You'll have to use something designed specifically for garage floors. I've seen where folks have painted the floor with oil based enamel deck paint. On a hot summer day after driving (tires hot) pulled into the garage and the paint stuck to the tires and the paint peeled up as they drove off the next time out!!! The epoxy is good on a cured, dry and very clean floor. If the finishers put a smooth finish on the floor, getting anything to stick for long, is a challenge. I too, like the look you're going for but wouldn't want to give my approval from what I've seen. I hate oil spots and tar marks from my cars and trucks on the garage floor. I use gunk engine cleaner and a rag to clean them up right away. There's a magazine a friend subscribes to called "Improvements" or something like that. They have a pad which can be rolled out that keeps the concrete clean. I've also seen where folks have used composite floor tiles (with a design) and that seems to work (I've seen it in car dealer show rooms). I suspect they would be quite slippery when wet or snow and ice gets on them. Don't use carpet if you can refrain, the catalytic converter could melt or ignite it especially after it gets a little oil soaked. I hope I helped.

Posted by manor:Our guess is that this floor is at least 20 years old, and probably closer to 30. I don't think 'no wax' was invented yet! ++++ No, it has been around a lot longer than that. No-wax flooring was invented by Congoleum in 1962. Your floor is not linoleum. If it was linoleum I would recommend trying to paint it since the paint job would hold up for a while before you got around to replacing it. You have vinyl flooring, and it looks like the no-wax variety. Paint is not going to adhere well, and the amount of labor you would have to put into preping it before painting would not make it worth it in the long run. Plus you would need many, many coats of paint, especially in the high traffic area. Not worth it. Since this flooring is in an entrance way, I suspect it may have become damaged and dull over the years, and the PO may have put down a wax or something to try to restore it. A good scrubbing with a machine and a commercial cleaner will make it look better. Then put down a no-wax floor retore product. This may prove to be satifactory until you can do what you want with the floor. If you were willing to go through the expense and work to paint it, would it be out of the question to put down those self stick tiles over it and live with it that way until you get around to tearing everything out and refinishing the wood floor?

Hi mommabird -- there are many experts on this forum and I used them last year for a similar project. Many will recommend etching which involves a very toxic application which I wasn't willing to do. If you have a small area, it may be feasible -- this apparently gets you down to the raw, raw concrete and prepares it for anything topical (porch paint, stain, marine paint, etc.). What I did ... was similar to you ... scrubbed, scraped and cleaned with a degreaser (using brushes in a swirling motion and lots of pressure). I used a Sherwin Williams Marine Paint (two coats) and it adhered just fine. That was a year ago and it is holding up great. Here is an after photo.

I suggest looking at some of the SPC Rigid Core plank floors. Those have a limestone polymer core and can handle heavier furniture than the WPC plank flooring which is a wood polymer composite. The SPC will be able to handle moisture better, but you will have to use a moisture barrier on the concrete. Republic, republicfloor.com, SuperCore WeShipFloors.com and several others make the SPC flooring. I would call and ask questions if you find one you like.