DIY city guide

DIY quartz epoxy garage floor kit in Newark, NJ

This is our planning guide for a DIY quartz epoxy garage floor in Newark. It covers local weather, slab prep, how many kits you need, what it costs and answers to the questions people ask before they start.

Every kit ships from our shop in Queen Creek, Arizona, and comes with free phone support from the people who mix and pack it. Call 602.600.0781 with questions before, during or after your install.

Newark at a glance for epoxy work

Typical July high About 87°F
Typical January low About 25°F
Average yearly snowfall About 27 inches
Humidity High in summer
Best pour window Late May through mid September
Kits for a two car garage 4 kits for 400 sq ft (1 kit = 100 sq ft)

Temperatures and snowfall are rounded long term averages for the city and are meant for planning. Always check the forecast and measure your actual garage and slab temperature on pour day.

How Newark weather affects your epoxy pour

With July highs around 87°F, Newark summers sit comfortably inside the 41°F to 90°F application range on most days. The ideal cure temperature is 68°F to 77°F, which many Newark garages hit naturally from late spring through early fall.

January lows near 25°F mean winter mornings can dip below the 41°F minimum. If you need to pour in the cold months, warm the garage for a day ahead so the slab, not just the air, is at temperature.

Summer humidity in Newark often climbs above the 65 percent limit, so check a hygrometer before you mix. Lower humidity days give the cleanest finish.

Newark averages roughly 27 inches of snow a year, which means road salt, deicers and meltwater on the garage floor all winter. A sealed quartz epoxy surface keeps that brine out of the concrete and wipes clean instead of soaking in.

Best time of year to pour in Newark

For most Newark garages, the most forgiving window is late May through mid September. In that stretch you can usually count on the slab staying between 60°F and 85°F through the 72 hour cure, which gives you full working time and a consistent finish.

Prepping a Newark garage slab

Humid summers and salted winters are both hard on bare concrete. Older garages often have painted or patched floors that need grinding back.

Before anything else, do the water droplet test. Sprinkle water on the bare concrete. If it soaks in within about 30 seconds, the surface is ready to grind and coat. If it beads up, there is a sealer, paint or contamination that has to come off first.

For Newark garages that have seen years of salt and freeze thaw, we strongly recommend a primer under the epoxy. It seals porous, weathered concrete and gives the coating a better bond.

Our full step by step process is on the installation instructions page.

Which kit fits your Newark project

Indoor quartz sand epoxy self leveling floor kit. This is the kit for garages, workshops, basements and other interior concrete, in Marble Grey, Desert Grey or Black. The quartz aggregate gives a thicker, more textured and more slip resistant surface than standard garage floor paint or thin water based epoxy. It is made for indoor use and does not have strong UV protection, so keep it out of direct, all day sun.

Outdoor washed stone quartz epoxy floor kit. With as much sun as Newark gets, patios, walkways and porches should get the outdoor system rather than the indoor kit. It comes in four stone colors and covers up to 100 square feet per kit. The washed stone finish lets water pass through, so it is not a waterproofing membrane. Over a basement or living space, a separate waterproofing layer is needed underneath.

Tools. To spread and finish the coating you need a 22 inch squeegee with pole, a 20 inch defoaming roller and an extension pole for the roller. Our epoxy tool kit adds a tool bag, spiked shoes for walking on the wet coat and five finishing trowels.

How many kits you need

One kit covers 100 square feet at the target thickness of about one eighth inch. No guessing. Measure the length and width of the floor, multiply, divide by 100 and round up. A one car garage is about 200 square feet and takes 2 kits, a two car garage is about 400 square feet and takes 4 kits, and a two and a half car garage is about 500 square feet and takes 5 kits. Do not stretch coverage, since a thin coat will not level properly.

Questions Newark customers ask

When is the best time to epoxy a garage floor in Newark?

For most Newark garages the best window is late May through mid September. You want the garage between 41°F and 90°F, ideally 68°F to 77°F, with humidity under 65 percent.

How much does a DIY epoxy garage floor cost in Newark?

One kit covers 100 square feet, so a standard two car garage of 400 square feet takes 4 kits. At current pricing that is $996 in Marble Grey or Desert Grey and $1,200 in Black. If you do not own them, add about $95 for the squeegee, defoaming roller and extension pole, plus primer if your slab needs it. Professional installs are often quoted around $4 to $10 per square foot, which puts the same garage at roughly $1,600 to $4,000.

Can I use the indoor quartz epoxy kit on a patio in Newark?

The indoor kit is made for garages, shops and interior floors and does not have strong UV protection, so it can yellow in direct sun. For patios, porches and walkways, use our outdoor washed stone kit. It covers up to 100 square feet per kit, and because the washed stone finish lets water pass through, it is not a waterproofing membrane.

How long before I can park on my new floor?

Light foot traffic is fine after 24 hours, the coating reaches full cure around 72 hours, and you can drive and park on it after about 5 days. In cooler Newark garages below 55°F, allow extra time.

Will road salt damage an epoxy floor in Newark?

A sealed epoxy surface keeps salt brine out of the concrete, which is one of the main reasons people coat their garage in snow country. Sweep and rinse salt off regularly through winter and clean with a pH neutral cleaner rather than harsh chemicals.

Do I need a primer under the epoxy?

Primer is sold separately and is strongly recommended for older or porous concrete, slabs that were painted or sealed, floors with past moisture issues and any garage that sees heavy vehicle traffic. It seals the pores and gives the coating a stronger bond.

Can I put epoxy over a painted or sealed garage floor?

Not directly. Paint, sealers and old coatings keep the epoxy from bonding to the concrete. Do the water droplet test, and if water beads up, grind the old coating off down to bare concrete before you pour.

Why does epoxy bubble, and how do I stop it?

Concrete releases trapped air as it warms, and that air rises into the wet coating. Go over each section with a spiked defoaming roller 2 to 3 times while the epoxy is still wet, and pour when the slab is not heating up, such as early morning or evening.

Ready to start your Newark garage floor

Talk to us about square footage, color and prep before you order. We are available Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Arizona time.

Shop the indoor quartz epoxy kit   Call 602.600.0781

Nearby and similar climate guides: Jersey City, NJ, Chicago, IL, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Boston, MA. See all city guides.