How long does garage floor epoxy last?

A properly prepped and installed multi-layer epoxy garage floor can last 10–20+ years in most garages. Longevity depends most on surface prep, system thickness, and the durability of the protective topcoat.

Do I have to etch new concrete before applying epoxy?

Yes—new concrete often needs profiling to remove curing residues so your epoxy coating bonds permanently. The goal is the correct concrete profile to prevent peeling and early failure.

Should I use a primer for my epoxy garage floor?

Primer is recommended for weak, porous, older, stained, or questionable concrete because it increases adhesion and coverage. For very sound floors, primer may be optional depending on the system and use case.

How long does epoxy take to dry between coats?

Most systems need overnight cure between major layers, with exact times depending on temperature and humidity. Follow the specified recoat window to maintain intercoat bonding.

When can I park my car on a new epoxy floor?

Typically 48–72 hours after the final coat, depending on temperature, humidity, and the specific topcoat used. Hot tires are hardest on new coatings, so allow full cure when possible.

Is garage floor epoxy slippery?

All glossy epoxy can be slippery when wet, so use a proper non-slip additive if slip resistance is important. Flake systems add texture and dedicated additives provide additional grip.

Can I epoxy my garage floor in sections?

Yes—sectioning is common for DIY installs, but you must follow the correct overlap method and recoat window so the seams disappear and sections chemically bond.

What does WB / WBU mean in epoxy products?

WB/WBU typically means water-based, which is usually thinner and less durable than high-performance epoxy floor systems. For long-term garage floor coating performance, thickness and topcoat durability matter most.

How much does garage floor epoxy cost?

DIY epoxy garage floors generally cost less than contractor installs, but performance varies by system quality and thickness. The lowest-priced kits often wear out faster, increasing long-term cost.

Which garage floor epoxy system should I choose?

Choose based on your use case: flake for traction and hiding flaws, solid color for visibility, metallic for a 3D look, and heavy-duty options for extreme abuse. Upgraded topcoats are best for road salt, heavy trucks, and workshop use.

Garage Floor Epoxy Kits

Compare Choose Options

Armor Granite Garage Epoxy Floor Kit - Heavy Flake Coverage

MSRP:

Was:

Now: $499.00 - $699.00
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Armor Chip Garage Epoxy Floor Kits - Medium Flake Coverage

MSRP:

Was:

Now: $389.00 - $410.00
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Small Format: Two Layer Commercial Epoxy Flooring System. 550-1500SF

MSRP:

Was:

Now: $1.42 - $1.92
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METALLIC EPOXY COATING

MSRP:

Was:

Now: $1,599.00

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What Is Garage Floor Epoxy?

Garage floor epoxy is a professional-grade coating system that transforms concrete into a durable, high-gloss surface.

How It Works:

Two-part system: Resin + pigments mixed with hardener creates
Chemical bonding: Polymerization cross-links molecules into a hard shell garage floor coating
Penetrates concrete: Bonds INTO the slab, not just surface for unbreakable adhesion
Seamless finish: High-gloss, non-porous protective shield for your garage floor

vs. Paint:

Paint air-dries on surface → Weak adhesion
Paint peels & chips → Epoxy becomes part of slab

Result: 10-15+ years of resistance to wear, chemicals, moisture, hot tires & heavy traffic vs 1-2 years for paint.

Complete Garage Floor Epoxy Guide →

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Armor Granite garage epoxy floor coating with high-gloss military-grade topcoat finish.

Choosing the Right Garage Floor Epoxy

Professional-Grade Garage Floor Epoxy At DYI Prices

Every epoxy floor looks good and is stain, impact, chemical and hot tire resistant when first installed, it's how long it stays that way that counts.

ArmorGarage epoxy floors are engineered as true once-and-done coating systems with proven 10-15+ year durability, delivering the best long-term value. See Case Studies for real-world proof of how long our floors last and how quickly the competition's floors become non-resistant to anything.

See all our garage epoxy kits, plus a video of a beautiful
20,000 square foot race shop floor on the following slides.

This Beautiful Floor Was Done With ArmorGarage Epoxy Floor Kit With Primer & Military Topcoat Upgrades.

Garage Floor Epoxy Systems

Solid Color Epoxy Garage Floor 2-Layer

For when you don't want color flakes, or the garage is a workshop, easier to find dropped parts.

Color Flake Epoxy Floors

Armor Chip & Armor Granite create a stone or granite-style appearance - flake coverage of 70% to 95%.

Metallic Epoxy Garage Floors

Uses specialized pigments to create a three-dimensional, high-gloss marbled effect with no two floors alike. Three layers for maximum durability.

3-Layer Industrial Epoxy System

Extra-heavy-duty protection for large commercial repair shops and floors with off-road vehicles.

ArmorGarage Epoxy Floor Systems Overview

Large-Format Epoxy Flooring

This video shows a real-world installation at Dynamic Race Works, where a 20,000 square foot high-performance epoxy floor was installed over a single extended weekend.

The installation was completed by company employees, demonstrating how anyone without prior experience can achieve professional results.

The floor uses the ArmorGarage Large-Format 3-Layer Military-Industrial Epoxy System. The same system engineering principles apply to all our epoxy flooring products, where durability and long-term appearance matter. Contact us today if you want a floor like this.

Why Use ArmorGarage Epoxy Floor Kits

A Garage Epoxy Kit Does A Lot of Good Things For Your Floor, Such As:

Protects against road salt corrosion, concrete staining, and tire abrasion wear, preventing costly concrete damage

Provides resistance to oil, chemicals & solvents, impacts, and common garage spills

Provides extra durability for tools, jacks, sporting equipment, and off-road vehicles

Provides a light reflective surface that brightens your garage

Increases curb appeal and the value of your home

New to garage floor epoxy? See our Buyer's Guide for lots of helpful tools, guides, articles, and tech data

An ArmorGarage Epoxy Kit Can Also Easily Transform Your Floor.

Alan T. in Denver had years of road salt damage and oil staining on his floor. With proper surface preparation and an ArmorGarage epoxy flooring kit, he achieved a professional-grade finish — despite it being his first epoxy project.

The Before & After Difference Is Pretty Dramatic!

Damaged garage floor before ArmorGarage epoxy floor installation

After proper installation of the Armor Chip epoxy kit with primer and military topcoat, the floor was transformed into a durable, seamless surface with long-term protection against wear, impacts, staining, road salt pitting, and hot-tire peeling.

Control joints were intentionally left unfilled, which preserves slab movement while adding visual definition similar to large-format stone or granite panels. Control joints are now easy to clean since nothing will stick to them.

The finished floor demonstrates what's easily achievable, even for first-time installers starting with the worst looking floors.

Garage floor after ArmorGarage epoxy floor coating with flakes

Not sure which garage epoxy system is best for your traffic and use?
Get expert help and the right system the first time.

Request a Quote Talk to an Expert

Common Questions & Quick Answers For First Time Users

I've never done this before. What do I need?
Quick Answer: Our Buyer's Guide has everything you need: product selection tools, application guides, and step-by-step instructions. Plus, we provide support before, during, and after installation.

Why are ArmorGarage kits more expensive than other coatings?
Quick Answer: True multi-layer systems made with 100% USA-made premium resins cost more upfront than water-based or imported coatings—but last 10-15+ years vs. 1-3 years. Compare cost per year, not initial price. Cheap epoxy always costs more in the end. ArmorGarage is a once-and-done process.

Do I have to etch or grind my garage floor?
Quick Answer: Yes.

All concrete floors must be either acid-etched or mechanically diamond-ground to ensure proper epoxy adhesion. Grinding can save 1–2 days by eliminating post-etch drying time. New and power trowelled concrete floors must be etched twice to remove curing residues and create a proper profile/texture.

See the full list of commonly asked questions in our Garage Epoxy FAQs .

Why Most Garage Epoxy Floors Fail & Why Ours Don't

1. Floors That Stain & Peel from Hot-Tire Lifting This typically happens when surface prep is poor and or the coating isn't really garage duty quality. Heat from parked tires can reach 180 degrees, which softens low-quality coatings, allowing contaminants to penetrate and stain the surface, and once the softened coating cools, it glues itself to your tires and peels off the floor next time you pull your car out.

2. Floors That Stay Adhered and Look New for 10-15+ Years ✓ ArmorGarae's high-performance primers, true 100% military grade solid epoxy, and durable urethane topcoats deliver proven long-term performance under all garage conditions.

Want to understand epoxy failures in-depth and ensure your floor lasts?
Read Our Complete Epoxy Failure Prevention Guide →

ArmorGarage Epoxy Floor Vs Popular Epoxy Brand

Watch this video to see the difference between our epoxy and standard off-the-shelf epoxies. Not all 100% solids epoxies are created equal!

There are low quality 100% solids and fake 100% solids that you need to be aware of!

It's the difference between having to do a total diamond grind redo and not having to do one.

Same goes for high solids, they should only be used as a primer!

See Why ArmorGarage Epoxy Really Is The Best for the full breakdown.

10 Years Later: Big-Box Epoxy Vs. Armor Chip

Eric Pfeiffer and his neighbor John in Miami both coated their garage floors the same weekend. Eric used our Armor Chip kit with standard topcoat. John used a big-box store epoxy to save money.

Year Until
John's Failed

10+

Years Eric's
Still Perfect

After one year, John's floor, the one on the left, was stained and peeling. After 10 years, Eric's floor, the one on the right, still looked good—he just wanted to refresh it with our Military Topcoat. John? He was told he had to completely diamond grind his floor back down to bare concrete and re-do the whole job.

Here's what Eric told us:

"Both floors looked similar at first, but that didn't last more than a year. My floor still looks good and cleans up easily after 10 years—I'm just adding the Military Topcoat to freshen it up after a light sanding.

John was told he needs a complete diamond grind to start over! The standard topcoat lasted over 10 years, so I'm figuring the Military grade will give me a finish I'll never have to redo. Speak to you soon—so will John!"

— Eric Pfeiffer, Miami, FL

Failed big-box epoxy floor after 10 years showing stains and peeling

Big-Box Failure After Just 1 Year

Pro Tips When Doing A Garage Floor Epoxy Project

Why The Topcoat Matters

A urethane topcoat is what protects epoxy from wear. Without it, even a well-bonded epoxy floor will dull, scuff, and show tire marks far sooner than expected.

Garages with off-road tires, racing tires, trailers, golf carts, or workshop equipment need a low-abrasion topcoat. As a rule, ratings above 20 mg offer minimal wear protection.

ArmorGarage offers a 4 mg Military Grade topcoat designed to handle aggressive garage use and repeated tire abrasion — the main reason our floors stay looking good long after many other epoxy systems wear out completely.

About Full Flake Broadcast Systems

Full broadcast flake systems are difficult to install evenly without professional experience. They require up to 10x the amount of flake, thicker epoxy, and multiple topcoats to perform correctly. It also requires much more labor to achieve an even finish, often requiring sanding the floor.

For most DIY garage floors, a heavy flake system that delivers consistent coverage with a small amount of the epoxy color showing through is the smarter choice.

The Armor Granite Kit delivers approximately 90–95% flake coverage, a granite-style finish, and the durability needed for any type of garage use — without the risks of a full broadcast install. See two examples below.

Armor Chip Garage Epoxy With Red & Black Colors