Commercial
Epoxy floor painting: costs, cure times and preparation
A guide to epoxy floor painting for warehouses, workshops and garages: which coating to choose, costs per square metre, cure times and why preparation matters.
28 September 2026 · 2 min read · By Harry
Epoxy floor paint is the most popular way to make a concrete floor tougher, cleaner and safer, from a home garage to a 5,000 square metre warehouse. It is also one of the most common coatings to fail. This guide explains how to get it right.
Epoxy, polyurethane or resin?
- Epoxy floor paint (two or three thin coats) is hard, chemical-resistant and good value: ideal for warehouses, workshops and garages.
- Self-levelling epoxy resin is much thicker, smooths out uneven concrete and takes heavy forklift traffic.
- Polyurethane is more flexible and UV-stable, so it suits showrooms, areas in sunlight and floors with temperature changes. It is often used as a topcoat over epoxy.
- Fast-cure systems can be back in use the next day, at a higher price.
Any of these can be made anti-slip by adding aggregate to the topcoat. Compare them on our floor coatings page.
How much does it cost?
| System | Typical price per m² |
|---|---|
| Two-coat epoxy floor paint | £12 – £25 |
| Epoxy with anti-slip topcoat | £18 – £30 |
| Self-levelling epoxy resin | £35 – £60 |
| Line marking | priced per metre or per bay |
Prices include preparation. Small areas such as a single garage have a minimum charge, and weekend or night working to keep a site running is itemised separately.
Preparation is everything
- Test the concrete for moisture and contamination.
- Degrease any oil or fuel spills.
- Shot blast or diamond grind to remove laitance and old coatings and open the surface.
- Repair cracks, joints and holes.
- Prime, then apply the coating system and any anti-slip.
Cure times
At around 20°C, most epoxy floors take light foot traffic after 24 hours, vehicles after about 72 hours and full chemical resistance after seven days. Cold buildings slow this down. On live sites we coat in phases so the rest of the site keeps working. See also our industrial painting services, or ask for a quote.
Questions
How much does epoxy floor painting cost?
A two-coat epoxy floor paint usually costs £12 to £25 per square metre including preparation, and a thicker self-levelling resin floor £35 to £60 per square metre.
How long does epoxy floor paint take to dry?
Most epoxy floor coatings take light foot traffic after about 24 hours, vehicles after about 72 hours and reach full chemical resistance after around seven days at 20°C.
Why does epoxy floor paint peel?
Almost always because of poor preparation: the concrete was not ground or shot blasted, was contaminated with oil, or was too damp when the coating went on.
Related services
Commercial painting and decorating
Planned, low-disruption painting for offices, shops, restaurants, schools, warehouses and developers, including out-of-hours working.
Floor coatings and line marking
Hard-wearing epoxy and resin floor coatings with line marking for warehouses, workshops and car parks, plus garage floors at home.
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