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When considering a durable and visually appealing upgrade for your garage, an epoxy garage floor stands out as a top choice. Known for its resilience and aesthetic versatility, epoxy flooring transforms any garage into a functional and stylish space. However, homeowners often wonder about the cost involved in such an upgrade. In this article, we’ll delve into the various factors influencing the price of epoxy garage floor installations, offering a clear picture of the financial aspect. Whether you’re aiming for a simple refresh or a high-end transformation, understanding epoxy garage floor cost is crucial in making an informed decision for your home improvement project.
Factors Affecting Epoxy Garage Floor Cost
It is useful to know the whole cost when determining whether or not to install an epoxy garage floor. The cost of epoxy garage floor, on the other hand, might vary based on a number of criteria. Here are some cost-related issues to consider:
Garage Floor Size
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The dimensions and configuration of your garage play a pivotal role in determining the cost of an epoxy floor coating. Epoxy flooring specialists typically base their pricing on the square footage to be treated. Generally, larger garage floors necessitate more materials and labor, directly influencing an increase in the overall epoxy garage floor cost. Understanding this correlation is key for homeowners planning their budget for an epoxy garage floor project.
Type and Cost Of Epoxy
There are a few things to think about before getting an epoxy coating done to your garage floor. First, decide what kind of coatings you want. Basic epoxies are less expensive but offer little in terms of durability or performance. They are ideal for people who don’t have a lot of time or money to spend on their garage floors. Premium or speciality epoxies, such as metallic or ornamental alternatives, can be more expensive, but they last longer and perform better than standard coats.
Aside from the epoxy itself, additional materials such as priming, sealers, and topcoats may be necessary.
Labor Cost
The labor cost for epoxy flooring projects will vary depending on a few major factors:
- The project’s difficulty
- The existing floor’s condition
- Contractors’ knowledge and abilities
Let’s take a detailed look at what constitutes the price of an epoxy floor
Standard garage sizes
Typical garage sizes:
1-car garage โ 200-320 sf.
1.5-car garage โ 350-380 sf.
2-car garage โ 400-450 sf. 2.5-car garage โ 500-550 sf.
3-car garage โ 600-800 sf.
It is essential to discuss with the master what size your garage is. You can measure it yourself or send the garage plans to the master, or invite the master for an assessment. Since regardless of the small volume of work, a working day will be spent and materials for a small volume are not much cheaper, the minimum cost for any project is:
Metallic โ $1300
Regular โ $900
Type and Cost of Epoxy Garage floor
Types of Epoxy Floors
There are 2 types of epoxy floors: regular and metallic.
They differ in appearance, materials, and price. Let’s consider each type.
Type of epoxy (prices are approximate and may vary depending on the city)
| Regular solid color (one color) without flakes | $5 per sf Exception โ white, which needs to be applied in 2 layers, therefore it will be more expensive by $1 – $5 per sf. |
| Regular with flakes | $5 per sf (for light sprinkle and medium broadcasts; more details below) |
| Metallic epoxy | $9 per sf |
The following densities of flake broadcasts are distinguished:
In the picture above, the same base color and flake color are indicated, but depending on the amount of flakes, we get a completely different floor color:
- For Light Sprinkle or Light Flake, 1 pound of flakes per 250 sqft of floor is used
- For Medium Broadcast or Medium Flake, 2 pounds of flakes per 250 sqft of floor is used
- For Heavy Broadcast or Heavy Flake, 3-4 pounds of flakes per 250 sqft of floor is used
- For Full Broadcast or Full Flake, 25 pounds of flakes per 250 sqft of floor is used
Degree of flake broadcast
| Light sprinkle broadcast | included in the standard cost |
| Medium | included in the standard cost |
| Heavy broadcast | +$0.5 per sf |
| Full Broadcast (including clear coat) | +$1 per sf |
Additional options when installing an epoxy floor
Clear Coat (finish coating)
To increase the wear resistance and strength of the floor, as well as to give it smoothness and shine and extend its service life, it is important to cover the colored layer (with or without flakes) with another layer โ transparent. As a clear coat (sometimes called poly coat), a polyurethane material is most often used. If this is not done, the floor will last much less time, and the flakes with which the floor was covered will fall off. But when clients ask for a budget version of the floor, we install epoxy without a clear coat and warn about a shorter service life.
Clear coat can be:
- high gloss (shiny) โ bright, glossy shine
- matte โ matte effect
- anti-slip (anti-skid) โ with anti-slip coating
| Additional options | |
| Clearcoat | +$1 per sf |
| Baseboard (concrete curbs in the garage) | +$0,5 per sf |
| Anti Skid / AntiSlip | from +$100 to +$200 (depends on the craftsman) |
| Custom color for regular epoxy made to order | +$0,5 per sf |
| Stair steps up to 4 feet wide | $50 per stair step (regular epoxy only) |
| Steps wider than 4 feet | from $100 per stair step (regular epoxy only) |
The cost is influenced by the condition of the floor
| Floor Condition | |
| Brand new concrete | included in the standard cost |
| Thin crack (up to ยฝ inch) and about 4 feet long | +$100 |
| Paint, oil, and other chemical stains | +$50 per stain up to a foot in diameter |
| Removal of old paint and glue coatings | +$1 to $2 per sf depending on the complexity of the work and the craftsman |
| Other options | |
| Grinding without epoxy | $4 per sf (to be confirmed with the craftsman) |
| Grinding+clear coat | $5 per sf |
| Self level | +$4 per sf |
How to determine the condition of your concrete?
Condition of the concrete
To increase the wear resistance and strength of the floor, as well as to give it smoothness and shine and extend its service life, it is important to cover the colored layer (with or without flakes) with another layer โ transparent. As a clear coat (sometimes called poly coat), a polyurethane material is most often used. If this is not done, the floor will last much less time, and the flakes with which the floor was covered will fall off. But when clients ask for a budget version of the floor, we install epoxy without a clear coat and warn about a shorter service life.
Clear coat can be:
- high gloss (shiny) โ bright, glossy shine
- matte โ matte effect
- anti-slip (anti-skid) โ with anti-slip coating
Additional options
| Clearcoat | +$1 per sf |
| Baseboard (concrete curbs in the garage) | +$0,5 per sf |
| Anti Skid / AntiSlip | from +$100 to +$200 (depends on the craftsman) |
| Custom color for regular epoxy made to order | +$0,5 ะทะฐ ัั |
| Stair steps up to 4 feet wide | $50 per stair step (regular epoxy only) |
| Steps wider than 4 feet | from $100 per stair step (regular epoxy only) |
The cost is influenced by the condition of the floor
Floor Condition
| Brand new concrete | included in the standard cost |
| Thin crack (up to ยฝ inch) and about 4 feet long | +$100 |
| Paint, oil, and other chemical stains | +$50 per stain up to a foot in diameter |
| Removal of old paint and glue coatings | +$1 to $2 per sf depending on the complexity of the work and the craftsman |
Other options
| Grinding without epoxy | $4 per sf (to be confirmed with the craftsman) |
| Grinding+clear coat | $5 per sf |
| Self level | +$4 per sf |
How to determine the condition of your concrete?
Condition of the concrete
New or in good condition โ even, smooth concrete without visible defects. No extra costs
Cracks
Small cracks For such a small crack, the extra charge is a maximum of $50, but many craftsmen include the repair of such minor issues in the standard price
Medium (thin, about a meter long) Treating a crack of this size (up to 2-3 millimeters thick and about a meter long) costs $100 for 1-2 cracks
Large (wide and/or along the entire length of the garage) The concrete itself is in terrible condition, but the main thing is how a long crack looks, which is finger-wide in places. The cost of treating such cracks is +$200
Chips
Small chips need to be fixed with a patch, which is an additional expense. +$100 in this case for the number of chips outlined in red
Stains and residue
Paint stains After repairs, small paint stains remained all over the garage floor surface. It’s not necessary to charge extra here, as they can be easily removed with a grinder
Paint Residue Here you can see the wear of old paint, which will have to be removed from more than 50% of the garage surface. This will be +$1 per sf for floor preparation
Oil Stains In addition to old paint and cracks, there are clearly visible oil stains that have penetrated into the concrete. The cost of removing such stains is +$100 for deep grinding and acid wash
Glue Residue (Thin Layer) Glue residue can be left after removing tiles or carpet, and it’s very difficult to remove. Often, regular grinding is not enough. In this example, the glue after the carpet is a thin layer, so it’s +$1 per sf to the cost
Glue Residue (Thick Layer) Glue residue after tile removal. Here the layer of glue is thick, so it’s +$2 per sf to the cost
Joints
These are technically expansion joints, temperature seams, etc. They are never sealed because they are slabs often lying on the ground in a garage and they move depending on temperature and humidity, soil quality, and other factors. We always recommend to our clients not to remove them, but to apply epoxy leaving these gaps.
On the left are examples of what happens when they are removed and epoxy is applied over them (a crack forms), and how we usually do it by leaving them
A completely ruined floor that is beyond repair
When the concrete is old, its top layer starts to crumble because there was no good protective layer against the effects of moisture, temperature, various chemicals, and physical impact. In such cases, during grinding, the concrete will crumble, and applying epoxy on it will be very difficult; the layer will be uneven and look bad. In such a case, it’s necessary to grind the floor and do a self-level, and only after that apply the epoxy.
When it comes to epoxy flooring, it’s important to know what professionals generally avoid.
Most epoxy flooring masters won’t work:
- In vans, carts, wagons, or trailers
- Without proper floor preparation, even if the client assures that they’ll handle it
- On surfaces such as wood, plywood, tile, laminate, iron, walls, ceilings, or plastic
- With materials bought by the client
Timeframe for completion
Project Timeframes:
For regular epoxy on up to 600 sq ft with 1-2 workers, the process usually takes 2 days:
Day 1: Concrete preparation, primer, and main layer with chips.
Day 2: Clear coat application. If acid sealing is required, the process might take an extra day. Generally, regular epoxy with a clear coat is completed in 2-3 days.
Metallic epoxy takes longer due to additional layers:
Day 1: Floor preparation and base coat.
Day 2: Pattern layer.
Day 3: Clear coat. For metallic epoxy:
Up to 200 sq ft: 2 days.
Up to 600 sq ft: 3 days.
For larger areas, it’s recommended to consult the master for a precise timeframe.
Warranty:
Material manufacturers often provide a lifetime warranty, but in practice, epoxy floors typically last 8-10 years. Masters usually offer a 1-year warranty on their workmanship.
Let’s consider an example of the cost of an epoxy floor for a 2-car garage
Your garage size โ 400-450 sf.
You want Regular epoxy
Degree of flake broadcast โ Medium
Clear Coat – matte.
Baseboard (concrete curbs in the garage) – no
Anti Skid / AntiSlip โ yes
Floor condition – Glue Residue (Thin Layer)
Total: $2500
Epoxy Floor Benefits
The advantages include:
- Thanks to the complete absence of seams, the surface is smooth and glossy. The degree of mirror gloss can be influenced by using additives. The seamless surface prevents the penetration and accumulation of moisture, dirt, and bacteria, and therefore such a floor is often used in hospitals and other medical institutions
- Has dirt-repellent properties
- Low maintenance
- Resistant to chemical compounds
- Non-flammable
- A non-slip surface can be achieved during pouring by adjusting the level of roughness
- The material is strong, reliable, almost does not wear out and does not deteriorate under the influence of ultraviolet rays. An epoxy poured floor can last for more than 30 years
- Almost odorless. It can only be smelled during mixing, and to completely get rid of it, two ventilations are enough
- Optimal combination of price and quality
Epoxy Floor Disadvantages
However, the disadvantages are as follows:
- Epoxy floor coating is quite fragile due to its hardness. If a heavy object falls on the floor, cracks, chips, and scratches may appear
- Complex technology for dismantling
Questions to Ask About Epoxy Garage Floor Cost
By asking the proper questions regarding epoxy garage floor cost, you may reduce miscommunication, save money, and get the intended results. Here are some questions to ask an expert in epoxy flooring.
- Do you have insurance and workers’ compensation? (Some states mandate insurance and workers’ compensation, while others do not.)
- Others, however, do not. Check with your local government.)
- Do you have any suggestions or references?
- Which epoxy coating brand do you use?
- Do you have any technical data sheets available for the epoxy you use?
- Do you have certification to apply epoxy coating?
- Can you show me your training certificate?
- How are you going to prepare the current concrete floor?
- What is the VOC content of the goods you use?How long will the project take?
- Who will apply the epoxy?
- Do you examine the flooring for moisture?
- Do you provide a topcoat?
- How will you handle repairs to concrete flooring?
- What kind of warranty do you provide?
