Upstate New York homeowners deal with heavy snow, spring rains, and year-round humidity that can wreak havoc on garage floors. If you’re considering “1-day” polyurea or polyaspartic floor coatings, here’s what industry experts want you to know.
Do I Need Moisture Mitigation in Upstate New York?
Yes. Snowmelt and rain saturate the ground, and concrete naturally absorbs moisture. Over time, that moisture vapor migrates upward through the slab. If you apply quick-curing polyurea or polyaspartic floor coatings directly to bare concrete, trapped vapor creates hydrostatic pressure that leads to bubbling, peeling, and delamination—often within the first year.
Are Polyaspartic Floor Coatings Enough on Their Own?
No. While polyaspartic floor coatings are excellent topcoats, they cure way too quickly to penetrate deeply into the concrete slab. Leading manufacturers like Sika, Dur-A-Flex, and General Polymers recommend a slow-curing, 100%-solids, moisture-mitigating epoxy floor coating primer first. This moisture-mitigating coating seals vapor pathways and forms a strong mechanical bond that ensures long-term durability.
What Do Industry Standards Say?
ASTM International, ACI, and ICRI all set guidelines requiring:
- Moisture testing before installation
- CSP (Concrete Surface Profile) surface preparation
- Application of a moisture vapor barrier epoxy primer under any low-permeability coatings, like polyaspartic floor coatings
ASTM F3010 specifically outlines moisture mitigation protocols that 1-day companies often skip to save time.
Why Are 1-Day Warranties a Red Flag?
Many companies offering 1-day installs promise long warranties (e.g., “limited lifetime”), but most exclude moisture-related failures or set strict moisture tolerance limits that make claims nearly impossible.
At Garage Floor Coating of New York, we follow a 2-day process: testing, preparation, moisture-mitigating epoxy primer, and only then, the premium 100%-solids polyaspartic floor coatings. Our warranty fully covers all moisture-related failures—because we do the job right the first time.
What Should I Do Next?
Protect your investment by choosing a company that follows industry standards and prioritizes moisture mitigation. With Garage Floor Coating of New York, you’ll get a floor built to withstand Upstate New York’s harshest conditions season after season.