Garage Floor Finishing Ideas

[Halon]

Thanks for the comments! I've decided to just try the floor paint/epoxy like a couple of you suggested. I purchased all my stuff from Lowe's. I'll post up some pics of the progress in case it helps anyone else in the future. My digital camera has apparently been ganked so I need to get a new one, and will then share the pics.

Here is what I bought from Lowe's today:
- Rust Oleum 1-stall epoxy paint kit which include ($65):
2 part paint mixture
flakes for sprinkling on the floor
etching acid
- 1 packet of friction powder to mix with paint
- 1 Gallon of cement degreaser
- cement repair goop
- cheap plastic disposable putty knifes for the cement goop
- 1/2" nap rollers
- roller and extension
- cheap disposable roller pan
- stiff brissle broom

Total bill was $120. I am borrowing the pressure washer for free from my uncle.

Basically here is the process I'm going to follow:
1) Degrease & pressure wash the cement floor. Let it dry overnight.
*COMPLETED*
2) Repair any cracks/chips with some cement repairing goo. Allow to dry for 24hrs.
*COMPLETED*
3) Etch Cement using etching acid and stiff brissle broom.
*COMPLETED*
4) Pressure wash (no degreaser, just water) a couple more times to try and clean out any etching acid that may still be down in the pores of the cement Allow 24hrs to dry.
*COMPLETED*
5) Mix together the paint (I also got some friction powder to mix in which is supposed to help keep it less slippery). Apply 1 coat of paint to the floor.
*COMPLETED*
6) While paint is still wet, sprinkle the flakes that came with the Rust Oleum paint kit
*COMPLETED*
7) Allow several days to dry/cure before driving on.


Something to add is that I have a 2 stall garage, and live in a townhouse complex. The association would prolly blow their lids if I moved all of my garage contents into the driveway for a week. So for now I am just doing half of the garage (which is why i only bought the 1 stall kit mentioned above). I've moved everything to one side of the garage, and will just be doing one half. Once that half is done, I'm unsure if I will do the other half immediately, or wait until summer to do the other half. To complete the other half, I already have degreaser and the cement repair goo. So all I will need to but is another $65 paint kit, and some cheap putty knifes and a roller pan and rollers and I'll be good. In the end should total out to about $200 all said and done.



So, as of today Step 1 is complete. I used the degreaser and pressure washer, and got a good cleaning done of half the garage. Will get some pics once I get a camera. It's not perfect, but as good as this old garage floor gets I think.