The Best Paints to Use for Humid Garages

Paint Quality

• Quality exterior paint has a higher level of solids, which is the material that remains on the surface after a paint has dried. Any concentration over 45 percent is considered good and will provide a dense, durable coating. Inexpensive paints boasting a high-solids content may contain cheap fillers. Ask your retailer to show you a materials data sheet on the product, or check the paint company's website to be sure of what you are buying.

Pigmentation and Binder

• Premium pigments assure better coverage with fewer coats. The best is titanium dioxide. The ingredient list printed on the paint can label will indicate what pigment the formulation contains. Paints used in humid exterior applications should include a fungicide, mildewcide and a weather-resistant, all-acrylic binder to hold all of the ingredients together. Some manufacturers tailor their paints to the region where they are sold. Extra mildewcide is added for humid climates.

Epoxy and Latex for Garage Floors

• Garage floors have their own challenges and require an especially durable coating. Residential garage floors are well protected with a high-quality epoxy paint with 100 percent solids. The paint includes a solution concentrate, primer, epoxy and topcoat for a complete floor finish. Latex paint also works well because it allows for water evaporation. One coat acts as a primer and a second gives you a finish coat. Latex is water soluble, so brush and roller cleaning is easy.

Oil-Based Garage Floor Paint

• Oil-based floor paint combines the easy application of latex with the durability of epoxy. A concrete oil-based primer is applied first, which is followed by an oil-based finish coat. The result is a garage floor with a clean-looking, shiny finish. Mineral spirits are required to clean your brushes and rollers as oil-based paint is not water soluble. Local home improvement stores are familiar with the paint that will work best in your area and can answer any further questions you may have.