Frequently Asked Questions

HomeGuide's national range for installed epoxy is $4 to $10 per square foot, which is about $1,600 to $5,800 for a two-car garage. Polyaspartic and flake systems run higher, and work like removing old paint or repairing salt scaling adds to the total. We give a written price after we see the floor.

At HomeGuide's $4 to $10 per square foot, 1,000 square feet comes to roughly $4,000 to $10,000 for epoxy. At its polyaspartic range of $5 to $12, it is about $5,000 to $12,000. Large basements and shop floors that size vary with moisture and crack repair, so the on-site estimate sets the price.

Epoxy needs a dry, well-prepared slab, and it can peel if moisture or oil is trapped under it. HomeGuide notes that solid epoxy can take about 7 days to fully cure, can turn brittle in extreme temperatures and can be slippery when wet. A UV-stable topcoat, added texture and proper prep address most of these, but they have to be planned at the start.

Yes, when the concrete is sound and dry. Epoxy bonds well to a diamond-ground slab and seals it against oil, brine and dust. It is a poor choice over an active leak, a heaving slab or an old coating that is coming loose, and those problems have to be fixed first.

Most kits rely on acid etching, which cleans the surface but does not remove salt-damaged concrete or old sealers. HomeGuide says water-based coatings may need recoating every 3 to 5 years. Hot tires coming in off winter roads can then lift a thin coat that never fully bonded.

Coatings need a warm enough slab and air to cure, and each product lists its own minimums. HomeGuide describes polyaspartic as having a much wider application temperature range than epoxy. In cold months we check slab temperature, may heat the space, and reschedule if conditions are not right.

HomeGuide's national range for a two-car garage is $1,600 to $5,800 for epoxy and $2,000 to $6,900 for polyaspartic. Salt scaling, an old coating that has to come off, and the finish you choose move the price. You get a written number after we see the floor.

It depends on the system and the temperature. Bob Vila's polyaspartic guide says vehicles can usually go on after about 24 hours, while epoxy often needs about 3 days. We give you a specific time for your floor.

A smooth, glossy coating can be slick when wet. Flake floors have built-in texture, and we can mix an anti-slip aggregate into the topcoat on solid-color floors. That matters on a floor that sees snowmelt all winter.

Often, yes. Cracks get filled and pitted areas get patched before coating. If the slab is heaving, broken into loose sections or has a structural crack, we tell you a coating is the wrong fix and explain what the slab needs first.

HomeGuide puts installed epoxy at $4 to $10 per square foot, and says flakes, custom colors or patterns add about $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot. A full broadcast costs more than a partial because it uses more chips. We price your floor after measuring it.

Yes. The chips create a slight texture under the clear coat, which gives more grip than a smooth, glossy finish. For extra traction near doors and on steps, we can add fine aggregate to the topcoat.

Medium blends of gray, tan and black hide dust and dried salt well. Very light blends show tire marks, and very dark blends show white salt residue. Seeing samples on your own slab is the most reliable way to choose.

Usually the old coating has to come off first. If it is peeling anywhere, a new coat on top will peel with it. We grind it off as part of prep and include that in the written quote.

It cures faster, stays clear in sunlight and can go down in a wider temperature range. Epoxy builds thicker and costs less. Many garages get an epoxy base with a polyaspartic topcoat, which uses the strengths of each.

Bob Vila's guide says foot traffic after about 3 to 4 hours and vehicles after about 24 hours. HomeGuide puts full cure at 1 to 2 days. Cold slabs slow that down, so we give you times for your install day.

HomeGuide lists an application range of -30°F to 140°F for polyaspartic. In practice we follow the product's data sheet for slab temperature and dew point, and we may heat the garage. If it is too cold to do well, we reschedule.

It sets in minutes, so it has to be mixed and spread quickly and evenly. HomeGuide notes that the fumes require ventilation and protective equipment. Mistakes are hard to fix once it sets.

Sometimes. If testing shows moderate vapor, a moisture-tolerant primer can make it work. If water is pooling or coming through cracks, that has to be fixed first, because no coating will stop active water.

HomeGuide's basement range is $1,200 to $20,000, depending on size and how much of the floor is covered, and $4 to $10 per square foot for installed epoxy. Moisture work, tile removal and crack repair add to that. We price your basement after testing it.

A coating does not add insulation, so it feels about as cool as bare concrete. Many people add area rugs in living areas. In laundry and workshop spaces, the easy cleanup usually matters more.

Yes, if you plan to use the space more. Wisconsin DHS says about 1 in 10 Wisconsin homes has high radon and kits cost $10 to $30. A coating does not reduce radon, and a mitigation system is easier to add before the floor is done.

HomeAdvisor lists commercial and industrial 100% solids epoxy at $12 or more per square foot, and says commercial-grade coatings can add 20% to 30% to a job. Slab repair, phasing and specialty topcoats change the total. We quote after a site walk.

Usually in part. We can split the floor into sections, work nights or weekends, and use fast-curing topcoats so each area returns sooner. We plan the phasing with you before work starts.

A thick 100% solids system on a ground slab handles forklift traffic well. Thin coatings wear through quickly under wheels. We size the build to your traffic.

Yes, if the slab is sound. Older outbuilding slabs can be thin or cracked, so we look at them first. Fluids, mud and salt clean up much more easily from a sealed floor.

Yes. Cracks and pits show through a coating, and loose concrete will lift it. We fill and grind repairs flush before the base coat goes down.

HomeAdvisor lists minor patching at $25 to $250. HomeGuide says repairs or resurfacing added to a coating job run about $1 to $5 per square foot. Widespread scaling may call for resurfacing at $3 to $7 per square foot.

Usually. We grind off the loose surface, rebuild the deeper spots and, if the damage covers most of the floor, resurface it. Then the coating seals it against more salt.

Warning signs include a crack that keeps widening, one side sitting higher than the other, or a slab that moves with the seasons. Those need a foundation or concrete contractor first. We tell you if we see them.