When you think of long-lasting floors, materials like hardwood or tile might come to mind. However, if you’re looking for something that can withstand the wear and tear of cars, chemicals, and constant foot traffic, a properly installed garage floor coating is the way to go. In the Akron and Cleveland area, where weather can be unpredictable, a well-applied coating should last 20+ years. The question is, how do you choose the right coating?
Choose the Right Coating: Longevity Depends on Installation
While the longevity of any epoxy flooring option depends heavily on the quality of the coating materials used, the installation process plays an even bigger role. 1-day polyurea systems use a thin application of quick-curing polyurea (or polyaspartic) as both the direct-to-concrete primer coat and single topcoat. They use the quick-cure coatings throughout so that they can complete the installation in the promised “1-day”. However, these floors are vulnerable to moisture from below, which can lead to peeling.
Polyurea-polyaspartics are great top coats, but lousy primer coats, especially in the presence of medium to high concrete moisture. Why? Because in the presence of moisture in the concrete or in the air (humidity), these quick-cure coatings cure quicker still. In well under an hour!. There is simply insufficient time to penetrate and properly bond with the concrete substrate. Additionally, polyurea-polyaspartics can only be applied thinly (they simply won’t cure if applied thickly).
As moisture wicks up through the concrete substrate, it creates a hydrostatic pressure that pushes up on the primer coat. In 1-day systems, the thinly applied, poorly penetrating polyurea primer has a tendency to delaminate. (The entire coating system is only as strong as its primer coat!). That is, this rush job means the floor coating is more likely to fail. This is especially true in climates like Akron and Cleveland, where snow, rain, and fluctuating temperatures are the norm.
2-Day Systems for Lasting Durability
A 2-day system, on the other hand, starts with a thick, slower-curing, moisture-mitigating 100%-solids epoxy primer. It penetrates deeply and bonds with the concrete. We allow a full day for the primer to cure. In this way, the thick, penetrating primer acts a a moisture vapor barrier, protecting the coating from moisture-related issues like high hydrostatic pressure.
On the second day, two layers (not only one) of 1005-solids polyaspartic topcoats are applied. These dual topcoats provide long-lasting resistance to UV rays, chemicals, and hot-tire transfer.
This process allows for proper bonding with the concrete substrate and the dual topcoats ensures your garage floor remains durable for decades. With the added protection of the 2-day system, your floor is better equipped to handle Ohio’s unpredictable weather patterns.
Conclusion
If you’re in the Akron or Cleveland area, investing in a 2-day garage floor coating system from Forte Garage Floor Coating means you’re opting for long-term protection. Contact us today for a free estimate and learn how our high-quality coatings can extend the life of your garage floor for 20+ years!
