The cost of an epoxy garage floor may be worth it, depending on how you use your garage space. Whether you’re converting your garage into a living space, building your dream home gym, or simply beautifying the space beyond its current aesthetic, epoxy is an effective way to overhaul a basic concrete garage floor.
Epoxy floor coating has many advantages over traditional concrete—it can make it safer, easier to clean and maintain, and drastically improve its looks. Below, we’ve broken down how much an epoxy garage floor actually costs, so you can decide if it’s a worthwhile investment for your garage makeover.
How Much Does It Cost to Epoxy a Garage Floor
The average epoxy garage floor costs from $1,530 to $3,210. Rather than a set cost, the cost range of an epoxy garage floor is determined by variables like the square footage, current concrete condition, and the type of epoxy used.
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Factors That Affect the Total Costs
No two garages are exactly alike, which leads to different epoxy floor prices. Here are the main factors that could influence the cost of your epoxy garage floor:
- Garage Size: As garage square footage increases, so does the cost of labor and materials. A 1-car garage could cost as little as $750, while a 3-car garage could top $2,250.
- Concrete Repairs: While epoxy does a good job of prettying up basic concrete, you can’t pour it over damaged concrete and expect a good result. Professionals will have to take the necessary steps to repair concrete before pouring epoxy, which may even require tearing it out and replacing certain sections.
- Concrete Resurfacing: If the concrete is in generally solid condition but the surface is loose or damaged, it may need to be resurfaced to create a solid surface for the epoxy to adhere to.
- Garage Use: The intended use of your garage will determine the best type of epoxy to use, as some are better suited for light traffic, while others are equipped to handle heavy traffic and industrial use.
- Other Site Prep: Other site prep, such as temporarily removing items like appliances will add to the overall project cost. To avoid added costs, do as much site prep yourself as possible.
- Painting and Sealing: Opting for painting or sealing after the epoxy has cured will add to the total cost.
Types of Epoxy
In addition to the factors above, the type of epoxy used will influence the material cost. Some epoxies have a short lifespan, while more durable options last longer and hold up to heavy use.
Different types of epoxy are better suited for DIY installation, while others are better left to the professionals. Here are the most common types of epoxy and their associated price points:
- Water-Based Epoxy: At around $30 to $50 per gallon, water-based epoxy is one of the most inexpensive epoxy options.However, with the lower cost comes a lower durability. You can expect to have to replace water-based epoxy in just three to five years.
- Solvent-Based Epoxy: Solvent-based epoxy offers more durability than water-based epoxy, but comes in at a higher price of $40 to $55 per gallon. Solvent epoxy is a DIY-friendly solution, just be sure to wear a suitable respirator, as it releases harmful VOCs.
- Solid Epoxy: Solid epoxy is the most durable epoxy flooring option, but its high durability is paired with a high price, ranging from $45 to $150 per gallon.Solid epoxy is generally reserved for professional installation, as it can be difficult to get right.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
As with many home projects, there are significant cost differences between a DIY epoxy garage floor job and hiring a professional. In fact, going the DIY route can save you 33% to 60% on your epoxy garage floor project. These savings are directly related to the labor costs associated with epoxy floor installation, which adds $1 to $7 per square foot to the job total.
However, DIYers must plan on buying or renting the necessary equipment for an epoxy floor installation, which will eat some of those potential savings. While professional epoxy installation is undoubtedly more expensive than DIY epoxy installation, professionals bring with them experience and all the tools necessary for the job.
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How much does it cost to epoxy a 2-car garage?
Installing an epoxy floor in a 2-car garage can cost $1,500 or more, depending on the exact size of the garage, the current condition of the concrete, and other factors like accessibility, epoxy type, and miscellaneous prep work.
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What are pros and cons of an epoxy garage?
The pros of an epoxy garage floor include durability, ease of maintenance and cleaning, a beautiful appearance, and damage resistance. The cons of an epoxy garage floor include strong fumes during application and curing, a slippery surface especially when wet, and a long curing time.
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Does an epoxy garage increase home value?
An epoxy garage floor can increase your home’s value, but you won’t necessarily recoup your total investment cost. However, this is dependent on the cost of the installation, the quality of the product, and the condition of the floor at the time of sale.
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