEAL , peculiarly around patchy and thin areas from your first notch . tot your second coating at least 24 hours after the first , once it ’s dry out .

storage area in a garage space

Step 7: Add paint chips (optional)

persona credits:[Feverpitched ] via [ Canva]While the top epoxy glue layer is still wet , spatter your blusher chips . By working in manageable two - human foot deep areas , you ’ll have an easier time spreading out your key potato chip as long as you do it immediately before act upon on a new surface area . For a more appealing and unvarying refinement , you may also purchase special blusher chip bags !

How to Install Garage Containment Mats

If you do n’t like epoxy resin dump , this is the app outgrowth for containment matt flooring .

Step 1: Spread vinyl mats

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From your garage entrance , unroll your vinyl mat . Layout your flatness where you park your automobile or , if you opt for wall - to - wall flooring , put your mats for maximal reporting . If your rolls are too big , have them overlap neatly and verify they get through all corners of your garage .

Step 2: Cut off excess

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Using a utility tongue , cut off the excess vinyl to outfit around your rampart and floor obstructer . Go as cautiously as you may to see that the MAT perfectly match your service department floor area . While cutting your edges , remember that it ’s safe to go dull to avoid cutting off too much material .

Pro tip : Rest overnight . After cutting your vinyl to size , permit your mats reside on the floor overnight . It loosen any curled edge it could have and will reveal if it needs any additional carving before taping it down . If you ca n’t leave it overnight , a few minute of balance is salutary than none .

garage floors

Step 3: Apply tape

Image credits:[EkaterinaZakharova ] via [ Canva]Take your double - sided carpet tape and attach it to the underside of your vinyl . It secure your matt to the garage floor and protects against melted snow , clay , and pelting that could leak out underneath your vinyl . Tape all of your mat ’s edges to reinforce it and varnish against water system outflow .

Pro steer : Install a weewee dam . If you have a bun in the oven your service department door to get in wet snow or sludge , a threshold Navy SEAL can serve preclude it . It constitute a dam that block any water from leaking past your garage threshold . Not everyone needs this but , if you ’d like to acquire more about it , watch this video : How to STOP Garage Door LEAKS Like A PRO .

In Summary

These garage ball over selection are deceivably easy to do yourself . They do n’t just help manage winter messes — they ’re useful during other season , too , and can facilitate your concrete garage flooring last longer .

Before you start this project , make trusted to cautiously read through each step to help you decent prepare for it .

clear your garage floor

A person putting a tape on the floor

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etch your garage floor

repair your garage floor

mix your resin

apply the epoxy

A person painting a floor

cut off excess carpet

Double-sided tape