Coating your garage floor is a process, not a single step. From the moment bare concrete is evaluated to the final topcoat, each stage plays a role in how well the floor performs in Arizona heat and dry conditions. When any part of that timeline is rushed or skipped, an epoxy floor coating is far more likely to fail early.
Here’s what the full process should look like when it’s done right.
Step One: Evaluating Cracks and Concrete Movement
Every professional installer starts with the same understanding. There are two types of concrete: concrete that’s cracked, and concrete that’s going to crack. Even in Tucson’s dry climate, slabs expand and contract as temperatures change.
Before a garage floor coating is installed, existing cracks must be repaired using a flexible elastomeric filler. This allows the repair to move with the slab instead of resisting it, helping mitigate inevitable shifting that can show through the finished coating over time.
Step Two: Mechanically Preparing the Concrete Surface
Once cracks are addressed, surface preparation begins. Sweeping, degreasing, or acid etching are not enough to properly prepare concrete for epoxy.
Professional installers use diamond grinding equipment to open the pores of the concrete and create the correct surface profile. This mechanical process removes weak or contaminated concrete and allows the epoxy floor coating to form a strong, long-lasting bond with the slab.
Step Three: Testing for Moisture Inside the Concrete
All concrete contains moisture. Before applying any coatings, installers must test concrete moisture levels using calibrated meters. Even in arid regions, moisture vapor can travel up through the slab and compromise adhesion.
When readings are elevated (they are in most concrete slabs), a slower-curing, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer must be the first coat applied to concrete (never a quick-cure polyurea or polyaspartic). The thick epoxy primer acts as a moisture vapor barrier protecting your coating system from future moisture-related issues.
From Prep to Finish: A Floor Built to Last
With preparation complete, the system can be installed. In many cases, high-quality systems require a 2-day installation rather than a rushed 1-day approach. This allows each layer to cure properly and perform as intended.
If you’re considering an epoxy floor coating for your Tucson garage, the process matters just as much as the product. GarageFloorCoating.com (Tucson) specializes in professional surface prep, flexible crack repair, and moisture-mitigating systems designed for long-term performance.
You can also use the Live Coatings Visualizer to preview how an epoxy floor coating could look in your actual garage (or other part of your home) before moving forward. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward a garage floor built to last.