How Much Does it Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor

How Much Does it Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor?

Your concrete garage floor is starting to look pretty beat up. Whether you frequently work or exercise in there, or only use it to store your vehicles and tools, it’s a good idea to upgrade the flooring to be more durable and aesthetically pleasing.

A popular solution for this is epoxy. But is it the right choice for you? That depends primarily on the question: “How much does it cost to epoxy a garage floor?”

Here’s a breakdown of the costs to help you decide.

How Much Does it Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor?

Epoxy Floor

On average, you can expect to pay $750-6,000 to epoxy your current concrete garage floor.

This is a massive price range, as it includes both one-car and two-car garages. For the former, you should budget up to $3,000 and between $1,200-6,000 for the latter.

Where you land on that scale depends on your garage’s size, the exact tools and materials (including the specific type of epoxy) you need.

Of course, if you decide to get professional help, that will definitely hike up the cost. That’s because you’ll need to pay for their labor, which typically adds up to $1-7 per square foot, on top of the $2-5 per square foot for the materials and equipment.

Lastly, the epoxy application method will directly influence your price. There are three primary ways you can epoxy a garage floor:

Each of these strategies provides varying levels of decorative potential and influences the thickness of the layers and other factors. Because of this, the price of labor and equipment will change depending on the selected method.

How Much Does it Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor Yourself?

It will undoubtedly be cheaper for you to epoxy your garage floor on your own. All you need to do is subtract the average cost of labor and sum up the materials’ and equipment’s prices to get an idea of how much the project will run you.

However, suppose you have a lot of things stored in there. In that case, you might want to consider securing a temporary storage unit in the meantime. This could slap another $20-450 monthly fee on top of your current expenses.

Please keep in mind that you should not epoxy a garage floor on your own if your goal is to repair damage to an old floor. For instance, it’s not ideal for filling large cracks in the concrete or other significant issues with epoxy.

Instead, the best thing to do is contact a professional, as there might be considerable problems with your house’s foundation.

Types of Epoxy Coating for Your Garage Floor

As mentioned previously, the type of epoxy you use for your garage floor will drastically influence your project’s price estimate.

So, you’ll need to verify that you’re choosing the right one for the job. That way, you’ll reap all the fundamental benefits without having to blow the budget unnecessarily.

Here are the primary types of epoxy you might use to seal your garage floor:

  • Epoxy floor coating: This is the most popular option by far, perhaps because it’s the easiest to apply. For this one, you simply paint it in layers on your garage floor – and that’s it! There are three kinds of this coating:
    • Two-Part Floor Coating with 100% Solids: These “true epoxies” have no traditional solvents and are the best type for concrete. The formula usually includes a hardener and activator, ensuring the surface’s durability. These are the most expensive ($200+ kits for a one-car garage), but strong and long-lasting.
    • Two-Part Water-Based Floor Coating: A popular choice for DIY projects, you can easily pick this up at any home improvement or hardware store. It has some of the same elements as the above option, but water is it’s main solvent. These take longer to dry (2-3 days) but are generally cheaper (less than $100/gal).
    • One-Part Floor Coating: This isn’t necessarily regarded as a genuine epoxy, product but more so a type of paint. These are quick-drying (only takes about an hour) and very cheap (about $40/gal), but do not last long. You’ll more than likely need to reapply the coating every few years.
  • Epoxy chip floors: This includes three distinct layers of various materials, usually an epoxy, vinyl, and a sealant (UV-stable polyaspartic sealer) on top. Although it was once used mainly in industrial settings, it’s grown popular for an exceptionally durable residential garage floor.
  • Epoxy slurry floors: This is a budget-friendly resurfacing solution for garage floors that are in disrepair. The formula usually includes epoxy, slurry powder, and silica. It’s great for people looking for a temporary solution to minor cracks in concrete, but remember to call a professional when there’s more extensive damage.

Does Epoxy Garage Floor Increase Home Value?

It’s understandable that you might hesitate to epoxy your garage floor based on a hefty price estimate. Because of this, some people might feel better about the investment if they know it’ll increase their house’s value.

There are opinions on both sides of this. Generally, you can be confident that any significant upgrades in the home will boost the house’s market value. Adding epoxy to your garage floor specifically offers these benefits:

  • Epoxy flooring (especially chip floors) enhance the aesthetic value
  • Provides a more durable surface in a space with heavy traffic and for critical storage
  • A correctly installed epoxy floor can help manage heat distribution in the garage and may have anti-slip properties, both increasing safety

However, keep in mind that these advantages depend on the quality of the flooring. A temporary, DIY slurry floor won’t do much for your house’s value.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It to Epoxy Garage Floor?

If you plan to build your man cave in your garage, it’s definitely worth it to epoxy your garage floor. In general, if you’re wondering “how much does it cost to epoxy a garage floor?” expect to pay up to $3,000 for a one-car garage and up to $6,000 for a two-car garage.

You just need to be mindful of the application method you use and whether you need professional help or a thorough assessment and replacement of your foundation.

Still, even if you go with a temporary DIY solution, this investment will boost your garage floor’s looks and durability.