garage floor stain or paint

 Which is best looking, most durable, cleanable, etc.  We just had a shop
built and would like ideas on the best way to do the floor.
Thanks,
Jackie D.

  In my opinion and experience:
Do NOT paint, not even the epoxies.

Stain with sealer is not bad.  Be aware, the sealer will need
periodic reapplication.
http://www.thestampstore.com/  Look through their products and
examples.

Sealer on concrete may be the most forgiving.  Think Home Depot
floor.

Ground and polished concrete for the elitists.  This will still
require maintenance.
http://www.fgs-permashine.com/products-hardener.asp

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG  (remove the sevens)
dgriff237@7cox.net

 

Google Groups has more than you ever wanted to know on this topic. In short...

You do not want paint of any kind, even those marked as "floor paint" or
"basement paint". If it's a drive in shop, tire heat will quickly lift the paint
and leave tracks. If it's a foot traffic only shop, you will still get chips and
wear marks.

Tinted sealers and concrete stains will look OK when first installed, but won't
provide any wear resistance.

Go to a real paint store - not a consumer storefront or one of the big box
stores and get a two part epoxy industrial coating. I've used Benjamin Moore,
but there are others as good. Comes in a half dozen premix colors and they may
be able to tint to a custom color. Note that painting is the smallest part of
the job. Follow the prep instructions to the letter and you'll end up with
something that looks like poured glass. I can't recall the last one I used, but
it may have been the CM36/CM37.

<http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=FooterContentRenderer_1_4&FooterContentRenderer_1_4_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FproductSearch%2FgetProductDetails&FooterContentRenderer_1_4NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F52001&_pageLabel=fh_footer_hiddenPage>

The direct URL is ridiculously long and I don't like the tiny URL obscufators.
If this URL doesn't work, you can go to the top level site and search for CM36:

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/

--
"Tell me what I should do, Annie."
"Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars

 <snipped>

I had a two-part epoxy paint from the big-box (Home Depot or Lowe's--
can't remember and they both have it anyway).  It had paint chips to
spread for decor or texture or whatever.
Anyway, it worked well at home in the garages.  No scratches, wearing,
or anything evil.  It was about 80 dollars for a two gallon kit, IIRC.

 Thanks, everyone for your comments.  I believe dear husband will go with
stain.
Jackie