The beginning steps to installing any Quikrete concrete stain is to clean your garage floor until it sparkles.  Can a garage floor sparkle?  I guess you’re going to find out, aren’t you!?

Quikrete Etching Stain

This is the product that Quikrete recommends for use on garage flooring.  This is probably because the etching element will add texture, increasing traction.  Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive option by far, clocking in at over $300.   It’s fairly easy to install, promising a one coat applications, although that’s sort of misleading since you still have to clean the floor, and then apply a sealant.  Neither cleaner or sealant comes with this product.  The end result is a very pretty, textured old world stone look.

Quikrete Semi-Transparent Concrete Stain

Quikrete recommends that you not use their Semi-Transparent Concrete Stain on garage floors.  Notice I didn’t say that they don’t recommend it.  That would mean that they omitted their opinion on the matter.  No, they actually specify that you should not use this stain on garage flooring.  Personally, I think it depends on what you plan to do in your garage.  If you only plan to park cars on it, I don’t see a problem since you have to use a sealant anyway.  I think the main reason they say this is because it doesn’t etch the concrete, which means no added traction, which I suppose could lead to liability.  Amusingly, though, one of the suggested uses includes driveways.  It may also have something to do with the fact that it is by far the cheapest option, costing less than $30.  Sometimes you get what you pay for, though, and customer reviews on this product are…bad.  Apparently it’s less a stain, and more a thin paint.  It sounds like when they say “Semi-Transparent”, they mean “You really should apply a second coat, but that would make this not so cheap”.  Proceed with caution.

Quikrete Multi-Surface Concrete Stain

It’s a sealer!  It’s a stain!  It’s…something.  No one can seem to make up their mind exactly what this product is.  Quikrete calls it a stain, but every place that sells it sells something with “Sealer” on the label instead of stain.  Maybe it’s supposed to be both?  I’m honestly not sure, and at over $100, I’m not willing to guess.

So, What Is Quikrete?

First and foremost, Quikrete is a brand name.  They’ve been around since 1940, and produce a lot more than just concrete repair products, which is what they are best known for.  In addition to Quikrete garage floor coatings, they also make tile setting products, blacktop mixes, floor underlayments, stucco, sand and aggregates, as well as many other items.  They make numerous products that could be used on your garage floor as well.

Quikrete Garage Floor Preparation Products

These products are intended to be used before you apply any epoxy garage floor paint.  They include the Bond-Loc concrete cleaner, as well as an oil stain remover.  Although the oil stain remover can be used at any time, and probably should be used early since stubborn stains may require multiple treatments, the floor will have to be cleaned just before applying the epoxy garage floor coating, unless the directions for the coating say otherwise.  Both of these actions will have to be taken before any epoxy paint is applied, Quikrete or not.

Quikrete Garage Floor Clear Coating Products

If you simply want to add a clear coating to your concrete garage floor, Quikrete offers two products.  They have an stain sealer that will add a high gloss to your stained garage floor and protect it to some degree, and they also have a high gloss clear coating for garage floors that are not stained.  If all you are looking for is some protection against oil and other chemicals, then this might be your best choice, though it will not be as durable as an epoxy coating.  The regular clear coating can be used for painted floors, though, so that may be a good idea if you have an older epoxy paint job that is starting to fade.

Quikrete Epoxy Garage Floor Coating Products

Three different products are available from Quikrete when it comes to epoxy.  Their one part epoxy, which can be had in 16 different colors other than gray, is a resin based product.  They also have a clear water based product to coat any type of garage flooring.  The big daddy, though, is their epoxy garage floor coating kit.  It comes with their cleaner as well as color flakes, and is available in 64 different colors in addition to tan and gray.  There are even different color options for the color flakes.

Quikrete Concrete Stain

If the goal is to give your garage floor some color, but not necessarily add protection, then Quikrete Concrete Stain may be for you.  Applying it is quick and easy, it’s relatively cheap, and you’ll certainly end up with unique looking flooring.  Just keep in mind that you will need to apply a seal afterward, and that Quikrete Concrete Stain will not protect your garage floor on its own.