Does anyone know the differences between the (far more expensive) 2part epoxy garage floor paints vs. the less expensive 1 parts(nomixing)? I recently bought a Quikrete 2 part epoxy floor paint kit formy garage. The kits are around $60, but you can't buy the paint alone!I needed 3 more gallons and would have had to buy 3 more kits. SO, Isaw right NEXT to the Quikrete kit, a product also made by Quikretecalled "seal-krete" for garage floors and other concrete surfaces. Itclaims to be "one part epoxy" and makes very similar claims aboutdurability, heat resistance, etc. This paint sells for $25/gallon. So,I bought the closest color match and have almost finished the floor. Ipainted over the remaining "good" epoxy paint after it had cured forabout 12 hours (hope the new stuff sticks OK).Admittedly, it seems the two part was thicker, glossier, etc.Interestingly enough it also didn't cover nearly as much space pergallon as the cheaper paint did. I just wonder how the MFG can makenearly the same claims about these two different types of paint. Howdoes the epoxy even work in a 1 part kit? I always thought epoxyrequired "activation" as in the 2 part kits. Any ideas/experience onthis would be appreciated. Thank you!

You would have been happier with the 2 part epoxy paint. Too bad you were too cheap to use it. In short, it can't be epoxy if you don't have an activator to mix in to it. Epoxy paints harden via chemical reaction, they don't "dry".That said, I painted my garage floor with regular oil-base "porch and floor" paint years ago before this epoxy paint became all the rage. It held up well to foot traffic and some types of damage. Snowblower chains and hot-tire pickup have been a problem though. It will make you a nice floor, it just won't be as durable as epoxy.

2 Part Epoxy vs. One Part for Garage floor?

Jan 25, 2006 Last reply: 4 years ago 25 Replies

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A noiseless patient Spider 6 years ago

It worked great until the paint started to peel.

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Arthur Conan Doyle 6 years ago

Benjamin Moore, but it's not the brand that matters, it's the prep. 90% of the job is getting the surface right before the coating goes on. It's not cleaning, it's acid etching or grinding. I've done multiple garage floors with two part epoxy and easily get 10 years without lifting.

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invalid unparseable 6 years ago

I did my basement floor about 45 years ago when house was new and we just moved in. I washed it and etched with Muriatic acid and washed off. Have not had to repaint since with maybe a dab here and there.

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Jer 4 years ago

1 part epoxy paints are nothing more than marketing bull. Epoxy paint by definition requires two components that when mixed start a chemical reaction that bonds the chemicals. This is a completely different and stronger chemical bond than than any air dry paint. I have used them all and would avoid all 1 part epoxy paints It is just Marketing hype.

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Clare Snyder 4 years ago

1parties are generally "pre-catalyzed epoxy resin" in a "carrier". You stil get a lot of advantages of epoxy but it is not as durable as a 2 part epoxy (unless it is UV set epoxy - generally not used for garage floors)

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invalid unparseable 4 years ago

I see that there are garage floor tiles very easy to place down instead of paint. They may have troubles with heavy vehicles but you will not have a flaking problem as with paints.

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