A garage floor coating doesn’t succeed or fail based on the coating alone. Evaluating the concrete, repairing cracks, mechanically preparing the surface, and addressing moisture all occur before the coating is applied, and affect how well an epoxy floor coating performs over time.
Here’s the concrete preparation timeline behind a floor coating when it’s done the right way.
Evaluating Cracks and Concrete Movement
Every qualified installer understands there are two types of concrete: concrete that’s cracked, and concrete that’s going to crack. In the Nashville area, seasonal temperature changes and humidity make expansion and contraction unavoidable.
Before an epoxy floor coating is installed, existing cracks must be repaired using a flexible elastomeric filler. This type of repair allows the concrete to move naturally, helping mitigate inevitable shifting instead of forcing stress into the finished coating.
Mechanically Preparing the Concrete Surface
Once cracks are addressed, surface preparation begins. Sweeping, degreasing, or acid etching alone does not properly prepare concrete for epoxy coatings.
Professional installers use diamond grinding equipment to open the pores of the concrete and create the correct surface profile. This mechanical process removes weakened or contaminated concrete. Consequently, it ensures the coating can form a strong mechanical bond with the slab.
Testing for Moisture Inside the Concrete
All concrete contains moisture. Before applying the first coat to garage floors, installers should test moisture levels using calibrated meters. Moisture vapor moving up through the slab is a common cause of coating failure when it’s ignored.
When readings are elevated (they almost always are), a slower-curing, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer is applied as the first coat. It goes down thickly and deeply penetrates the concrete slab (…unlike quick-cure polyureas or polyaspartics). Hence, the epoxy primer acts as a thick moisture vapor barrier.
See What a Properly Prepared Epoxy Floor Coating Looks Like
With preparation complete, the coating system can be installed. High-quality systems often require a 2-day installation instead of a rushed 1-day approach, allowing each layer to cure properly and perform as intended.
If you’re considering an epoxy floor coating for your Nashville garage, the preparation process should never be an afterthought. Garage Floor Coating of Nashville specializes in professional surface prep, flexible crack repair, and moisture-mitigating systems designed for long-term performance.
You can also explore the Live Coatings Visualizer to preview how an epoxy floor coating could look in your actual garage before moving forward. Contac tus today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward a garage floor built to last.
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