In New York, weather, moisture, and building conditions all create challenges for concrete floors. A garage floor coating here needs more than a quick turnaround and good looks—it needs long-term durability. Unfortunately, many companies now market 1-day installations as the standard, offering speed without mentioning the crucial step they’re skipping: moisture mitigation.
The Shortcut That Leads to Early Failure
To save time, some contractors apply quick-curing polyaspartic or polyurea coatings directly to bare concrete (instead of starting with a slower-curing, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer). They do this to get the job done in the promised “1-day”.
The problem? The quick-cure polyurea-polyaspartic goes down wafer thin and cures so quickly in the presence of moisture that it doesn’t penetrate the concrete slab deeply. When moisture vapor rises up through the slab in New York’s wet climate, it creates a (hydrostatic) pressure that pushes up on the thin, poorly-penetrating primer coat. Because the entire coating system is only as strong as it’s primer coat, this upward pressure can cause bubbling, peeling, or even full coating system delamination.
What the Experts Recommend
Industry leaders such as Sherwin-Williams (General Polymers), Benjamin Moore (Corotech), Sika, BASF, Euclid Chemical, Tnemec, Stonhard, and Eco-CorFlex all agree: moisture mitigation isn’t optional. Every slab should be tested for moisture, and a 100%-solids, moisture-mitigating epoxy vapor barrier primer should always be applied…before the polyaspartic or polyurea topcoats.
Even the manufacturers of these fast-curing products—ArmorPoxy and VersaFlex—state clearly that polyaspartics and polyureas are meant to be topcoats, not primers.
Why It Matters in New York
Organizations like ASTM International, the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), and AMPP have long required moisture testing, proper surface prep, and epoxy-based vapor barriers beneath resinous coatings. ASTM F3010 sets the standard for vapor control, and ignoring it often voids warranties entirely.
In New York’s older garages and humid seasons, it’s common to see moisture levels exceeding 5–10 lbs MVER or 85–100% RH—far above the 3–4 lbs or 75–80% that 1-day coatings can handle.
The Garage Floor Coating of New York Difference
We’re a 2-day company for a reason. Every floor we install is moisture-tested, primed with a true vapor barrier epoxy like Eco-CorFlex MME, and backed by a warranty that includes moisture protection.
A 1-day garage floor coating may look good at first, but speed won’t protect your floor. Quality will—and that’s what we deliver every time.
Don’t Pay the Price for a Fast Job
A fast garage floor coating may look good at first, but skipping the primer guarantees long-term failure. When it comes to protecting your investment, choose expertise over speed.
GarageFloorCoating.com follows industry standards, uses manufacturer-approved systems, and delivers coatings backed by science—not shortcuts. Choose the company that does it right the first time, so your floor looks incredible and stays that way for decades.