Painting a garage floor

[Chas]

Time to paint the floor of our new garage and I need some advice from the resident construction experts. ( I have put this off for a month now because I dread the hassle of purchasing the paint.)

The floor is concrete which was mixed here in the tub, poured and then leveled off. It is dusty now of course, just plain concrete and I want to paint it to keep the dust down and make it easier to clean.

I like the smooth glossy finish like you see at the Toyota garage, but that may be the result of something done with the concrete when poured and not paint.

Anyway the floor needs to stand up to rough treatment obviously and I really dont want it all coming up next year in flakes.

Oil or emulsion?
Treat the concrete first? With what?

Open to suggestions of brands to use etc. Who has good results from doing this?

I have to go in to Home pro to buy the paint and I despair of getting anything from the sales girls but a nice smile and a puzzled look, which is what I usually get even when I use my limited Thai. I actually want it in a nice green and they may have to mix it. . .last time I was in, they didnt even have color swatches for half the paint they sell.

[PeteC]

Have you thought about tiles? Our entire driveway has that, about 14 x 14 inch and slightly rippled to avoid slipping. That may be a better long term solution. More expensive at first but then forget it forever. The grout has to be special however and I can't tell you what it is except it's 'all weather' with some kind of sealer mixed in. Pete

[Sealcat]

Hi Chas.. I believe TOA paints has a product they use in commercial carparks... google TOA and search for the paint... then see if you can order it from HomePro... I too have found the girls there a little disinterested in doing anything else but being on the mobile or chewing gum.... A

[kendo]

Why dont you look at Sealcat's suggestion on the net, copy and paste the info into the Google translator that now has Thai, print it off then show the girls in the shop if you can find someone that knows there job.
Kendo.

[malcolminthemiddle]

Expoxy floor paint, numerous proprietary brands available. Suggest running the paint 200 mm up the walls also to provide a painted skirting.

[Nereus]

Expoxy floor paint, numerous proprietary brands available. Suggest running the paint 200 mm up the walls also to provide a painted skirting.

Good advice, Malcolminthemiddle. But to do it correctly is one hell of a job. Having tried it before I would be inclined to agree with Pete, ceramic tiles, but again laid correctly.

http://www.rd.com/how-to-apply-epoxy-fl ... 770-1.html

[2dandan]

Once you find the TOA paint you need, go to the TOA paint shop which is diagonally opposite the start of the Klong (Canal) Road.
(Cross the level crossing away from town, turn 1st right and it's 150m on your left with a giant TOA paint sign above)

One of the girls in there speaks good English and they are very helpful.

[splitlid]

id recommend Jotun paints.
they do concrete paint for industrial work. very good quality, expensive but maybe hard to find in thailand.


http://www.jotun.com/[/url]

[PeteC]

id recommend Jotun paints.
they do concrete paint for industrial work. very good quality, expensive but maybe hard to find in thailand.


http://www.jotun.com/[/url]

Not really, Jotun have a pretty good presence here. I've even seen some shops in the East here that are theirs exclusively, as well as selling product in the chain hardware stores. There's a link for their Thailand operations as well but don't have it at the moment. Pete

[migrant]

I would think preperation is also very important. OP mentioned dusty floor, perhaps a pressure wash, or wash with light chemicals, would be a good first start.

[splitlid]

yes sorry pete, should have said that although Jotun have many shops/outlets here in thailand the product itself maybe difficult to get.

the website has a section on prepatation of the concrete.

[crazy88]

My neighbour converted his garage into a bar and simply used a smooth concrete floor and the relevant paint .I will ask him tomorrow .I have seen the 6" skirt done before and if not done properly lime leaches through and destroys the paint by blistering it off .Just a case of the right preparation and the right product .

Crazy 88

[Rob W]

Be aware if you want to put a car in it the tyres will lift concrete paint.
best to use the correct garage floor paint. Im about to do mine in the UK but i doubt you can get the paint in THailand so its pointless me saying the make.
Make sure you say its for garages if you are going to park in it.
Rob

[bluezephyr]

A good stiff brush over the surface, Vacuum cleaner the dust away, If you want to skirt the walls and not too handy with a brush masking tape the line around.

Ordinary cheap wall roller with extension for appying the floor paint, It levels off nice and smooth.

In my workshop it gets plenty of stuff moved about on it everyday, It has flaked off in places over time but i gave it one coat as when i moved in it had to be productive quickly, The heat over there and good ventilation you will be able to recoat the same day, You dont use so much after the first coat as it doesnt soak in.
In dealerships the only things that could really scuff the floor would be peoples feet, After a few years the floor would be showing signs of wear aswell.

[yabz]

If you use paint it will come off in time.

You need to acid stain the floor. Acid stains are a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and acid-soluble metallic salts. They work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) in the concrete. Once the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and won't fade, chip off, or peel away. Acid staining looks good because you can achieve natural effects such as marble, stone or earth tones.