In Colorado, our climate is unpredictable—dry one week, drenched the next, and frozen soon after. Those changing conditions make moisture in concrete almost unavoidable. That’s why skipping moisture mitigation during a garage floor coating installation is one of the biggest mistakes a contractor can make. Unfortunately, many 1-day garage floor coating companies do exactly that. To save a few hours, they apply polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to bare concrete instead of first using a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer.
These fast-curing products go down thinly and simply don’t have time to fully absorb into the slab. The result is a thin base coat with weak adhesion. Trapped moisture, which builds up pressure beneath the coating, leads to bubbling, peeling, or complete delamination—sometimes within months.
What the Experts and Standards Say
Leading manufacturers—Sherwin-Williams (General Polymers), Benjamin Moore (Corotech), Sika, BASF, Euclid Chemical, Tnemec, Stonhard, and Eco-CorFlex—are unanimous:
- Always test for moisture before coating.
- Always apply a 100% solids epoxy moisture vapor barrier primer before any polyaspartic or polyurea topcoat.
Even producers of these quick-cure coatings, like ArmorPoxy and VersaFlex, warn that they’re topcoats only—not primers.
The industry agrees too. ASTM International, the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), and AMPP all require moisture testing, proper surface profiling, and the use of an epoxy vapor barrier where moisture is present. ASTM F3010 sets the standard for vapor control under resinous floors, and skipping it often voids warranties.
Why “Moisture Warranties” Don’t Mean Much
Most 1-day garage floor coating warranties either exclude moisture issues entirely or only cover extremely low moisture levels—typically 3–4 lbs MVER or 75–80% RH. Real-world garage slabs in Colorado Springs regularly exceed 5–10 lbs MVER and up to 100% RH, making most of those warranties meaningless.
The Front Range Difference
We’re a 2-day company because we do it right. Every project begins with moisture testing, and when needed, we apply a true moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer—like Eco-CorFlex MME—that can handle up to 100% RH and over 20 lbs MVER.
Our floors aren’t built for speed; they’re built for life. With proper preparation, your garage floor coating can last for decades.
Don’t Pay the Price for a Fast Job
A fast garage floor coating may look good at first, but skipping the primer guarantees long-term failure. When it comes to protecting your investment, choose expertise over speed.
GarageFloorCoating.com follows industry standards, uses manufacturer-approved systems, and delivers coatings backed by science—not shortcuts. Choose the company that does it right the first time, so your floor looks incredible and stays that way for decades.