What One-Day Garage Floor Coating Companies Wonโt Tell You About Moisture Vapor
What the Experts Say About Skipping Moisture-Mitigation
โOne-dayโ garage floor coating services are becoming more common across Maryland. These offerings are marketed around speed and simplicityโyour garage is transformed in a single day, no hassle, no downtime. But behind that promise of convenience, many companies are skipping critical steps to meet the clock.
One of the most concerning shortcuts in the garage floor coating industry is skipping moisture mitigation. Instead of installing a proper primer system, many โone-dayโ installers apply polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to bare concrete.
This might reduce the time on site, but it comes at the cost of long-term durability. In many cases, it threatens durability in under a couple of years.
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 coatsโnever just oneโover 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 environmentsโincluding 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 itโs 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 โone-dayโ 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 floorsโinstalled right the first time.
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 issuesโsomething most โ1-dayโ 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. Thatโs 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 durabilityโeven in high-moisture environments like residential garages.
Our coatings are built to last, and our warranty backs it up.
What the Manufacturers Recommend
Well-known manufacturers across the resinous flooring world are clear about best practices. Companies like Sherwin-Williams (General Polymers), Corotech by Benjamin Moore, Sika, BASF, Euclid Chemical, Tnemec, and Stonhard all agree:
- Moisture testing must be done before applying any coating.
- A 100% solids epoxy moisture vapor barrier must be applied before using polyaspartic or polyurea products.
It doesnโt matter if itโs next to a pool or in your garage, in your residence or at your place of workโthese fast-curing coatings are not designed to soak deeply into concrete. Because they harden so quickly, they have limited time to bond properly with the surface. If thereโs moisture vapor in the concrete (as there often is) it becomes trapped beneath the coating, leading to failure.
Common failure symptoms include:
- Blistering and bubbling at the surface
- Peeling or flaking of the coating
- Full delamination from the concrete slab
Even manufacturers of polyaspartic and polyurea systems, such as ArmorPoxy and VersaFlex, make it clear that these products are meant to be used as topcoats, not as primers.
What Industry Standards Require
Professional standards back up what the manufacturers recommend. Organizations like ASTM International, the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), and AMPP all provide clear guidelines:
- Moisture testing should be performed using accepted testing methods.
- Surface preparation should meet the appropriate Concrete Surface Profile (CSP).
- An epoxy-based moisture vapor barrier should be applied before polyurea or polyaspartic topcoats.
ASTM F3010 sets the benchmark for moisture vapor control in concrete coating systems. Failing to follow this standard often voids warranties and increases the chance of premature failure.
What Happens When Moisture Is Ignored
Skipping the epoxy primer leads to a weak bond between the concrete and the topcoat. When moisture vapor rises through the slab, it creates hydrostatic pressure beneath the surface. The fast-curing topcoat cannot handle this pressure, and the coating system begins to failโฆ it can even happen within a matter of months.
And the warranty? Most one-day companies exclude moisture-related issues entirely. If moisture is covered, the allowable thresholds are often so low that most garage floors would not qualify.
Typical limits look like this:
- No more than 3 to 4 lbs of moisture vapor per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours (MVER), as measured by ASTM F1869.
- Relative Humidity of 75 to 80 percent or lower, as measured by ASTM F2170.
In Maryland, moisture conditions often exceed these limitsโespecially during humid summers or in older garages without a vapor barrier beneath the slab.
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 youโre looking for something subtle and classic or bold and modern, our customizable design options let you create a floor thatโs uniquely yours.
Our goal isnโt just durability; itโs 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:
โ It creates an ideal surface profile โ Diamond grinding removes the smooth surface layer of concrete typically called the โCream Layerโ not only does it produce a textured finish (profile), by removing this natural protective concrete layer it
At GarageFloorCoating.com, proper surface preparation isnโt an afterthoughtโitโs 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, itโs engineered for permanent structural reinforcement.
While most companies (especially โone-dayโ installers) use fast-setting fillers that shrink, crack, or fail over time, we take a comprehensive and advanced approach:
โ Deep-penetrating, moisture mitigating repair materials โ 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.
โ Crack stitching with carbon fiber โ 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.
โ Integrated into a full preparation system โ 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 donโt just fill cracksโwe stabilize them for life, using the same reinforcement techniques found in commercial and industrial concrete repair.
When you choose GarageFloorCoating.com, youโre 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 Polyasparticย 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. ย Unlike โone-dayโ 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, weโre so confident in our systems that we offer a lifetime warranty against any type of peeling (aka delamination) even due to moisture-related issuesโsomething you simply wonโt 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 itโs 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 โone-dayโ 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 floorsโinstalled right the first time.
Why Proper Primer Systems Work
True moisture vapor barrier epoxies, such as Eco-CorFlex MME, are engineered to tolerate real-world moisture conditions. They can withstand:
- Relative Humidity levels up to 100 percent
- MVER levels exceeding 20 lbs
These systems not only perform better but allow us to offer warranties that actually include moisture-related failures.
How We Do It Here
We take every job seriously. Moisture is a variable we plan for, not one we hope to avoid.
Hereโs what you can expect from us:
- Every slab we coat is moisture tested.
- Every system begins with a true moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer.
- Every job is backed by a warranty that includes moisture protection, not one that excludes it.
Our systems are built to last because theyโre built according to both manufacturer guidance and industry standards.
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Quality Takes Time
Fast installation should not come at the cost of quality. If your contractor skips moisture testing or primer application, you are left with a floor that may look good now but fail months later.
Take the time to ask the right questions. Understand what products are being used and how moisture is being addressed. Then choose a company that wonโt cut corners.
