Why coatings fail
Most failed floors we see share a few causes. The concrete was not ground, just etched or cleaned, so the coating never bonded. A thin one-part epoxy paint was used that cannot handle hot tires. Moisture came up through the slab and pushed the coating off. Or oil and contamination were never removed. Understanding the cause is the first step to a repair that lasts.
Common problems
- Hot tire pickup: coating lifting in the tire paths.
- Peeling at the door: water, sun and freeze-thaw at the garage door edge.
- Bubbles and blisters: often moisture or outgassing.
- Yellowing: UV exposure on non-UV-stable epoxy.
- Worn traffic lanes: topcoat worn through in busy areas.
- Impact chips: dropped tools or equipment.
Spot repair or full redo?
If the coating is well bonded and the damage is local, such as a few chips or a gouge, we can grind the area, patch it and blend it in. Flake floors hide repairs well. If the coating is peeling in multiple places or was never bonded, the whole floor needs to be ground off and redone. Patching a failing coating just delays the next failure.
How we remove old coatings
We use diamond grinders with dust collection to grind off old coatings down to clean, sound concrete. Edges and corners are done with hand grinders. Then we repair the slab and install a properly bonded system.
Moisture problems
If bubbles or peeling came from moisture, we test the slab and use a moisture-mitigating primer in the new system. Without addressing moisture, any coating may fail again. In some cases, we recommend polished concrete or a breathable sealer instead.
Fixing the door edge
The strip near the garage door gets the worst of the weather: rain, standing water, road grime and sun. We grind it carefully, repair any spalled concrete and use UV-stable, flexible topcoats that hold up better in that zone.
Recoating worn floors
If your coating is bonded but the topcoat is dull or worn, a recoat may be all you need. We clean, lightly sand and apply a fresh topcoat. This restores shine and protection at a fraction of the cost of a new floor.
Our approach
- Inspect and test adhesion and moisture.
- Explain options: spot repair, recoat or full replacement.
- Provide a written quote.
- Complete the work with the same quality as a new floor.
Floors from other installers
We repair floors installed by other companies and DIY kits. We will give you an honest assessment of what went wrong and what it will take to fix.
Preventing future problems
Most repairs are avoidable. Use pads under jack stands, kickstands and heavy equipment. Avoid dragging steel across the floor. Clean up salt, chemicals and fuel promptly. And if you notice a small chip or lifting edge, call early, because small repairs cost far less than letting moisture and dirt spread under the coating.
Cracks under the coating
Sometimes a crack in the slab shows through a coating as a line or split. We route and fill the crack with a flexible or rigid filler, depending on whether it moves, then recoat the area so the repair blends with the surrounding floor.
Can you match my existing floor?
Close matches are possible, especially with flake. Solid colors can be harder to match exactly.
How long does a repair take?
Small repairs often take a day. Full redos take one to three days.
Why did my kit coating peel?
Usually poor prep and thin material that cannot handle hot tires.
Schedule a floor inspection
Contact us for an honest assessment.
to schedule an epoxy floor repair.
Call (360) 322-3560 for a free estimate.