Preparation is the entire job
If you remember one thing about concrete coatings, let it be this: the coating is only as good as the surface it bonds to. The most expensive, premium coating in the world will peel off a slab that wasn't prepared. That is why we spend more time on prep than on the coating itself.
Step 1: Remove existing coatings and contamination
Old paint, sealer, mastic, and oil all have to come off. We use diamond grinding to cut through existing coatings and expose clean concrete. Oil-contaminated areas get extra attention, because oil that soaks deep into the slab will prevent adhesion unless it is fully removed.
Step 2: Mechanically profile the surface
The goal is a CSP-2 surface profile — a lightly roughened, open-pore texture that gives the coating something to mechanically lock into. We achieve it with heavy planetary diamond grinders and dust-containment vacuums. Acid-etching is the cheap substitute, and it does not create the same mechanical bond.
Step 3: Repair cracks, pits, and joints
Every crack, spall, and control joint is chased with a blade, cleaned, and filled with a fast-curing polymer mender that cures harder than the concrete around it. We then grind it flush so the repair disappears under the coating. Skipping this leaves visible cracks and weak points that telegraph through the finish.
Step 4: Check for moisture
Concrete that is wicking up ground moisture will reject a coating. We check for moisture issues and existing sealer — especially in basements and outdoor slabs — and flag any problems before coating. A wet slab has to be addressed at the source, not coated over.
Then, and only then, do we coat
Once the slab is clean, profiled, repaired, and dry, it is ready for the base coat, flake broadcast, and polyaspartic top coat. That preparation is exactly why our floors stay down. You can see the full process on our process page, or request a free estimate to have us prep your floor the right way.
Get a Free Estimate for Your Floor
Reading is a start — let us come measure your actual slab and give you an honest quote. Free, no-pressure, on-site.
