If you’re thinking of sprucing up your garage, a coat of paint will do wonders to revitalize it! However, you must be aware of the impact your choices of paint, color, and preparation will have on the look, feel, and durability. You want a durable paint for your garage wall. Whether you’re just parking your car there, or using it as your workshop, gym, office, or crafting area, the garage is built differently from your living space because it is not intended to be lived in. It is assumed the garage will face harsher conditions than the living area, both weather-wise and usage-wise.
What Types of Paints to Choose From?
There are pros and cons for the different paints you choose. You can choose from these types of wall paints.
- Interior Latex Paint: These are water-based and water-soluble. That means they are easier to clean and more environmentally friendly because they contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They dry faster and have much less odor.
- Oil-Based Paint: These paints are highly resistant to physical damage, such as nicks and scratches. However, oil-based paints take a very long time to dry and have a very strong smell that tends to linger for a long time, even after they have dried.
- Epoxy Paint: These are the most durable of all the choices of paints, easiest to clean, and also look very good. This is why they are a popular choice. Epoxy paints can take a wild beating and still hold up for years. They can withstand chemicals, grease, oils, abrasions and much more. This paint actually provides a protective coating on your wall and makes it resilient. It’s usually considered a superior choice for a garage.
Choosing the Right Color and Finish
- Color: You can pick any color you want. The garage should reflect your personality. Pick colors that will make the space look bright and airy. Depending on how you’ll use the area, you may want to choose colors that hide dirt well. Based on what you’re trying to achieve, we can recommend colors.
- Finish: As for the finish, our suggestion would be a satin or eggshell finish. Matte is more difficult to clean and can look dull very quickly. High gloss will intensify and show every imperfection or dirt. Also, because it is highly reflective, it may not feel very pleasant if you’re planning on spending long hours in the garage using it as a work or exercise space.
Prepping the Walls
Preparing the wall correctly is the secret to an excellent paint job. It is very important to use a primer because it allows the paint to adhere to the surface better. Here are more steps you need to take to prepare the walls:
- Cleaning: All dust, dirt, and cobwebs must be removed by sweeping, vacuuming, or washing.
- Holes and Cracks: Use spackling or other high-quality filler to fix holes, cracks, scratches, or dents.
- Old Paint: You need to carefully scrape off any flaking paint with a putty knife.
- Caulking: Use caulk to fill in corners and edges to give it a smooth and professional look.
- Sanding: The whole surface of the wall needs to be sanded just right. Too much or too little will cause problems.
- Tape off Surfaces: Areas that you don’t want painted, such as, cabinets, electrical outlets, etc, need to be taped off with painters tape.
- Primer: Don’t skip this step. It will give your paint something to adhere to and prolong the look.
Items Needed for the Project
Here’s a list of items you’ll need to complete the project:
- Paint Brushes
- Rollers and Roller Covers
- Paint Trays and Liners
- Buckets and Pails
- Sandpaper and Sanding Blocks
- Putty Knife
- Painter’s Tape
- Drop Cloths
- Extension Poles
- Paint Can Opener
- Stir Sticks
- Paint Edgers
- Respirator or Mask
- Gloves
Call Us at Garage Floor Concrete Coatings for a Professional Job
When you hire us to paint your garage walls, we will offer you customized solutions where affordability meets quality. At Garage Floor Concrete Coatings, we take care of everything, and your worries and headaches disappear. Call us or stop by our showroom in Simi Valley, California, to learn more about what we offer.