Garage Floor Coating Application Process | Garage Living

Garage Living can complete your flooring project in as little as one day.

Each morning, our crews arrive on-site at approximately 8:30 a.m. After greeting the customer, we review the application process and answer any questions. Our trucks are outfitted as mobile workshops with equipment and materials to tackle any challenges.

This is the Garage Living 5-step application process.

STEP 1 – DIAMOND GRIND THE FLOOR SURFACE

As with any sort of coating surface, preparation is the most important step in the process. Garage Living has invested in state-of-the-art Werkmaster™ diamond grinders and dustless self-contained vacuum systems to ensure that every floor we coat achieves an unbreakable mechanical bond to the substrate. After unloading the equipment, the crew will evaluate the concrete density to select the right type of diamond blades to grind the floor.

The crew will grind the entire floor surface, which profiles the substrate and opens the pores of the concrete. The edges are ground down using a hand grinder.

This ensures every square inch of the floor is properly prepared. The coating can be applied to vertical surfaces such as foundation walls, cinder block, wood baseboards and steps.

Before this is complete, these vertical surfaces are ground and cleaned of any debris.

STEP 2 – CRACK AND CHIP REPAIR

Hairline cracks naturally occur in concrete pads. These cracks must be opened using a diamond cutting wheel and then filled with a polyurea filler or cementitious mortar. Once applied, the filler cures in 25 minutes.

The excess can be ground off so that the floor is completely smooth and cracks invisible. In many cases the concrete floor has imperfections such as salt pits or other minor damage. These spots are also filled and ground down for a perfectly smooth surface.

With the grinding complete, the entire surface of the floor is vacuumed to remove any remaining dust or debris.

STEP 3 – PIGMENTED ADHESIVE BASE COAT

Garage Living uses a polyaspartic floor coating which is a 2-component system.

The crew mixes the 2 components adding pigment to the base coat that matches our customer’s choice of pre-blended vinyl flakes. The crew first rolls the base coat onto all vertical surfaces and heavily applies the flakes for consistent 100% coverage.

Excess material is vacuumed from the floor before the base coat is applied. The crew then proceeds to apply the base coat to the entire floor surface.

STEP 4 – DECORATIVE FLOORTEX® FLAKES

One crew member will roll the coating onto the floor and the other will broadcast the vinyl flakes. To achieve 100% coverage, three times the amount of material is broadcast in this process.

Once the entire floor surface is coated and flaked, the coating requires 60 minutes to cure.

As soon as the coating has completely cured, the crew begins to remove all excess flake material.

The floor is scraped with a flat metal-edge tool to knock down any standing flakes and make the flake base coat even and smooth. Once the entire floor is scraped it is again blown and vacuumed to remove any debris.

STEP 5 – CLEAR, DURABLE FLOORTEX® TOP COAT

The clear Floortex® top coat is applied with a squeegee and then back rolled. This process ensures that the top coat has a thick and even layer, which leaves a consistent finish that’s extremely durable.

The top coat requires:

12 hours to cure for light foot traffic
24 hours for everyday use
48 hours before contents can be returned to the garage
96 hours for regular vehicle traffic to resume

Weather and environmental conditions can cause curing times to vary. Your Garage Living design can advise you on curing times.

Finally, our crew will clean up the entire site and load up the truck with their equipment and materials.

GARAGE FLOORING FAQS

What types of garage flooring options do you offer?

For your garage flooring, we offer Floortex®, a premium polyaspartic coating available in a variety of colors, including the classic multi-color flake and the minimalist Stone Series. This top-of-the-line coating not only enhances the aesthetics of your garage but also ensures it’s durable and functional.

How long does it take to install new garage flooring?

The installation of new garage flooring typically takes as little as one day. The process includes surface preparation, applying the base coat, adding decorative flakes, and finishing with a top coat. Floortex™ polyaspartic floor coatings, which Garage Living uses exclusively, cure much faster than traditional epoxy coatings, allowing for a quicker turnaround.

What preparation is required for the garage flooring?

Proper preparation is crucial for a successful garage floor coating application. The entire floor surface must be thoroughly cleaned and free of contaminants. Cracks and imperfections need to be repaired. We then diamond grind the floor to ensure a strong bond between the coating and the concrete. The moisture level, temperature, and humidity are also taken into account during this preparation phase.

How durable are your garage flooring solutions?

Garage Living's Floortex polyaspartic floor coatings are extremely durable, offering several advantages over epoxy coatings. These include high resistance to abrasions, scratches, and impacts, as well as excellent chemical resistance to household and automotive fluids. The coatings are UV stable, preventing yellowing and maintaining their glossy finish over time. Additionally, they are designed to withstand extreme temperatures, making them suitable for year-round application in various climates. Most importantly, these coatings can also withstand heavy vehicle traffic, ensuring long-lasting performance even under the stress of daily use by multiple vehicles.