Do-It-Yourself Kits for Heating a Concrete Garage Floor

Measure the length and width of the garage with a tape measure so you know the dimensions of the floor you need to cover.

Wash the floor with warm water and a mild detergent to remove any built up dust or grease. The concrete should be as clean as possible prior to the addition of radiant heating.

Apply a self-leveling compound to the floor to ensure the floor is even if it currently has a slope. Wait for the compound to dry overnight before continuing.

Lay down a polyethylene vapor barrier across the floor and partially up the base of the walls of the garage to help direct the heat the system gives off. Tape the material in place with masking tape.

Place blue extruded polystyrene foam board over top of the vapor barrier to help insulate the heating elements.

Unroll a heated mat across the floor on top of the foam board. The mat consists of metal coils that heat up when electricity flows through them. The coils are set in a rubber or fabric mesh mat that holds them in place. If the mesh is separate from the matting, connect them with rebar ties every five or six feet. The electrical connection for the mesh should be closest to the power source for simpler installation. Place the thermostat somewhere that is convenient to access.

Pour fresh concrete over the mesh so that it is covered by at least a quarter-inch of fresh concrete. Smooth the concrete as needed with a trowel as it starts to cure and let it dry. Remove the masking tape that held the vapor barrier to the wall. Wait a week for it to fully cure and then wax, polish or sand it as needed to get the floor texture you want.