When you’re comparing garage flooring options, unfamiliar terms can make the process feel more complicated than it needs to be. This mini-dictionary breaks each concept down clearly so you can evaluate installers and systems with confidence.
Epoxy Coatings
A reactive two-part material made by blending a resin with a hardener. Epoxy cures into a thick, highly adhesive layer that bonds tightly to concrete. In professional garage flooring systems, a moisture-mitigating epoxy is used as the direct-to-concrete primer and broadcast coat because it provides the strength and stability needed to handle Upstate New York’s road salt, snowmelt, and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.
Moisture Mitigation
Concrete continuously emits moisture vapor, and in humid or variable climates, that vapor can cause peeling, bubbling, or complete delamination. Moisture mitigation requires the application of a direct-to-concrete, 100%-solids, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer as a vapor barrier. It cures slowly, penetrates deeply into the concrete slab, and prevents moisture from wicking up through the coating system. 2-day installations include this essential step; 1-day systems (in pursuit of speed) often skip it.
Concrete Paint
A very thin, cosmetic surface coating meant only to add color. Because it doesn’t chemically bond to the concrete and cannot handle hot tires, moisture, or winter runoff, concrete paint breaks down quickly. It is not a true garage floor coating.
Polyaspartic
A UV-stable, fast-curing clear topcoat that protects the underlying moisture-mitigating epoxy and flake layers. Polyaspartic offers exceptional UV, chemical, stain, and abrasion resistance—important for garages exposed to sunlight and road contaminants. It performs best as the clear final layer in a multi-layer system…but never as a direct-to-concrete primer coat.
Polyurethane
Another type of clear coat used in some systems. While durable, polyurethane is generally less UV-stable and less chemically resistant than polyaspartic. For exterior-facing garages or spaces that see temperature swings, polyaspartic is the preferred long-term protective finish.
Flake/Full-Flake
In a flake epoxy system, colored polyvinyl acetate (PVA thermoplastic) and/or mica mineral flakes are broadcast into the wet epoxy to add traction, color variation, and visual depth. A full-flake system covers the entire surface, creating a thicker, more uniform finish that enhances durability—ideal for the high-use garage spaces common in Upstate New York homes.
Garage Floor Coating
A multi-layer installation made up of a moisture-mitigating primer, full-flake coverage, and 100%-solid polyaspartic topcoats. Together, these components create seamless, long-lasting garage flooring that significantly outperforms paint, DIY kits, and compressed 1-day systems.
Want garage flooring built for Upstate New York winters? Garage Floor Coating of New York installs premium long-lasting systems engineered for real-world durability. Request your free quote today.