Most homeowners want to do their part before we arrive. Good news: your job is simple. Here's exactly what to do (and what not to do) to get your garage ready for a professional polyaspartic or epoxy coating install.
What You Need to Do Before Install Day
- Move vehicles out. All cars, motorcycles, and anything motorized needs to be out of the garage before we arrive and stay out until the floor cures (4–6 hours for polyaspartic).
- Clear the floor of items on wheels. Tool chests, shop vacs, bikes, lawn equipment — move them out or at least to one side so we can section the floor if needed. We'll work around wall-mounted items.
- Remove floor mats and cardboard. Anything sitting on the concrete slab should come up.
- Note any active leaks or water intrusion. If water comes in under the garage door or through cracks during rain, tell us before we start. Active moisture issues need to be addressed before coating.
- Give us about 4 hours of uninterrupted access. We handle everything else.
What We Handle
Our crew handles all surface preparation. You do not need to:
- Clean or degrease the floor — we diamond grind the surface, which removes contamination
- Fill cracks yourself — we assess and fill as part of the install
- Rent or buy any equipment
- Apply acid etch or any chemicals
Homeowners who try to "pre-clean" with degreasers or pressure washing sometimes create new problems. Wet concrete or residual cleaning product can affect adhesion. Leave the surface prep to us.
One thing that genuinely helps: If you know of any spots where oil has soaked into the concrete — old drip spots, transmission fluid — point them out when we arrive. Deep oil contamination sometimes requires additional prep steps that are easier to plan for upfront.
The Day of Install — What to Expect
Here's the typical sequence for a standard 2-car garage:
- Arrival: We set up, mask walls and door frames, and do a final assessment of the concrete.
- Diamond grinding (60–90 min): Industrial diamond grinders remove surface laitance and create the mechanical bond profile. Dust extraction keeps mess minimal.
- Crack and joint repair (15–30 min): We fill visible cracks, spalls, and control joints.
- Base coat application (30–45 min): Polyaspartic base coat applied by roller and squeegee.
- Flake broadcast (15 min): Full-coverage vinyl flake broadcast while base coat is wet.
- Topcoat application (30–45 min): UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat sealed over flake.
- Cure time (4–6 hours): Walk on the floor after 4 hours; park on it same evening.
- Cleanup: We clean up completely before leaving.
Texas-Specific Considerations
Summer installs in Fort Bend County require special attention to timing. Polyaspartic applies well in heat — but we typically avoid installing when garage surface temps exceed 130°F (which can happen on a July afternoon through a west-facing door). Morning installs are standard practice in summer months.
If you're scheduling a summer install, plan for an early-morning start. We'll confirm timing when we schedule.
Ready to Schedule? Free Estimate First.
We'll look at your floor, tell you what prep it needs, and give you a firm price. Katy TX and Fort Bend County, same-week availability.
📞 Call (281) 503-5313Also see: How long to stay off a new coating → | Can you coat in summer in Texas? →