If you’re considering an epoxy floor coating for your garage, the condition of your concrete plays a major role in how well that coating performs. Not all concrete damage looks severe, but even small issues can shorten the lifespan of a coating if they’re not addressed correctly. Here are the most common types of garage concrete damage that should be repaired before an epoxy floor coating is installed.
Cracks and Movement-Related Concrete Damage
There are two types of concrete: concrete that’s cracked, and concrete that’s going to crack. Whether a slab is 30 days old or 30 years old, expansion and contraction are unavoidable.
Because concrete moves, cracks should never be repaired with rigid materials. Before installing an epoxy floor, cracks must be repaired using a flexible elastomeric filler. This allows the repair to move with the slab instead of resisting it, helping mitigate inevitable shifting that could otherwise show through the finished coating.
Surface Deterioration That Interferes With Adhesion
Garage floors often develop surface wear such as pitting, flaking, or weakened concrete. While these issues may look cosmetic, they prevent a garage floor coating from bonding properly.
Professional installers address this damage through diamond grinding. Grinding removes compromised concrete and creates the proper surface profile so the epoxy floor coating can form a strong mechanical bond. Skipping this step greatly increases the risk of peeling or delamination.
Moisture-Related Issues Beneath the Concrete Surface
All concrete contains moisture. Before applying epoxy floor coatings, installers should test moisture levels using calibrated meters. When readings are elevated, a slower-curing, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer is required to protect the bond between the concrete and the coating; it acts as a thick moisture vapor barrier.
Because of the use of the slower-curing epoxy base coat, higher-quality systems often require a 2-day installation instead of a rushed 1-day approach. Moisture mitigation protects the coating where failures typically begin, below the surface.
Explore an Epoxy Floor Coating Designed to Last
If you’re planning an epoxy floor coating for your Toledo garage, proper concrete repair and preparation should always come first. Garage Floor Coating – The Great Lakes focuses on professional surface prep, flexible crack repair, and moisture-mitigating systems built for long-term performance.
You can also use the Live Coatings Visualizer to preview how different colors and flake blends could look in your actual garage before moving forward. Contact us today to learn more and take the next step toward a properly prepared garage floor.