One-Day Garage Floor Coating Companies Are Cutting Corners
What Skipping Moisture-Mitigation Really Means for Your Floor
Many garage floor coating companies now offer “one-day” installations. While the speed is appealing, the process often involves cutting important corners. One of the most common—and most damaging—shortcuts is skipping moisture mitigation.
Some installers apply polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to concrete without using a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer. This might save time during installation, but it introduces serious risk of coating failure.
Are the flakes used in your system decorative or functional?
The flakes in the flooring system serve multiple functional purposes beyond their aesthetic appeal. They significantly enhance slip resistance, especially in areas prone to moisture or spills, creating a safer environment for walking and driving. Additionally, the inclusion of flakes contributes to the overall durability, making the surface more resistant to wear and tear over time. When mica stone flakes are incorporated, the floor’s impact resistance and hardness are further enhanced, allowing it to withstand heavy impacts and abrasions.
Adding mica stone flakes not only boosts the floor’s strength but also elevates its visual appeal. Their reflective qualities give the surface a distinctive, attractive appearance. Ultimately, integrating mica flakes results in a resilient, virtually indestructible flooring solution that combines safety, durability, and aesthetic appeal.
Overall, the flakes combine both aesthetic and functional benefits, making them a versatile component in the coating system.
Are your coating systems UV-resistant and non-yellowing?
Yes, our coating systems are UV resistant and non-yellowing, thanks to the use of 100% solids polyaspartic coatings. We always apply two coats—never just one—over our UV-stable colored chip blends to ensure maximum protection and durability. This approach provides exceptional UV resistance, keeping the decorative flakes vibrant and the surface looking new for many years.
Are your coatings VOC-compliant and environmentally safe?
Yes, our garage floor coating products are ZERO VOC and 100% solids, making them environmentally safe and VOC-compliant. We focus on using eco-friendly products that meet all current regulations, ensuring a safe, sustainable, and high-quality solution for your garage or commercial space. Our zero VOC coatings provide excellent durability and performance without compromising environmental responsibility.
Can garage floor coatings be installed in cold or humid climates?
Yes, at GarageFloorCoating.com, our coating systems are specially engineered to perform in a wide range of environments—including extreme heat, freezing temperatures, and high humidity. No matter the climate, our industrial-grade products deliver long-lasting durability and reliable performance year-round.
We use industrial-grade resins manufactured exclusively by Eco-CorFlex Industrial Polymers, which are formulated to cure properly even in challenging environmental conditions. Whether it’s high humidity or colder temperatures, our experienced installers adjust installation techniques and cure schedules to ensure a proper bond and long-lasting durability.
Unlike many “one-day” coating companies that rely on fast-curing polyaspartics vulnerable to moisture interference, we always start with a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer, allowing our coatings to perform reliably in garages across all regions and seasons.
No shortcuts. No seasonal limitations. Just beautiful, high-performance floors—installed right the first time.
What the Manufacturers Recommend
Leading manufacturers in the resinous coatings industry—including Sherwin-Williams (General Polymers), Benjamin Moore (Corotech), Sika, BASF, and Stonhard—consistently recommend the following:
- Concrete should always be tested for moisture prior to coating.
- A 100% solids moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer should be applied before using fast-curing topcoats like polyaspartics or polyureas.
The reason is simple: polyaspartics and polyureas cure quickly. They don’t absorb deeply into the concrete, which can prevent a strong bond from forming—especially if there’s moisture present in the slab. Moisture vapor gets trapped, and over time, this leads to bubbling, blistering, or peeling.
Even manufacturers that sell polyurea or polyaspartic systems, like ArmorPoxy or VersaFlex, specify that these products are meant to be topcoats—not direct-to-concrete primers.
Industry Standards Back This Up
Organizations like ASTM International, the American Concrete Institute (ACI), and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) have published clear guidelines for concrete coatings. These include:
- Moisture testing using established protocols
- Surface preparation using Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) standards
- Application of epoxy-based vapor barriers prior to polyurea or polyaspartic coatings
ASTM F3010, for example, outlines how to properly manage moisture vapor beneath resinous flooring. Ignoring these standards not only increases the risk of failure—it may also void your product warranty.
What Happens Without a Vapor Barrier
When fast-curing coatings are applied directly to concrete:
- Moisture vapor can accumulate beneath the coating
- The bond between coating and concrete is weakened
- Hydrostatic pressure can force the coating to lift off the surface
In residential garages, where upward vapor transmission is common, this often results in visible failure within months—especially in regions like Ohio, where moisture levels can vary with the seasons.
Even when warranties are offered, most “one-day” systems either exclude moisture-related issues or limit them to extremely low moisture thresholds (e.g., 3–4 lbs MVER or 75–80% RH). These levels are frequently exceeded in real-world conditions.
Do you offer color and design customization?
At GarageFloorCoating.com, we offer extensive color and design customization to match your style, space, and vision.
Choose from a wide range of flake blends, metallics, solid colors, and our exclusive Mica Stone blends, a proprietary option only available through GarageFloorCoating.com. Whether you’re looking for something subtle and classic or bold and modern, our customizable design options let you create a floor that’s uniquely yours.
Our goal isn’t just durability; it’s delivering a floor that looks as stunning as it performs.
How does diamond grinding improve coating adhesion?
We use 800 lbs Lavina diamond grinding equipment to properly prepare the concrete surface and ensure long-term adhesion of our multi-layer coating systems.
This process is critical because:
✅ It creates an ideal surface profile – Diamond grinding removes the smooth surface layer of concrete typically called the “Cream Layer” not only does it produce a textured finish (profile), by removing this natural protective concrete layer it
At GarageFloorCoating.com, proper surface preparation isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation of a beautiful, long-lasting floor.
How does GarageFloorCoating.com handle cracks in the concrete?
At GarageFloorCoating.com, our crack repair system goes far beyond cosmetic patching, it’s engineered for permanent structural reinforcement.
While most companies (especially “one-day” installers) use fast-setting fillers that shrink, crack, or fail over time, we take a comprehensive and advanced approach:
✅ Deep-penetrating, moisture mitigating repair materials – We use high-performance moisture mitigating urethane epoxy hybrid-based menders that chemically bond to the concrete permanently and prevent cracks from reappearing beneath the coating.
✅ Crack stitching with carbon fiber – For structural or recurring cracks, we implement a crack stitching repair system. This involves embedding multiple carbon fiber stitches directly into the concrete, dramatically increasing tensile strength and preventing future movement or separation.
✅ Integrated into a full preparation system – Our crack repairs are just one part of a broader surface preparation process that includes diamond grinding, moisture mitigating, and a multi-layer, full-broadcast coating system for unmatched durability.
In short, we don’t just fill cracks—we stabilize them for life, using the same reinforcement techniques found in commercial and industrial concrete repair.
When you choose GarageFloorCoating.com, you’re choosing professional-grade repairs, not shortcuts.
How long does a full-chip epoxy garage floor coating last?
At GarageFloorCoating.com, our full-chip Moisture Mitigation Epoxy Polyaspartic floor coating systems are designed for maximum durability and longevity.
When properly installed with our multi-layer, moisture-mitigating system and maintained as recommended, your coating can last 30 years or more. Unlike “one-day” polyurea polyaspartic systems that skip critical moisture mitigation, our industrial-grade coatings include a 100% solids vapor barrier primer, full-broadcast chip application, and 2 100% solids polyaspartic topcoats, thus eliminating the possibility of peeling, staining, hot tire lift, and UV degradation.
In fact, we’re so confident in our systems that we offer a lifetime warranty against any type of peeling (aka delamination) even due to moisture-related issues—something you simply won’t find elsewhere.
Want it to last decades? Then skip the shortcuts. Go full chip. Go GarageFloorCoating.com.
Can garage floor coatings be installed in cold or humid climates?
Yes, at GarageFloorCoating.com, our coating systems are specially engineered to perform in a wide range of environments, including extreme heat, freezing temperatures, and high humidity. No matter the climate, our industrial-grade products deliver long-lasting durability and reliable performance year-round.
We use industrial-grade resins manufactured exclusively by Eco-CorFlex Industrial Polymers, which are formulated to cure properly even in challenging environmental conditions. Whether it’s high humidity or colder temperatures, our experienced installers adjust installation techniques and cure schedules to ensure a proper bond and long-lasting durability.
Unlike many “one-day” coating companies that rely on fast-curing polyaspartics vulnerable to moisture interference, we always start with a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer, allowing our coatings to perform reliably in garages across all regions and seasons.
No shortcuts. No seasonal limitations. Just beautiful, high-performance floors—installed right the first time.
What a Proper System Looks Like
A true moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer can handle up to 100% Relative Humidity and MVER levels exceeding 20 lbs. When this layer is included, coatings are far more likely to perform well over time, even under challenging conditions.
Skipping the primer may save time on the day your garage floor gets coated—but it puts the floor at risk of failure, especially in garages where moisture is almost always a factor.
Need a concrete floor coating?
Request a Free Quote
In Summary
One-day garage coating services may offer convenience, but speed often comes at the expense of long-term performance. Moisture mitigation isn’t optional—it’s a necessary step in a reliable coating system.
Before you commit to a contractor, ask about their moisture testing process and what primers they use. If they can’t give you a clear answer, that’s a red flag. A concrete coating is an investment. It should be done right.
