Getting new garage floors can be a great way to make your garage look fresher, cleaner, and more modern. You might want to make other updates simultaneously, too, such as painting or installing new cabinets and shelving. It’s best to handle those things before replacing your floors and work from the top down.

But what about the timeline to get new garage floors once any other work is done? How long can you expect it to be before you can start using your garage fully again? Here’s what you need to know about getting new epoxy coating floors for your garage.

The Preparation Process

If your existing floor is in good shape and doesn’t need any significant repair, the preparation process may only take a few hours and can generally be completed in a day. However, if the floor has damage that will affect your new flooring and can’t be easily fixed, you’ll need to get that repaired before installing the flooring.

With a good filler that’s compatible with the epoxy floor coating, pits and cracks can be filled in during the process, so your new floor installation won’t be delayed. It’s only for more severe issues that other repairs might be needed. Then your old floor will need to be thoroughly cleaned and the surface made ready for the epoxy coating that’s going to be used.

Installation of the Main Flooring

After the preparation process is all done, installation of the main flooring can usually be done in a day. Unless your garage is unusually large or you have unique circumstances that have to be addressed, installing epoxy coating garage flooring is a relatively simple process as long as the preparation is done correctly.

Keep in mind that a completed installation of the main coating doesn’t mean everything is done, and you can’t drive on your new floor just yet. There are some companies that advertise that they can complete the entire process in one day, but this actually isn’t recommended.

The epoxy coating needs time to cure, and if it doesn’t cure correctly, it could end up looking bad and not holding up the way you’d hoped. Since your garage typically sees wear and tear on the floor from vehicles going in and out, it’s worth a little bit longer to wait to be sure the floor is fully cured.

Completing the Details

After the flooring is installed, it needs to cure before you can safely walk and drive on it. In most cases, you can use your new space within 24 to 36 hours after the installation has been completed. The floor will be thoroughly inspected to make sure there aren’t any problems with it, and then you can use it with confidence.

Making Sure Your Floor Lasts a Long Time

After installation and curing, you can go back to using your new epoxy-coated garage floor the way you normally would. It’s slip-resistant and cleans easily. It will also look great for years and will hold up to all the vehicles and people who use it.