Is the concrete new, or was garage built around existing work??? * Normally, new concrete needs to cure for at least a MONTH before a coating is applied. * You also have prep the surface if the cement is smooth. It HAS to be etched to the texture of 120-grit sandpaper to have its best grip. * You'll also notice that your cars will need to be outside for a WEEK or so while the coating "hardens-off". In cooler temps, this may be TWO weeks. Faron (Hey, in Fargo today we're gonna hit 40!)

I'd go for House #1. Thinking, get out that bad rental, and who knows really when #2 will be ready. Developers make all kinds of promises that don't come through, and you sure are right about the pricing. (will leave out long, nearly identical story that happened to friends, pricing left them in a pickle) Also, I know you're thinking playroom now, but not knowing how old your kids are and how long you plan to stay in this house, I agree with pixie_lou and lyfia's assessments. In the long run, I'd take storage/work area over an extra room to clean up any day. Nobody spends time in the side yards - choose the best backyard and then front yard/neighbors. And that's house #1. You will be happy when you see your electric bill that you are not facing west! Another pro for house #1. Just my thoughts. Hope this helps!

OK...here we go. Garage floors are NOT sealed the way "house slabs" are sealed. They rarely have (if ever) a vapor/moisture barrier underneath them. The moisture barrier is what PREVENTS adhesion/bonding issues. So...that means the EXTRA EFFORT needed to ensure bonding will be required if you don't like the idea of your epoxy lifting or blistering. To get this to work, your epoxy flooring specialists (not just "painting professionals") will have to do the following: Shot blast the surface of the garage floor (to rough up the surface and remove an deposits sitting on the top...like the stuff they add to create a fast cure) Apply 1-2 coats (spray on is most common) of moisture barrier and allow to cure Apply a primer (1-2 coats depending on the system used) and allow to cure Apply a micro topping of concrete to give a finish Apply the epoxy of your choice Whew. Lots of work. I've heard the "prep" (the first 4 points listed above) can reach $5/sf. The epoxy is then added to the cost. This is not a job for painters. Regardless of the system used (commercial/industrial vs. residential) this is not a job for painters. I've seen SOOOOO many painters ruin home improvement projects I could just spit! As a former flooring professional, I can tell you that painters love to make suggestions - especially if it means more work for them. I'm sorry, but PLEASE contact several epoxy professionals to get some quotes. This is your best way forward. And those joints are supposed to be there. Your epoxy experts will know that.

How wide is your lot and will you have a detached garage? Can you post an overhead view of your lot and house site? I'm posting an overhead of mine just for an example because we bought an existing house with a narrow-ish driveway. (Older neighborhood.) It had a small semi-attached garage on the right, which we tore down and replaced with a larger detached garage, but still only had room for a single car driveway. The apron flares out between the sidewalk and the street, but you can't really tell because of the trees. The driveway flares out in front of the garage to access the two separate doors. We staggered the front so that it's not just a flat expanse of one giant door, and to give a bit more space b/w garage and house when backing out of the left side garage door. (Backing out on the left was good practice when the kids were learning to drive.) Also the deeper right side gives it room for an interior stairway up to the 2nd floor storage space, which has windows on 3 sides and is suprisingly bright and roomy. Now that we have 4 cars it's kind of a PITA when everyone is home. But there's enough room to pull up a big truck (F150) on the right side in front of the garage and still have room for my son to pull his car (Taurus) up to park on the left. DD and I get to park our cars in the garage. :)