You probably have done a lot of reading on the different types of garage flooring, and you have probably limited it down to either garage floor mat or epoxy paint. You should be aware that there are disadvantages as well as advantages of these garage flooring, so you should learn about them. That way, once you decide on what type of garage flooring you want, you will have a better understanding on it. Also, in this article we are not talking about compartment mats, but instead entire garage floor coverings and epoxy paint. It would not make very much sense to compare smaller garage floor mats that are typically not sold in packages that are intended to cover an entire garage floor to epoxy paint.

Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Is Harder To Install Than A Garage Floor Mat

That is pretty much a “duh!” factor. A garage floor mat only requires the cutting and the placing, while epoxy paint takes not only hours to install, but also in between steps it takes hours to dry. Before you begin installing it is also a much bigger hassle because you need to prepare by cleaning your garage to be immaculate. But, installing a mat on above dust, dirt, or grime works just the same. If you really need a “quick fix,” then you should really consider garage floor mats.

Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Is Cheaper Than Garage Floor Mats

Generally speaking, a garage floor mat will probably cost you in the neighborhood of $200, which is about three times the cost of an epoxy garage floor coating kit. The pricing difference makes sense when you really consider what it is you’re buying as opposed to what you’re going to have when everything is said and done. With a garage floor covering, you’re buying the pre-assembled protection while, with epoxy garage floor paint, there is some assembly required. Obviously this figure will change dramatically if you end up paying someone to install your epoxy garage floor coating, so be sure to call around and get some quotes on installation before you make your final decision if you don’t plan to do it yourself. Odds are pretty good that, including installation costs, epoxy will come out quite a bit more expensive than a garage floor mat.

Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Is More Durable Than A Garage Floor Mat

When it comes to durability and longevity, epoxy definitely has the advantage, but it’s also a bit of a game changer. When you apply an epoxy garage floor coating, you are changing the nature of your garage flooring. Using a garage floor mat just covers it. Although it’s far less likely, it is feasible for either paint or mats to become damaged or stained, and if that does happen, it’s far more difficult to repair an entire paint job than swapping out a mat. However, if you have to swap your mat out, you’re out another $200. So I suppose you have to ask yourself: just how rough will I be on this new garage flooring?

So Which Is Better?

There’s no way that there could be a clear winner for that would be appropriate for all garage floors. There is a reason that both options are available, and it’s because they both sell, which means they’re both useful to someone. It’s up to you, the buyer, to decide which is best for your particular situation. If money is no object, you can always consider doing both, or possibly using compartment mats on top of an epoxy garage floor coating. Whichever way you go, good luck, and enjoy your new garage flooring!

Check out my garage floor site for more garage floor mat information.

As a home improvement project, learning how to make concrete countertops is a big one. If you’ve never mixed and poured concrete before, then you should probably not try this.

If you do have some concrete mixing experience, DIY skills and the tools, lumber, and know-how to create concrete slabs, then you might consider it. But you should treat it as at least a two person job.

Working with concrete can be backbreaking work, and the creation of anything made of concrete takes time, not only to build it, but also to let it cure properly.

I recommend you first DIY concrete countertop be something small, such as an outdoor bbq island. It should be straightforward and require simple finishing and coloring.

Concrete kitchen countertops are becoming increasingly popular. They can incorporate kitchen features including butcher blocks, back splashes, and sinks. They can also be made to look very beautiful, as many colors, designs, and textures are available.

Concrete countertops are made with fiber reinforcement, acrylic, and silica fume pozzolan. Pozzolan is a material which is combined with calcium hydroxide to create a substance with cement-like qualities.

Silica fume is a byproduct of silicon metal production and it happens to make a really good pozzolan. Silica fume pozzolan adds strength and durability to concrete.

Professional makers of concrete countertops can typically either precast the countertop in their shop, which allows for better quality control, or build it on-site.

There are pluses and minuses to each one.

The conditions are more controllable when the counter is built in a shop. Also, special casting equipment is available and the countertop can be monitored during the curing process.

Last minute changes, such as the addition of curved corners, can be customized more easily when your counter is built on-site.

There are cases where a precast concrete countertop might not make it through a doorway as expected. If your counter is built in-place, this is a non-issue and a very long counter can be made, without seams.

Tools & Materials Needed:

Here is a list of essential items for a DIY concrete countertop:

counter-top molds

casting table

concrete countertop mix

portable concrete mixer

reinforcing materials (rebar, wire mesh)

pigment(s)

knockouts for sinks and other integrated features

To appreciate how to make concrete counter-tops properly requires you to have a thorough knowledge of proper concrete mixing and reinforcing practices in order to keep your counter from cracking excessively.

A core understanding of concrete counter-top sealants is also important.

Having learned the hard way, through trial and error, many countertop artisans now mix their own sealer combinations to ensure great results.

Some concrete countertop makers use a polisher to grind the cement to a smooth surface. Skilled countertop makers may, for example, grind off the “skin” of the concrete surface with a series of progressively finer diamond polishing stones to maximize durability and beauty.

After curing and polishing, counter-tops are sealed. Different artisans use different techniques for this.

Epoxy sealers have a good reputation, but take a week to apply properly.

Clearly there is a lot to learn when it comes to building your own custom concrete countertops, and fortunately there are classes offered in the United States and Canada where you can learn more about the process of making concrete counter-tops.

It would definitely be a good idea to do tons of research before tackling this project… I can only write so much and personally do not like to star in videos, but they are available and quite helpful for a project of such great detail.

Countertop Planning

The first step BEFORE creating a DIY concrete counter top is to plan.

Doesn’t make much sense to finish a countertop and then have to maneuver it around tight corners or over long distance.

Each foot of counter top concrete can weigh 20 lbs depending on thickness.

Your work-space needs to be roomy and uncluttered and must be well-ventilated.

A final step in preparation is essential… it is to make sure that the cabinetry under the counter top is capable of supporting the weight of a concrete counter top.

Find a sheet of wood veneer, sized relative to how big the counter-top will be. You’ll also require a glue gun and glue sticks. Onto the sheet of wood veneer, trace the base of the counter-top.

It is important to note that you’re tracing the base of the countertop – in other words the dimensions of the cabinetry that the counter top will rest upon.

Overhangs for a typical countertop are 0.5 to 0.75 inches.

Next, you’ll mark the template with control joints.

When your concrete counter is 10′ in length, the distance between the control joints should not exceed four feet.

If we divide the 10-foot section into thirds, and place the control joints at 1/3 of the length and 2/3 of the length, we’ll place them at 40″ (3′4″) and 80″ (6′8″).

These joints are less than four feet apart, so they should be good to go.

The longer the counter-top, the more control joints you will need.

Control joints are a way for you to influence where the concrete will cracks. Control joints allow for movement due to temperature changes & material shrinkage as the concrete dries.

A rule of thumb is to space the control joints in feet no more than 2 to 3 times the slab thickness in inches.

So, if your slab is 3 inches thick, control joints should be placed 6 to 8 feet apart.

Control joints are cut to 25% of the depth of the slab. So for a 3 inch thick slab, control joints should be 0.75 inches deep.

The time at which you cut these control joints is determined by the curing of the concrete, the weather and other atmospheric conditions.

Building the Counter top Frame

The next step is to build the frame for your concrete counter top using poplar or pine 1 x 3s held together with screws.

Use a 0.75 inch medium density fiberboard for the bottom of the frame. Attach this with deck screws too. Seal the inside edges and corners with caulk to give the counter-top slightly rounded edges.

Using paste wax, coat the inside of the frame. Make a rebar grid with intersections approximately every 4 inches and secure the intersections with plastic zip ties.

Suspend the grid by placing two pieces of 1 x 2s or scrap wood across the frame and suspend the rebar halfway up from the bottom of the frame from them using wire.

Pouring the Concrete

At last, it’s time to pour this thing.

This is when you mix, pour, and cure your DIY concrete counter-top properly drawing upon your knowledge of mix design and proper reinforcement.

At finishing time, ask AT LEAST two other people to help you lift it into place for finishing.

Learn more about how to make concrete countertops. Stop by Alan Sikon’s site where you can find out all about DIY concrete countertops and what they can do for you.