Griots vs. Rustoleum

KCPreki11 · 06-28-06, 03:40

I hear good reviews about the Rustoleum Epoxy. Does anyone have info on how well the Griots floor paint holds up? Any suggestions on which one to get between these two?

Joshua312 · 06-29-06, 05:28

You may also want to look into QuiKrete found at Lowes, its supposedly better than Rustoleum - I just did my garage, for pictures you can visit the Garage Forum. Went on very easy, and even easier to clean! Love it so far.

Accumulator · 06-29-06, 05:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCPreki11

I hear good reviews about the Rustoleum Epoxy. Does anyone have info on how well the Griots floor paint holds up? Any suggestions on which one to get between these two?

I have the Griot's floor paint on a few concrete floors at my place. It's held up pretty well over the last 6 years with a few spots where it did lift. I blame the guys who prepped/etc. it for those spots and will give it a "recommended with caveats". The caveats are that you really do have to prep things just right (acid etch, etc.) and note that unless you mix some friction media (e.g., sand) in with it the surface will be very slick when wet.

Haven't tried the Rustoleum, but my builder did some other areas with a non-Griot's concrete paint and I had a lot more adhesion problems in those areas. FWIW, I touched those spots up with a concrete paint and they've stayed fixed. Pretty sure the stuff I used was not Rustoleum but whatever it was I was pleasantly surprised when it stayed put and I credit my prep work for that.

I can't help but think two sorta-contradictory thoughts:

1) I've generally been unimpressed with Rustoleum products.
2) I sorta doubt that any of these floor paints are all that different from all the others.

One last thought: I'd sure hate to do a big floor and have it mess up.

KCPreki11 · 07-01-06, 11:12

Has anyone put a clear coat over top of their rustoleum expoxy?

Accumulator · 07-01-06, 03:37

No first-hand experience, but I *think* there'd be issues with the clear bonding. I know that getting touchups to stick to epoxy takes a little doing.

Prometheus · 07-01-06, 04:15

Comparing the Rustoleum epoxy vs. Griots floor paint is kind of like comparing apples to oranges. Yeah, both are floor coatings, but paint and epoxy are very different things. Paint will wear and fade and eventually need to be redone, no matter the circumstances. Epoxy is designed to be longer wearing (supposedly) and tougher. They are different chemically in the way they bond, but that is not really overly relevant. IIRC, I remember a rustoleum rep saying that the rustoleum epoxy floor coat was designed for a 20 year life cycle/durability under minimal/home use. Basically foot traffic and minimal vehicle traffic. If you have a large garage or moderate to heavy traffic, then the rustoleum product probably isn't for you.

I have personally been looking into a product called Epoxy coat, which supposedly has a 25-30 wear life in moderate use circumstances, which is probably more wear than most of us are going to do. However, it is more expensive (substantially), and I know it can be kind of finiky. There is a professional version also that you can actually have installed, but I'm almost scared to even ask the pricing on it.

Basically, I would say go with your gut. I'm in the midst of helping my father redo his garage, and I am also trying to decide on the best flooring option. I honestly am inbetween about 3 options right now, and have no idea which would be best just because I can't seem to find any truely objective information.

I know people have used the rustoleum product with success, as well as the Quikrete product. I know of people on garagejunkies (or whatever it's called now) that have used the Epoxy Coat with spectacular results as well. Accumulator has experience with the Griots product and has shared his experience as well. Basically, I would say pick one and dive in. One constant theme I have found in my research however is a basic detailing principle as well: It's all in the prep. If the prep is done well, almost anything will stick, if done poorly, nothing will. Well, that's my 2 cents, hope it was of some help.

Accumulator · 07-02-06, 09:04

Prometheus- As best I can tell, the Griot's *is* a two-part, "epoxy-based" paint, not that I'm any authority on this stuff

NOTE: The above is in no way intended as a criticism of Prometheus's informative post, just a clarification regarding what the Griot's stuff (apparently) is. IMO you really *do* want an epoxy-type product for this job, I even did my shop *walls* in an epoxy-based paint.

Additional note: the Griot's in my subbasement (lawn equipment, etc.) really is *not* holding up like some miracle product (not bad though, and it's an extremely abusive situation). Dunno if anybody else's would be better though, and it really is holding up a lot better than the stuff my builder's original painters were using in other areas. This is probably the difference between expoxy and "regular" concrete/floor paint, and it *is* a big difference.

Prometheus · 07-06-06, 06:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Prometheus- As best I can tell, the Griot's *is* a two-part, "epoxy-based" paint, not that I'm any authority on this stuff

NOTE: The above is in no way intended as a criticism of Prometheus's informative post, just a clarification regarding what the Griot's stuff (apparently) is. IMO you really *do* want an epoxy-type product for this job, I even did my shop *walls* in an epoxy-based paint.

Additional note: the Griot's in my subbasement (lawn equipment, etc.) really is *not* holding up like some miracle product (not bad though, and it's an extremely abusive situation). Dunno if anybody else's would be better though, and it really is holding up a lot better than the stuff my builder's original painters were using in other areas. This is probably the difference between expoxy and "regular" concrete/floor paint, and it *is* a big difference.

Really? Reading the blurb on Griot's site I didn't get that impression, but I defer to your experience. I didn't take that at all as criticism FWIW.

Accumulator · 07-06-06, 06:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

I didn't take that at all as criticism..

OK, good.

I *think* I'm right on the Griot's. You do have to mix its two parts and then use it within a set period of time. I don't remember if the containers *say* "epoxy" but it sure seemed like that kind of product to me

Next time I'm back in the storage alcove where I have my leftover housepaint I'll try to remember to look at the containers for clues.