Five Critical Steps to Take Before Coating a Garage Floor

2018-11-28

As a professional floor coating contractor, here are five must-do’s before you begin your next garage floor project.

1. Walk your clients through the installation process.

Even before you’ve won the bid, inform your customers of the benefits of new garage floor coatings and the high quality and durability of the products you use. Describe the preparation and installation process in detail.

If you want your potential client to choose you over another flooring company, talk about which coating is best for garage floors - long-lasting, resistant to chemicals and vehicle wear, and easy to maintain. For extra credit, share a successful client case study demonstrating why your materials and process are head and shoulders above your competitors’. Answer any questions your client may have, removing all concerns about the process.

2. Thoroughly evaluate the surface to be coated.

Before your team can begin preparing the concrete surface, an in-depth investigation must be performed to determine its condition. Are there any pre-existing coatings or sealants? What type, and which method will adequately remove it? Is there excessive laitance that must be removed? Are there unsound areas that must be repaired before proceeding with the installation?

3. Prepare the surface for coating.

Safely remove stains and imperfections from the concrete, taking time to prepare the surface thoroughly. Remove any dirt, oil or grease stains; any of these will interfere with a successful installation. Choose cleaning products that are environmentally friendly, to protect the health and safety of your team and clients.

Level the concrete surface, repairing all cracks, holes, and spalling, allowing time for these steps. Apply the appropriate profiling method. Extensive and thorough surface prep helps ensure that the coating won’t fade or fail to adhere to the concrete.

4. Measure moisture levels in the concrete.

80% of all floor coating failures are caused by excess moisture. Testing for moisture is critically important. In this Coatings Pro Magazine article, author Qayumi recommends relative humidity (RH) testing to measure the level of moisture in the concrete. “RH testing is a scientifically proven method that shows the exact degree of moisture that a sealed concrete will have to deal with,” he writes. “This method is fast, accurate, and economical, and it enables the flooring experts to decide when is the right time to apply the garage floor coating system.”

5. If required, prime the surface.

Apply primer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Depending on the flooring system chosen, you may not need a separate primer; for example, our 350 product works as both primer and base coat, and easily installs with a squeegee. Or, installation may comprise applying a tinted primer followed by a clear coat.

Now that you have completed these 5 steps, you are ready to begin installing the garage floor coating. Read here for next steps, as well as more detail on preparation for installing polyurea coatings, step-by-step.

Bidding on a new garage floor coating or getting ready for your next install? With 40+ years’ experience in the industry, we can answer just about any question on materials or process. Click here to schedule a call with one of our flooring experts, or meet us live, in person, at the World of Concrete this January. (You can find us in South Hall at Booth #S12107.)