Your garage may not be the place where you spend most of your time, but it’s an important part of your home. It’s where you park your cars and possibly keep lawn and other equipment, and it’s a good all-around storage space for large items or even boxes full of smaller items.

So, to keep your garage looking its best, and to help the floor better withstand the oil and stains it may endure, consider adding an epoxy coating to your garage floor. It’s quick and easy to do, and in addition to protecting your floor, it helps it look its best!

First, make sure your floor is ready for an epoxy coating. If it’s already sealed, you’ll have to fully remove the sealer first. Check with your local hardware store to see if they have a floor stripper you can rent. If the floor is a new concrete slab, make sure it’s had a couple of months to fully cure.

You’ll also need to test the moisture level in the floor. Because epoxy doesn’t allow the floor to breathe, if you do have moisture, it will bubble up underneath the epoxy coating. Test the floor by taping a plastic bag (a garbage bag works well) securely to the floor and let it sit for 24 hours. If it’s still dry underneath the plastic bag at the end of that time, you should be able to apply the coating without any trouble.

Before you add the coating, you’ll want to clean the floor thoroughly. Sweep it to remove any loose particles, such as dust or leaves, and vacuum it thoroughly to remove anything you may have missed. If there are any spills, scrub them thoroughly to remove them. If you have some stubborn spots that you can’t get out, a good option is to rent a pressure washer from you local store and use it on the floor—it may remove spots you couldn’t before.

If there are any cracks in the concrete, you’ll want to fill them in with a concrete repair compound or a concrete patch. If the concrete is new or bare, you may need to etch the surface to open it up so the epoxy sticks better. (An easy test for this is to pour a bit of water on the floor and see if it’s absorbed. If it is, no etching is needed.) Visit your local store for an etching solution, and make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying it.

Once the floor is completely dry from the etching solution, it’s time to apply the epoxy. Most come in two parts and must be mixed and let sit before application (but they usually should be applied within a couple of hours of mixing). There are a variety of products available, so talk with an employee at your local hardware store to see which they recommend and why. Again, follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying the epoxy.

Make sure the temperature is between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s not raining when you apply the epoxy to your garage floor. You’ll want to leave the garage door open to provide plenty of ventilation as you add the coating. Use a paintbrush to apply the epoxy around the edges of the floor, and then use a roller to cover the middle. Make sure you smooth out any drips as you work, and don’t apply the coating too thick.

Many coatings come with flakes that can be added to add a little color to your garage floor. If your product came with these, apply them after painting the first coat of epoxy. It doesn’t matter how many or how few of the flakes you use—it’s completely up to your personal preference of what you want the floor to look like. Make sure to sprinkle them evenly across the floor, though—any clumps won’t dry properly and will leave an uneven spot on your floor. If you choose not to apply the flakes, your floor will most likely be slick when wet. If you don’t want the color from the flakes but also don’t want your floor to be slick, try adding some granules instead.

Note that while some products say to apply the flakes or granules between coats, others say to mix them in and apply with the second coat. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once the first coat has dried for the recommended amount of time, it’s time to apply the second coat of epoxy (as instructed by the manufacturer). Do this the same way you did the first—with a paintbrush around the edges and a roller in the middle.

If your particular product comes with a topcoat, apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

You’ll probably have to wait about 24 hours before you can walk on the floor and about a week before you can drive your car over the garage surface. The manufacturer’s instructions will have more information. The epoxy coating will take about a month to fully cure.

Now, sit back and enjoy the new look of your garage floor!