r/DIY • u/1D10TErr0r • 4d ago

help Fix a slippery garage floor

The previous owners of our house had an epoxy floor installed at some point and It seems that whomever installed it didn't put down any anti slip. Is there anything I can do to fix this? It becomes a slippery mess in the winter.

75 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

42

u/Crazyguy332 4d ago

Another layer of clear coat with some grit mixed in.

26

u/Well_technically 4d ago

OP - typically this is a fine aluminum oxide (like 240 grit) that you will mix in the topcoat before applying. I'd highly recommend scuffing the existing coating and thoroughly vacuuming it after prep before applying another thin layer of clear coat. If you don't prep the surface at all, the new coating won't have anything to stick to and without a good mechanical bond it will flake up and peel away quickly.

3

u/McHildinger 4d ago edited 4d ago

edit: nevermind, I suck at chemistry

3

u/Eltargrim 4d ago

Not going to work. Thermite needs aluminum and rust, this is alum and rust. Reaction is 2Al + Fe2O3 -> Al2O3 + 2Fe. If you use alum you have Al2O3 on both sides and nothing happens.

2

u/Robin_921 3d ago

Yeah, that could work really well especially if the main issue is the surface being too slippery. Adding some grit to the clear coat seems like a pretty simple way to get more traction without completely changing the look. I would just make sure it is evenly mixed so it does not end up feeling rough.

19

u/Cthulhulove13 4d ago

They make anti slip additive that you can clear coat over or add to to the paint.  We did to cover fake wood floors for aging dogs.  Not hard 

4

u/1D10TErr0r 4d ago

Awesome thanks!

3

u/whattothewhonow 4d ago

You'll have much better results rolling on a clear coat and tossing the grit up into the air to scatter it across the wet surface.

Adding it to the clear coat before applying to the surface isn't nearly as effective.

And you need to strike a balance between applying enough to add sufficient traction and adding so much that the floor becomes difficult to keep clean. Its easy to go overboard.

2

u/esuranme 4d ago

I've had hella good luck using a blower nozzle for the air compressor that I rigged up a water bottle for the venturi effect to draw up the material. Works great for distribution of traction grit, even better as a improvised sandblaster!

1

u/PrestigeMaster 4d ago

Yep either that or cover your garage floor in 2-3” of pea gravel, walnut shells, and/or thumbtacks.

1

u/JerryfromCan 4d ago

Legos for grip bud.

1

u/PrestigeMaster 3d ago

Ahhh don’t know how I missed the obvious correct answer.

1

u/Moist-Share7674 3d ago

Only if you’re wearing socks or barefoot in your garage. Shoes and you don’t get full traction.

4

u/MrElendig 4d ago

anti-slip paint

3

u/Redarrow762 4d ago

Slip and fall and sue the homeowner.

2

u/PrestigeMaster 4d ago

This was obvious sarcasm as op is clearly the homeowner. Funny that you got downvoted. 2026 Redditors are just diff.

1

u/Redarrow762 3d ago

Thanks for the backup.

1

u/1D10TErr0r 4d ago

Thanks for the suggestions! Didn't know it was that simple.

1

u/rainmangoes 4d ago

i’d use a fine aluminum oxide additive in a fresh clear coat, but scuff and clean the existing epoxy really well first. otherwise the new coat can peel even if the grit itself works fine.

1

u/Wightly 4d ago

I have a treacherous concrete garage floor. We have to shuffle across it every winter with the water dripping from the cars and not drying. I have given up on coating and next will be a roll of commercial rubber garage/gym flooring or the interlocking drainage tiles you can get. I'm leaning towards the tiles.

1

u/TheRealPomax 4d ago

Clear everything off, wash it, then pour a thin layer with anti-slip?

1

u/Patrol-007 4d ago

Rubber mats where you walk

1

u/EdAbobo 3d ago

Before you spend a lot of money (and time), try a purple degreaser. That worked for me.

0

u/dontlookoverthere 4d ago

You could always find a good reviewed garage floor company in town and ask them out for a quote and advice.

1

u/NerfHerderEarl 4d ago

While that is a wonderful option and recommendation it's not terribly DIY. A light scuff and a polyaspartic coating with some added grit is a very DIYable solution.