What is Atlanta’s “One-Day” Garage Floor Coating Trap?
The Same Old Story…
Six months after the install, the Atlanta homeowner starts noticing a few odd spots in the garage floor. Tiny bubbles here, a patch of peeling there… by the one-year mark, whole sections are lifting, and the once-smooth surface is cracking underfoot.
It’s a tale as old as time. Well, actually it’s a tale as old as “one-day” concrete coating companies are.
The Step They’re Skipping
Atlanta homeowners are slowly starting to become wise to “one-day” contractors (those who literally install the concrete coating in a single day, vs. the two-day installation). These quick-fix companies are actively cutting corners to keep timelines short and margins high.
The most critical skipped step? Applying polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to bare concrete — no moisture-mitigating epoxy primer underneath. It may shave hours off the schedule, but it leaves the floor system vulnerable from day one.
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 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.
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 the Big Names in the Industry Are Saying
From General Polymers (Sherwin-Williams) and Corotech (Benjamin Moore) to Sika, BASF, Euclid Chemical, Tnemec, Stonhard, and Eco-CorFlex Industrial Polymers — the leading names in resinous flooring agree on two non-negotiables: A) Always test for slab moisture before coating. B) Always apply a 100% solids moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer before any polyaspartic or polyurea topcoat.
Even manufacturers like ArmorPoxy and VersaFlex stress these are topcoats only, not primers. It’s hard to argue with the guys who actually make this stuff.
The reason is straightforward: fast-curing polyaspartics and polyureas don’t absorb deeply into concrete. Without that penetration, adhesion suffers, and moisture vapor gets trapped — leading to blistering, bubbling, peeling, or total delamination.
Standards the Pros Follow
Industry organizations — ASTM International, the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), and AMPP (formerly SSPC/NACE) — back the same approach. They require moisture testing, proper surface prep to Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) specs, and the use of epoxy vapor barriers before polyaspartic or polyurea layers go down.
ASTM F3010 specifically governs moisture vapor control beneath resinous coatings. Skip it, and you’re probably voiding any warranty you think you have (which, with a one-day coating company, probably isn’t much to begin with).
The Primer Problem in Real Numbers
When a polyaspartic or polyurea is applied direct-to-concrete in a “one-day” system, the coating can typically handle no more than 3–4 lbs of moisture vapor emission (MVER) per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours (ASTM F1869) — often less. That’s about 75–80% relative humidity (ASTM F2170).
Here’s the catch: in Georgia’s humid climate, many slabs easily exceed 5–10 lbs MVER or 85–100% RH. Without a primer that can block those levels, hydrostatic pressure builds and the coating fails — sometimes in just months.
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.
The Fine Print on Warranties
Most “one-day” installers exclude moisture damage entirely from their warranties. In rare cases they include it, the coverage is tied to those same low 3–4 lbs MVER limits. In real-world Atlanta garages, that means your floor is almost never actually covered.
By contrast, a true moisture vapor barrier epoxy like Eco-CorFlex MME can withstand up to 100% RH and 20 lbs MVER or more — allowing for a genuine, enforceable moisture warranty.
The Difference with Our Crew at GarageFloorCoating.com
Our team here at Garage Floor Coating of Atlanta won’t gamble with your floor. That’s why every system we install includes:
- Moisture testing on every slab
- A moisture-mitigating epoxy primer as the base layer
- A real warranty that includes moisture-related protection
It’s the science-backed way to get a concrete floor that lasts — and the only way we’ll do the job. It’s not impossibly hard, it just takes a genuine care for the craft at hand.
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