Fast Isn’t Forever: Why Moisture Mitigation Matters for Your Garage Floor
Around these parts in Colorado, we get a pretty unique mix of climate conditions: Dry spells, sudden rain, snowmelt, and freeze-thaw cycles, to name a few. That means moisture in concrete slabs isn’t just possible, it’s dang-near inevitable. If a garage floor coating is installed without addressing that moisture, it’s just a matter of time before problems start.
Yet many “one-day” garage floor coating companies around the Colorado Springs area skip the step that prevents it.
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.
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.
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.
The Shortcut That Causes the Most Damage
- What they skip: Applying a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer
- What they do instead: Apply polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to bare concrete
- Why they do it: Saves a few hours and speeds up the install. Fast is better… right? Right?
- Why it’s not, in fact, right: These coatings cure so quickly they cannot fully penetrate the surface, which weakens adhesion and traps moisture beneath
Once moisture is trapped, it creates pressure that leads to:
- Bubbling
- Blistering
- Peeling
- Complete delamination
What the Experts Recommend
Leading coating manufacturers, including Sherwin-Williams (General Polymers), Benjamin Moore (Corotech), Sika, BASF, Euclid Chemical, Tnemec, Stonhard, and Eco-CorFlex, are clear in their thoughts on the matter:
- Always test for moisture before coating
- Always use a 100% solids moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer under polyaspartic or polyurea topcoats
Even companies that sell these fast-curing products, like ArmorPoxy and VersaFlex, state that polyaspartics and polyureas are topcoats only, not primers.
What the Standards Require
Industry guidelines back up what the manufacturers say. ASTM International, ACI, ICRI, and AMPP all require:
- Moisture testing of the slab with proper tools
- Surface preparation to meet Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) standards
- Application of an epoxy moisture vapor barrier before any polyaspartic or polyurea coating
ASTM F3010 specifically defines the standard for vapor control under resinous flooring. Skipping it often voids warranties.
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.
Why “Moisture Warranties” Often Mean Nothing
Most one-day coating warranties:
- Exclude moisture-related failures entirely, or
- Limit coverage to extremely low moisture levels—typically no more than 3–4 lbs MVER or 75–80% RH
In real-world Colorado Springs conditions, slabs often exceed:
- 5–10 lbs MVER
85–100% RH
That means the warranty wouldn’t apply in most cases.
There’s a Right Way to Do It
We install garage floors, residential and commercial, to last. They’re not there to technically be finished and look good on day one, we see it as a legitimate addition to a home or business.
Here’s our process:
- Moisture testing on every slab
- Application of a true moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer when needed
- Use of primers like Eco-CorFlex MME, which can handle up to 100% RH and 20+ lbs MVER
- A warranty that includes moisture protection, because our systems are designed for it
Bottom Line
If your installer isn’t testing for moisture or using a vapor barrier primer, they’re building in a failure point from the start. Fast isn’t forever. The only floors that stand the test of time are the ones that start with proper preparation. It can seriously mean the difference between a floor with a lifetime of like 11 months vs. 20+ years.
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