If you’re interested in getting a garage floor coating in Tucson, you’ll find that you’re faced with two popular options, Firstly, a 1-day polyurea-polyaspartic system or, secondly, a 2-day epoxy and polyaspartic system. On the surface, the 1-day installation might seem like the more attractive choice. Who doesn’t want a quick turnaround on a disruptive installation in the home? Unfortunately, in choosing “rushed” garage floor coatings, you’re accepting speed over quality. You’ll be scratching your head at peeling and cracking floors a couple years (or even months) down the road.
However, let’s take a deeper look into both systems and explore why a 2-day installation might be the best long-term solution for your garage.
Garage Floor Coatings: The Realities of a 1-Day System
While the convenience of a 1-day installation is tempting, this quick approach can often sacrifice quality. In 1-day coating systems, polyurea-polyaspartic coatings are applied as both the primer (direct-to-concrete) coat and single clear top coat. These coatings cure very quickly and this allows the applicator to meet the “1 day” promise. However, the Achilles heel with these coatings is that they cure even quicker in the presence of moisture in the concrete. So quick, in fact, that when used as a primer coat under medium to high moisture conditions, they fail to deeply penetrate and bond with the concrete substrate.
Additionally, these coatings can only be applied in thin layers. As such. the primer coat and single top coat are wafer thin. These problems leave 1-day coating systems vulnerable to issues down the road.
Here are the common issues that arise with 1-day coatings:
- Thin Coatings: Polyurea-polyaspartic coatings are applied in thin layers. This leaves your floor less protected from impacts, moisture, and wear.
- No Moisture Protection: Without a proper moisture vapor barrier as the primer coat (i.e., like a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer), the polyurea-polyaspartic has a tendency to delaminate. Over time, moisture from the ground seeps up through the concrete and causes the thin, weakly bonded coating to peel, crack, or bubble.
- Limited Warranty Coverage: Many 1-day contractors exclude moisture-related issues from their warranties, leaving you to deal with costly repairs if your floor begins to fail. Given that moisture-related issues are the number 1 reason for coating failures, this is a huge omission.
Garage Floor Coatings: The Benefits of a 2-Day Epoxy and Polyaspartic System
Conversely, the 2-day system, while requiring one extra installation day, offers a much higher level of protection and durability for your garage floor. It’s an investment in quality that’s built to last. Here’s why:
- Moisture Mitigation: The 2-day system starts with a thick, moisture-mitigating 100%-solids epoxy primer. This coating acts as a moisture vapor barrier. It deeply penetrates the concrete and forms a strong bond (it has the time to; it is allowed to cure for a full day). This thick, epoxy layer prevents moisture/hydrostatic pressure from pushing the coating away from the concrete substrate.
- Thicker, More Durable Coating: With the additional time, we apply two clear topcoat layers (not only one) of our 100%-solids polyaspartic. With the thick epoxy primer and dual polyaspartic topcoats (that sandwich the full flake broadcast), the coating is over 35 mils thick. Almost twice the thickness of a 1-day coatings, this approach ensures a more durable floor coating system.
- UV and Chemical Resistance: The polyaspartic topcoat provides exceptional resistance to UV rays, chemical spills, and stains. With Tucson’s high exposure to sunlight, this is critical in preventing your garage floor from fading or yellowing over time.
- Increased Longevity: A 2-day installation ensures that the moisture -mitigating epoxy primer coat has time to properly bond and cure. This results in a garage floor that lasts much longer than a rushed 1-day system.
Why the 2-Day System is Perfect for Tucson’s Climate
Tucson’s climate is unique—hot, dry summers and cooler nights create challenges for garage floors that aren’t properly installed. The 2-day system addresses these challenges head-on:
- Temperature Fluctuations: The constant exposure to high temperatures, followed by cooler desert nights, can put stress on concrete. The 2-day system’s moisture-mitigating epoxy helps manage any moisture trapped in the concrete, reducing the risk of cracking or peeling.
- UV Resistance: Tucson’s blazing sun can break down coatings over time, causing them to yellow or fade. The dual polyaspartic topcoats used in the 2-day system provide long-lasting UV protection.
- Durability Under Heat: The 2-day system’s thicker application ensures that it can withstand the high hydrostatic pressure (from moisture wicking up through the concrete) and wear and tear.
Get a Free Quote Today
At GarageFloorCoating.com Tucson, we prioritize quality and durability. If you’re looking for a garage floor that can stand up to Tucson’s challenging climate and even last a couple of decades, contact us today for a free quote. Our 2-day epoxy and polyaspartic system is the long-term solution your garage deserves.