Prepare Your Garage for an Epoxy Floor (An Easy Guide)

Are you considering an epoxy garage floor? With some planning, you can make the installation easy, safe, and worry-free, and help your new floor last longer.

This guide helps you get your garage ready for epoxy flooring. It tells you what you need to do, what the installer handles, and gives you a timeline for using your new floor.

Key takeaways

• You don’t need to do the technical stuff. We handle surface prep, epoxy concrete grinding, crack repairs and application.
• Your main job is to make space and allow access. Clear out the garage, decide where to park your cars, and keep kids and pets out of the work area to ensure everything goes smoothly and safely.
• Typically allow 2 to 3 days from start to finish for our work, more time for larger scale projects. This gives you time to organise and schedule the installation.
• Plan for a time when you can’t park in the garage. Usually, you can walk on the floor after 48 hours, but it takes 7 days before you can drive on it.
• Safety matters for everyone. Epoxy products are hazardous under Australian WHS rules, so we follow all safety guidelines. Your job is to keep the work area clear.

Who does what? (Homeowner vs installer)

Before we get into the timeline, let’s clarify who is responsible for each part of the garage epoxy prep.

What you handle

• Declutter and remove your belongings. This includes items on shelves, boxes, gym equipment, tools, kids’ things, and anything else on the floor.
• Arrange temporary storage. You can hire a storage pod, use a spare room, or store things at a friend’s place.
• Organise parking and access. Decide where your cars, bikes, trailers, and bins will go during installation and curing.
• Let us know about any issues you’ve noticed, like moisture problems, old coatings or paint, oil stains, or cracks.

What we handle

Here’s what we do for the technical preparation of your epoxy garage floor:

• Concrete inspection and testing (including moisture checks where needed).
• Epoxy concrete grinding and mechanical prep to remove laitance, old coatings, and opening up the surface so epoxy can bond properly.
• Repairs cracks, pits, and problem areas as required.
• Dust control, masking and protection of surrounding areas.
• Safe handling of epoxy products in line with WHS and hazardous chemical guidance from Safe Work Australia and state regulators.
• Mixing, application and finishing of the epoxy system.

You don’t need to have any special tools or safety gear. We bring everything needed for the job.

Your garage epoxy prep timeline at a glance

2–4 weeks before install: big-picture planning

This is the best time to:

• Start decluttering. Decide what stays, what gets donated, and what goes to hard rubbish.
• Book storage or make space. Arrange a storage pod or clear out another area in your home.
• Let everyone who needs to know about the installation, like family, neighbours, if you share access, and any other tradespeople working at the same time.

If you’re short on time and need help deciding what to do first, use the garage declutter checklist below.

1 week before: lock in the details

About a week before installation, try to:

• Confirm dates and times with us - Make sure everyone understands when the garage needs to be completely empty.
• Finalise parking plans - Decide where each vehicle will live for the installation and curing period.
• Check power and lighting. Make sure we can use power points and that the garage has good lighting.
• Let us know about any last-minute issues, such as new leaks, damp spots, or damage from recent weather, so we can plan the best way to address them.

1–2 days before: clear floor, clear mind

You’re almost done with your epoxy floor prep checklist:

• Clear everything off the garage floor. Make sure there are no shelves, mats, boxes, or loose items left on the slab.
• Give the floor a quick sweep or vacuum. We’ll handle the main prep, but removing leaves, cobwebs, and loose debris helps.
• If there’s anything fixed in the garage you’re concerned about, let us know. We’ll protect important areas, but you can point out things like low-hanging bikes or special fixtures.

At this point, you’re almost finished. We’ll take care of the rest.

Installation day: what to expect

On installation day, we will review the plan and confirm the finish with you.

• Set up dust control and safety measures.
• Complete grinding and repairs.
• Apply the epoxy system in stages.

Your job on the day:

• Keep people and pets out of the garage. Epoxy products and their solvents are hazardous, so it’s safest for you to stay out of the work area while we’re working.
• Try not to open and close the garage doors too often. This helps control dust, insects, and weather while we apply the coating.

Most of our projects are completed in 2-3 days. In our opinion, an optimal, long-lasting finish should NOT be completed in one day. At Tough Floors, we 'take the time necessary so that it takes less time.

Epoxy cure time: when can you walk and park?

Exact timings depend on the system used, the weather and your concrete, but as a rough guide:

• Light foot traffic: usually after 48 hours.
• Heavier items/light storage: often after 48–72 hours.
• Vehicle traffic / full load: the standard 'full cure' period is 7 days after completion.

We’ll always give you specific instructions for your epoxy cure time when we finish. Follow those instructions over any general guide. Some fast-curing or specialty systems may let you use the floor sooner, while others need the full week.

The main thing to remember is to be patient and follow the recommended cure times for the best results.

Parking on the floor too soon can leave permanent marks or damage the coating, even if it looks dry on the surface.

Garage declutter checklist

Use this garage declutter checklist to make space without feeling overwhelmed:

• Break the garage into zones (e.g. tools, sports gear, camping, kids’ stuff).
• Work one zone at a time – no need to tackle everything in a single afternoon.
• For each item, choose: keep, donate, sell, recycle, bin.
• Clear anything from the floor first, then from low shelves and benches.
• Arrange temporary storage for “keep” items you won’t need for 1–2 weeks.
• Label boxes clearly so move-back day is easy (e.g. “camping – top shelf”).

A bit of effort here means we can get straight into the technical prep when we arrive.

Surface readiness checklist (for you vs us)

What you can do

• Remove any obvious contaminants. If you see fresh oil spills or chemicals, let us know. Don’t worry, we’ll still do a thorough surface prep.
• Show us any problem areas, like cracks, peeling paint, or spots where water collects after rain.
• Make sure we have access to water and power. We may need both for grinding and cleaning up.

What we do

On the installer side of epoxy garage floor preparation, we:

• Mechanically grind the slab to remove weak or contaminated layers.
• Repair suitable cracks, holes and surface defects.
• Check and manage moisture levels where required.
• Clean down and prepare the surface for coating.

You don’t need to acid-etch the floor, rent grinders, or buy any chemicals. In fact, doing your own prep can sometimes make our job harder if you use the wrong products.

Parking & access plan checklist

Planning ahead here helps you avoid last-minute stress:

• Where will each car park during installation and curing? Street parking, driveway, neighbour’s spare bay, or temporary off-site parking.
• Will you need bikes, prams, or bins during installation? Move them out of the garage ahead of time if you’ll need them.
• Do any other tradies need access through the garage? If so, reschedule them until after the floor is ready for foot traffic.
• Be ready for wet weather. Keep umbrellas, raincoats, or a side entrance handy if you usually enter through the garage.

Post-install care: helping your new floor last

Once we’ve finished and the garage is off-limits for a bit, here’s how to look after your new floor:

• Follow the cure timeline we give you. Stick to the “no walking / walking only / no cars yet” stages we outline at handover.
• Avoid dragging heavy items. Lift or use trolleys instead of scraping metal or hard plastic across the surface.
• Check the car tyres are dry and clean before you first drive.
• Use mats under stands or sharp legs. Things like motorbike stands, jacks or metal feet can concentrate load in a small area.
• Clean gently. Use mild detergent and a soft broom or mop while the floor is still relatively fresh.