One-Day Garage Floor Coating Companies Are Cutting Corners—Here’s What the Experts Say About Skipping Moisture-Mitigation
In the competitive world of garage floor coatings, “one-day” installation companies are becoming increasingly popular. They promise speed, convenience, and a finished floor in just 24 hours. But behind the marketing, many of these companies are skipping critical steps, especially when it comes to moisture mitigation.
One of the most concerning shortcuts? Applying polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to concrete without a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer. This not only jeopardizes the performance of the coating system but leads to early failure, leaving homeowners with costly repairs and voided warranties.
Here’s what leading manufacturers and industry organizations have to say about this risky practice:
What Leading Coating Manufacturers Say
Industry giants like General Polymers (Sherwin-Williams), Corotech (Benjamin Moore), Sika, Dur-A-Flex, Tnemec, BASF, UCLID, Stonhard (Division of RPM), and Eco-CorFlex Industrial Polymers all emphasize the same key points when it comes to resinous floor coatings:
- Always test for moisture before coating concrete.
- Use a 100% solid moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer before applying polyaspartic or polyurea topcoats.
Why? Because polyaspartic and polyurea coatings cure too quickly to absorb into the concrete. Without a proper primer, any underlying moisture becomes trapped. The result? Bubbling, delamination, and peeling within months.
Even manufacturers like ArmorPoxy and VersaFlex warn that polyurea’s and polyaspartics are designed as topcoats, not as direct-to-concrete primers.
Are polyurea-polyaspartic coatings good for hot tire resistance?
Polyurea and polyaspartic coatings are ideal for chemical resistance, UV stability, and scratch resistance. However, when applied directly to concrete, their quick curing properties can limit hot tire pick-up resistance. To improve performance in this regard, a moisture-mitigating epoxy-based primer should be applied first. This primer enhances adhesion and helps prevent hot tire-related issues, ensuring a more durable and resistant coating system.
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 andA 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.
Can your system be applied to older concrete that is damaged and stained?
Absolutely, at GarageFloorCoating.com, our ultra thick moisture mitigating industrial-grade coating systems are specifically designed to be applied not just to older concrete, but also to heavily damaged, contaminated or previously coated surfaces.
Whether your slab is decades old, has minor cracks, surface imperfections, or even more severe damage, we have the expertise and proprietary products to restore it. Our process includes thorough surface preparation (like diamond grinding and moisture testing), structural and cosmetic repairs, and the application of a multi layer moisture-mitigating coating system to ensure a durable, long-lasting bond.
We don’t just coat new concrete, we specialize in revitalizing and protecting older, worn, and even previously failed concrete floors and coatings. It’s what sets GarageFloorCoating.com apart.
Do you offer a warranty against hydrostatic pressure?
Yes, we do. At GarageFloorCoating.com, we offer a lifetime warranty that includes protection against hydrostatic pressure and all other moisture-related issues—something most “1-day” coating companies specifically exclude.
Hydrostatic pressure, which occurs when moisture vapor pushes up through the concrete slab, is one of the leading causes of coating failure. That’s why we never skip moisture testing and always apply a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer as the foundation of every system. This critical step ensures proper adhesion and long-term durability—even in high-moisture environments like residential garages.
Our coatings are built to last, and our warranty backs it up.
What Industry Standards Require
Respected organizations like ASTM International, ACI (American Concrete Institute), ICRI, and AMPP (formerly SSPC and NACE) establish clear protocols for successful resinous flooring systems:
- Conduct proper moisture testing before any application.
- Prepare the surface using Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) standards.
- Apply epoxy-based vapor barriers before using any low-permeability coatings like polyurea or polyaspartic.
ASTM F3010, in particular, sets the standard for moisture vapor control beneath resinous coatings. Ignoring these steps not only increases failure risk, and voids most manufacturer warranties.
The Risk of Skipping the Primer
When a coating company skips the moisture mitigating epoxy primer:
- Moisture vapor becomes trapped beneath the coating, exerting pressure from below called hydrostatic pressure. The bond between concrete and coating is significantly weakened when polyaspartic or polyurea products are applied directly to bare concrete, primarily due to their extremely fast cure rates. These rapid curing materials don’t have sufficient time to penetrate into the concrete’s surface pores, which is critical for achieving a mechanical bond. In residential garages, where moisture vapor commonly migrates upward through the concrete slab, the lack of deep penetration from fast-curing coatings like polyaspartics and polyureas becomes especially problematic. As moisture becomes trapped beneath the surface, it creates hydrostatic pressure that leads to bubbling, blistering, delamination, and peeling typically within months after installation. Most “1-day” garage floor coating warranties exclude coverage for moisture-related issues. And in the rare cases where moisture is covered, the warranty often includes an unrealistically low moisture tolerance limit, making warranty coverage nearly impossible to claim.
This isn’t just poor practice—it’s a disservice to the customer.
The Right Way: GarageFloorCoating.com
At GarageFloorCoating.com, we don’t take shortcuts. We do it right—the first time.
- We always conduct moisture testing on every slab.
- We apply a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer before any polyaspartic or polyurea is installed.
- Our coating systems are built to last and backed by a true lifetime warranty, including protection against moisture-related failures.
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.
Final Word: Don’t Pay the Price for a Fast Job
If a contractor skips the primer to save time, it’s not a faster job—it’s a costly mistake waiting to happen.
Protect your investment. Choose a company that follows the science, respects industry standards, and guarantees its work for life.
Trust the experts. Trust the process. Trust GarageFloorCoating.com.
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