BlastTexBlastTex / Garage floor prep / What it costs
Garage Prep Costs: Hiring BlastTex vs. Renting the Equipment
Most DFW garages cost $1,500 for up to 400 sq ft, with the floor shot blasted, the edges and corners ground, and the dust collected and cleaned up. Here is how hiring compares with renting for a typical 400 sq ft garage, and how shot blasting compares with grinding.
Hiring BlastTex
One price covers the whole job: shot blasting the open floor, grinding the edges and corners, HEPA dust collection and cleanup.
| Your garage | BlastTex price |
|---|---|
| Up to 400 sq ft (most 2-car garages) | $1,500 |
| Over 400 sq ft | $1,500 plus $3.75 per extra sq ft |
| Old paint, epoxy or heavy oil stains | Add 50% on the affected area |
| 51+ driving miles from Hurst | Travel fee per our service zones |
Send photos and your general location for a free written proposal. Fees may change; the price on your written proposal is the one you pay.
Shot blasting vs. grinding
Both methods prepare a garage floor well. The best results usually come from using both: shot blast the open floor, then grind the edges and corners the blaster cannot reach. BlastTex uses both methods on every garage.
| Shot blasting | Diamond grinding | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Steel shot hits the floor and opens up the surface; the shot is recycled inside the machine | Spinning diamond heads sand the surface down |
| Speed on a garage | Fast on open floor | Slower, especially on hard concrete |
| Surface left behind | Even, open texture that coatings grip well | Smoother; the texture depends on the diamonds used |
| Old sealer or thin paint | Removes it in most cases | Removes it, but wears diamonds faster |
| Edges and corners | Can’t reach them; needs a hand grinder | A hand grinder handles them |
| Dust | Contained when run with a HEPA vacuum | Contained when run with a HEPA vacuum |
| Common errors | Stripes or tracking marks from uneven passes | Swirl marks, or a surface too smooth for coating to grip |
What neither one fixes: stains that have soaked deep into the concrete, cracks, and moisture coming up through the slab. Ask your coating installer about those before prep day.
Equipment rental vs. hiring BlastTex
You can rent the equipment and prep your own garage. But once you add a generator, delivery or a trailer, fuel and supplies, one day of renting often costs as much as hiring BlastTex, or more, before accounting for your time.
What a one-day DIY rental can cost (400 sq ft garage)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Walk-behind shot blaster | About $350 per day |
| HEPA dust collector or vacuum | About $450 per day |
| Steel shot (blasting media) | $1.25–$2.25 per lb, usually sold by the bag |
| Generator big enough to run the blaster and vacuum together* | About $150–$350 per day |
| Generator fuel | About $40–$100 |
| Edge grinder and diamond cup wheel | Extra rental, plus diamond wear |
| Delivery and pickup by the rental company | About $250 each way ($500 round trip) |
| Or haul it yourself: equipment trailer rental | About $50–$120 per day |
| Truck fuel for pickup and return | About $20–$60 |
| Damage waiver | 10–15% of the rental |
| Cleaning fee if returned dirty | $95–$225 |
| Respirator, eye and ear protection | About $50–$100 |
| Rough total for one day | About $1,200–$2,300 |
*Most walk-behind shot blasters need 220V or more, and running the blaster and vacuum together usually takes more power than a garage outlet can supply. These are 2026 planning ranges; figures marked “about” are estimates. Check with your local rental counter for current prices.
Costs not reflected in a rental quote
- Your time. Pickup, a learning curve on a heavy machine, the work itself, cleanup and return.
- Uneven results. Stripes, tracking marks or missed spots show through a new coating.
- Respirable silica. Concrete dust is a recognized lung hazard without proper dust collection and a respirator.
- The coating. If prep is wrong, the coating can peel, and redoing it costs far more than prep.
What you get when you hire BlastTex
- We bring and haul all the equipment: no rental counter, no trailer and no heavy lifting.
- 15+ years of shot blasting experience behind the machine.
- HEPA dust collection and cleanup, so your garage is left clean.
- Edges and corners ground, included in the price.
- Commercial general liability insured, with a certificate of insurance on request.
- Time-stamped before-and-after photos of your floor.
- We work with your coating installer so the floor is ready when they arrive.
Common questions
Is shot blasting better than grinding?
For an open garage floor, shot blasting is faster and leaves an even texture that coatings grip well. Grinding is better for edges and corners. We use both on every garage.
Why not just rent the equipment?
You can. For one garage, the rental, generator, delivery or trailer, fuel, dust vacuum and supplies often cost as much as hiring BlastTex, or more, and you take on the learning curve and the cleanup.
Do you install the coating?
No. BlastTex provides preparation only, so your floor is ready for the installer you choose.
How do I get a price?
Send a few photos and your general location. You will receive a written proposal, and that is the price you pay.
Ready to prepare your garage floor?
Text a few photos of the floor, your city, and the coating you plan to use. Chris personally reviews every request and returns calls and texts the same day. Written proposals within 24–48 hours.