A Sullivan Square Garage, Transformed Into Play Space

A growing family in a Sullivan Square townhome wanted more usable, kid-safe living space but had no room to expand. We turned their stained 400 sq ft garage into a clean, durable play area with a Coyote epoxy vinyl flake floor — installed for about $2,800, walkable the next day, and backed by the Wish Warranty.

The challenge: no room to grow in a Surrey townhome

Townhomes are booming across the Lower Mainland — Surrey, South Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Willoughby, Brookswood and Vancouver — and while they've become one of the more attainable ways into the market, the trade-off is space. Average home sizes are shrinking even as prices climb, so every square foot has to work harder.

This family was outgrowing their home. The toys had taken over the hallway, and they wanted a dedicated, safe place for the kids to play. The obvious answer — buy or build more space — wasn't realistic. Finished space in Surrey runs roughly $500–$800 per square foot, so gaining another 400 sq ft the conventional way would climb well into six figures. And strata rules meant they couldn't just bolt an extension onto the townhome anyway.

The garage was the one room with untapped potential. But as-is — cold, dusty, stain-prone bare concrete — it wasn't somewhere you'd let kids play.

The solution: a Coyote epoxy flake floor

Instead of paying for new square footage, the family upgraded space they already owned. A Coyote epoxy vinyl flake system turned the garage into a clean, bright, wipeable surface that comfortably doubles as a play area — for a few thousand dollars rather than tens of thousands.

Coyote is a warm grey-and-tan flake blend that hides dust and everyday marks, so the floor still looks sharp between cleans. The full-broadcast flake adds texture underfoot, and the sealed, non-porous finish wipes clean — no more concrete dust, and spills stay on the surface instead of soaking in.

How we installed it

1. Assessment & masking. Checked the slab, moisture and edges, then masked walls and openings to keep the job clean.
2. Diamond grinding. Mechanically profiled the concrete so the coating bonds into the slab, not just sits on top of it. (That's the grinder in the "before" photo.)
3. Crack & joint repair. Filled and repaired cracks and control joints for a smooth, sound finished surface.
4. Base coat + full flake broadcast. Rolled the epoxy base and broadcast Coyote flake to full refusal for even, edge-to-edge colour.
5. Scrape, vacuum & polyaspartic topcoat. Knocked back the excess flake and sealed everything under a durable, UV-stable polyaspartic clear coat.

Total downtime was minimal: the family was walking on their new floor the next day.

The result

For about $2,800, a 400 sq ft garage went from unused concrete to a clean, hard-wearing play space the whole family uses — a fraction of what buying the equivalent square footage would cost, with no strata approval needed. The floor is protected by the Wish Warranty.

Watch the job

Frequently asked questions

How much does an epoxy flake garage floor cost in Surrey?

Wish Coatings' epoxy vinyl flake floors start at $7 per square foot. This 400 sq ft Sullivan Square garage came to about $2,800. Your exact price depends on the size and condition of your slab, which we confirm with a free in-person estimate.

Can a coated garage really be used as a play space for kids?

Yes. A sealed epoxy flake floor is non-porous, easy to wipe clean, and resists dust, stains and spills, which makes it far more suitable for kids than bare concrete. The flake also adds a bit of texture underfoot. Many Lower Mainland families use a coated garage as flexible play, hobby or gym space.

What is "Coyote" flake?

Coyote is one of our flake colour blends, a warm mix of greys and tans. The blend hides dust and everyday marks well, so the floor keeps looking clean between washes. We bring physical samples of all our colours to the free estimate.

How long does the installation take?

Most residential garage floors are completed in as little as two days, and you can usually walk on the finished floor the next day. This Surrey garage followed that timeline.

Do I need strata approval to coat my townhome garage?

Coating a garage floor is an interior finish rather than a structural change, so it typically doesn't require the approvals an extension would. Strata rules vary, so it's always worth a quick check with your strata. Unlike adding square footage, a floor coating adds usable value without building anything new.