Make painting your garage an easy task

You’ve just completed a spring cleaning of your garage and it’s looking better than ever. The next step is to roll on a new coat of paint. You may want to jump in with both feet, but having a plan will allow you to ensure everything gets done right the first time. And we can help you determine how to do that, making this project a breeze.

One of the most important things to consider is where you’re going to store all the big items that are taking up space in the garage. Outdoors isn’t really an option as they may have to deal with bad weather and you won’t have much security for items that probably cost a pretty penny. Parking them at a relative or friend’s house is a reasonable idea, assuming someone has some extra storage space they don’t mind you borrowing. In the worst case, you can always rent a self‑storage facility to store your possessions. No matter what you choose, you also need to consider how you will transport them.

After you’ve decided on a plan of action, we provide some great tricks for keeping calm and organized so your project can go off without a hitch.

Nooks, crannies, and repairing all those cracks

We assume in this guide that your walls and ceiling are both covered in drywall. A first step is to remove all the hooks and hangers that may be riddling the walls. You should then consider whether you intend to hang those up after painting. If the answer is no, your next step is to fill in those holds with a heavy‑duty drywall compound. After that, if its needed, you should wash and degrease the walls and baseboards. This can be done in the same way as you clean the interior of your home. Then make sure the walls are entirely dry before moving on to painting.

Painting the walls and ceiling

You may need to first apply a base coat of paint, depending on the current state of the walls and ceiling. A good tip to remember is that you can use water-based (latex) paint over oil‑based (alkyd) paint but it will not work the opposite way. Water‑based paints are of a higher caliber than they were decades ago, with stain and mildew resistance. That said, don’t choose low‑quality paint since you only go through a painting process every few years.

When choosing a paint color to use, it’s best to select a light one, as it will reflect light better than darker shades. A light shade of gray or brown can hide dirt on the walls, which will be appreciated. As for the ceiling, the most popular choice is a shade of white.

Preparing the concrete floor

While your wall may have needed cleaning, your floors will need an even better one. If you choose to use a degreaser, make sure you’re protected using a mask, rubber gloves, and goggles. If you prefer to make your own cleaner rather than using a commercial mix, it’s easier than you might think. Mix your own floor cleaner using three parts water and one part bleach. If you need to remove gas or oil stains, using a detergent is a good idea. No matter what you choose, make sure you keep the garage ventilated as you clean.

For any floor areas with large cracks, you can use a patching compound to fill them in. You can also use a grinder, if needed, to ensure the patching cement attaches properly to the floor. Using a resurfacer (an acrylic sealant with resin) can be used on a floor that is washed out of stained. After you’ve applied whatever product you desire, let the flood rest for at least one full day before moving on to your next step.

Painting the concrete flood

When painting the concrete flood, be sure to use a latex paint with a stain finish. This is cheaper than using an epoxy paint and works just as well. Waiting 24 hours before adding a second coat is also suggested.

If you do decide to go with an epoxy, make sure that you add a catalyst. What you should do is divide your floor into four sections and do them one at a time, as the product will dry in about 45 minutes. You should only prepare enough paint for one section at a time. Another tip is to ensure you don’t apply too thin of a coat. A coat that is a bit too thick is better than one that is thin. After doing this, wait 24 hours before any walking is done on the floor. Additionally, wait around a week before you park a car on the product.

At this point, you’re done! If the entire process seems like it will take too much energy or time to handle, consider having a professional company or contractor who specializes in concrete floor covering take on the project for you.

While beautifying the garage, don’t forget the door

As you’re already working in the garage, it’s a great time to take a look at your garage door. If you find that it needs a tune‑up or to be replaced for a new one, contact us at 506-450-3031.

We’d be happy to email you a quotation, or stop in to show you our entire range of doors. We can help you make the best choice based on your budget, needs, and style. If you want to get a sneak peek at what a new door might look like, use our Design Centre or find inspiration from our image gallery of beautiful projects.