GatorGuard Concrete Coatings: Don’t Fall For One-Day Garage Floor Installations!

Don’t Fall For One-Day Garage Floor Installations!

Many Indianapolis residents might be attracted to the quick installation promise of one-day polyurea-polyaspartic systems. However, these systems often come with warranties that exclude moisture-related damages, the most common cause of failures in concrete coatings. This critical exclusion means that if issues like bubbling and peeling occur due to moisture, the homeowner is left to cover repair costs. The allure of a fast and seemingly cost-effective solution quickly diminishes when these hidden exclusions come to light.

Why One-Day Installations Fall Short

One-day coatings simply rush the process. In these systems, fast-curing materials like polyurea-polyaspartics are used for both the primer coat and topcoat. An interesting property of quick-curing polyurea-polyaspartics is that they cure even quicker in the presence of moisture in the concrete (or air). Under medium to high moisture conditions, this extremely fast curing time (well less than an hour) doesn’t allow the coating to properly penetrate and bond with the concrete slab. The result is a wafer thin, poorly penetrating primer coat, that when exposed to high hydrostatic pressures, can easily bubble or even lift off.

The Comprehensive Two-Day Installation Process

A thorough two-day installation offers a reliable alternative, ensuring the coating’s durability and longevity:

• First Day:
  • Application of a 100%-Solids Epoxy Primer: This step involves the application of a high-build, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer as a moisture vapor barrier (never a polyurea-polyaspartic; we save these as top coats only). This slower-curing epoxy primer thoroughly permeates the concrete creating a vapor barrier. This barrier is essential for preventing moisture from compromising the coating, thereby avoiding the common failures associated with one-day systems. Proper curing time is crucial here.
• Second Day:
  • Addition of Polyurea-Polyaspartic Top Coats: On Day 2, after the primer has cured overnight, two separate 100%-solids polyurea-polyaspartic top coats are applied. The separate 100%-solids top coats provide the floor’s durability and its resistance to UV rays, stains, and chemicals, ensuring the floor remains in robust condition for years. (One day systems use a single application of a less-than-100% polyaspartic top coat).

Weather Impacts and Long-Term Benefits

Indianapolis experiences a range of weather conditions, from hot, humid summers to cold, snowy winters. These fluctuations can cause more moisture issues in concrete surfaces. One-day systems often fail to address these challenges, leading to frequent failures. In contrast, a two-day installation process takes into account these weather-related factors by applying a moisture vapor barrier as the primer coat, providing a more reliable solution that withstands the city’s diverse climate.

By investing in a two-day installation, homeowners and businesses can enjoy a durable, aesthetically pleasing floor that offers long-term protection against the elements, saving them from future headaches and repair costs.

About GatorGuard Concrete Coatings Indianapolis

GatorGuard offers a wide variety of coating options for your garage, patio, driveway, and even the interior of your home. While beautifying and reducing allergy-inducing dust inside your home, your garage and exterior surfaces benefit from GatorGuard’s impenetrable hybrid epoxy coating stopping costly salt and water intrusion damage. Our customized garage floor coatings allow homeowners to choose from nearly limitless options in color, patterns, and textures with our proprietary coating systems. The result? A room that’s finally worthy of the rest of the home.