Epoxy flooring questions, answered
Straight answers. If yours isn't here, ask us on the quote form.
How long does epoxy flooring last?
A well-installed garage coating usually lasts many years, often a decade or more. Commercial floors under heavy traffic or chemicals tend to need a recoat sooner.
The biggest factor is preparation. Floors that are diamond-ground and repaired before coating last far longer than floors that were only cleaned or acid-etched. A UV-stable topcoat, like polyaspartic, also helps the floor keep its colour.
How long does a garage floor coating take to install?
Most residential garages take one to a few days, depending on the slab condition, the size, and the system chosen. Floors that need a lot of crack repair or old-coating removal take longer.
We'll give you a specific schedule with your quote.
How soon can I walk or drive on a new epoxy floor?
Light foot traffic is usually fine after about a day. Vehicles typically need to wait longer, often a few days, so the coating can fully harden. Cure times depend on the products used and on temperature: cold garages cure more slowly.
We'll tell you exactly when you can walk on it and park on it for your floor.
What preparation is needed before installing epoxy flooring?
Good prep means cleaning out the space, diamond grinding the concrete to open its surface, removing old coatings or sealers, repairing cracks and pits, and checking for moisture.
Prep is where most failed floors go wrong. A coating over un-ground or contaminated concrete is much more likely to peel, especially under hot tires.
Can epoxy be installed over existing concrete?
Yes. Most coatings go over existing concrete. The slab needs to be sound, ground, and free of oil, sealers and old coatings that aren't well bonded. Badly damaged or very damp slabs may need repairs or a moisture-mitigating primer first.
Does epoxy flooring crack or peel?
A properly installed floor shouldn't peel. Peeling almost always comes from poor prep, moisture coming up through the slab, or a thin, low-quality product. Cracks in the concrete underneath can show through over time, so we repair existing cracks before coating.
Is epoxy flooring slippery when wet?
A smooth, glossy coating can be slippery when wet. Flake finishes are naturally grippier, and an anti-slip additive in the topcoat adds more traction. For garages in rainy BC, and for commercial kitchens, we normally recommend some texture.
How do I maintain and clean an epoxy garage floor?
Sweep or dust-mop regularly, and wash with warm water and a mild, pH-neutral cleaner. Wipe up oil, fuel and chemicals promptly. Avoid harsh acids and abrasive pads. Mats under parked cars help in winter, when road salt and grit get tracked in.
What are the different types of epoxy floor finishes?
The main options are solid colour, decorative flake (full or partial broadcast), and metallic. Commercial floors may also use quartz-filled or self-levelling systems. Topcoats can be glossy or satin, with or without anti-slip texture.
What colours and flake options are available?
There's a wide range, from greys and tans to bold blends and custom metallic colours. Lighter, mixed flake blends hide dust and tire marks best. Ask for samples with your quote.
What is the difference between epoxy and polyurea/polyaspartic coatings?
Epoxy bonds strongly and builds thickness well, but it cures slowly and can yellow in sunlight. Polyurea and polyaspartic coatings cure faster, are more flexible, and are UV-stable, so they're often used as the topcoat over an epoxy base. Many garage systems combine the two.
Can epoxy be used in a commercial kitchen or food area?
Yes. Seamless resin floors are common in kitchens and food processing because they're easy to sanitize. High heat, hot-water wash-downs and slip resistance all matter, so these areas may need a specific system, such as a urethane cement. Check your health authority's requirements as well.
Is epoxy flooring worth it for a residential garage?
For many homeowners, yes. It seals the concrete against stains and dusting, cleans up easily, and makes the garage feel like part of the house. It's worth it when the slab is sound and the job is prepped properly. If yours needs major repairs first, we'll tell you.
Does epoxy flooring increase home value?
A clean, finished garage helps a home show and sell, but it's hard to put a reliable dollar figure on it. Think of it mainly as an upgrade to how you use the space, and expect a resale benefit to be modest.
How much does an epoxy garage floor cost?
It depends mostly on three things: the size of the garage, the condition of the concrete, and the system you choose. Floors with old paint or sealer, deep cracks, pitting or moisture need more prep, and prep is a big part of the price.
A single-car garage with a sound slab costs less than a large garage that needs grinding off an old coating and crack repair. A decorative metallic finish usually costs more than a standard flake floor.
The quickest way to a real number is to send us photos of the whole floor and the problem spots, plus rough measurements. We'll give you a free written quote that spells out the prep and the system.
Do you install polyaspartic floor coatings?
Yes. We install polyaspartic coatings across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, most often as a clear, UV-stable topcoat over an epoxy and flake base in garages.
Polyaspartic cures much faster than standard epoxy, holds its colour in sunlight and stands up well to abrasion and hot tires. Tell us about your floor and we'll recommend the right system in a free quote.
Can you put epoxy on a new concrete garage floor?
Yes, once the slab has cured and dried enough. New concrete holds a lot of water, and coating it too early can cause bubbling or peeling. Most coating manufacturers ask for at least about 28 days of curing, and sometimes longer in cool, damp weather.
Rather than going by the calendar alone, the slab should be checked for moisture before coating. If you're building a new home or garage, tell us when the slab was poured and we'll tell you honestly whether it's ready.
Metallic epoxy vs flake epoxy: which should I choose?
Flake floors are the practical choice for most working garages. The flake hides dust, small scratches and tire marks, and adds a bit of grip.
Metallic epoxy is a decorative, seamless, high-gloss finish with depth and movement, and every floor turns out a little different. It suits showcase garages, basements, gyms, showrooms and offices. High gloss shows scratches and dust more than flake does, and it can be slippery when wet unless texture is added.
If the space works hard, choose flake. If it is mainly for show, or you want a one-of-a-kind look, metallic is worth considering. We can show you examples of both.
Polished concrete vs epoxy flooring: which should I choose?
Polished concrete is the slab itself, ground, hardened with a densifier and polished. There's no coating on top to peel, and it's very low-maintenance. Epoxy and polyaspartic are coatings that go over the concrete, so they add colour, flake or a seamless decorative finish and seal the surface completely.
Choose polished concrete if you like the look of concrete and want a bright, durable floor with little upkeep. Choose a coating if you want colour or flake, need to hide cracks and patches, or the floor faces oil, chemicals or road salt that could stain bare concrete. We install both and can help you decide.
Is polished concrete slippery?
When it's dry, polished concrete usually has decent grip. When it's wet, a smooth, high-gloss floor can get slippery, especially at entrances and in garages during BC's rainy months.
A lower sheen, an anti-slip treatment, and mats at doors all help. Tell us where the floor is and how it gets used, and we'll recommend a finish that suits it.
Does polished concrete stain?
It can. Concrete is porous, so oil, wine, coffee, acids and harsh cleaners can stain or etch it if they sit. A guard or sealer applied after polishing makes the surface much more stain-resistant, but spills should still be wiped up quickly.
For floors that see a lot of oil, fuel or chemicals, an epoxy or polyaspartic coating is often the better choice.
How do I maintain polished concrete?
Dust-mop regularly so grit doesn't dull the shine, and damp-mop with a pH-neutral cleaner made for polished concrete. Avoid acidic or harsh cleaners, and wipe up spills promptly.
Busy floors may need the guard refreshed from time to time to keep their shine and stain resistance.
Ready to talk about your floor?
Send the size, city and a few photos, and we'll get back to you with next steps.