If you’re in upstate New York, particularly in the Horseheads area, you know that weather can be difficult. Snow, rain, and hot summers can wreak havoc on any garage floor. But when it comes to garage floor coatings, how long can you expect them to last? With the right materials and installation—specifically a 2-day system—your epoxy floor could last 20 years or even more. In this blog, we’ll discuss the science behind long-lasting garage floor coatings.
The Problem with 1-Day Systems in Upstate New York
1-day systems might seem like a convenient option, but they often aren’t built to handle the harsh winters and high humidity of upstate New York. These systems use a polyurea-polyaspartic as both the primer (direct-to-concrete) coat and final clear topcoat. The problem is using these coatings as primers because they don’t properly mitigate for moisture. And moisture-mitigation is crucial in areas where snow and rain are regular visitors. Without this primer, moisture can seep through the concrete, creating hydrostatic pressures, cracking and peeling coatings within a few short years.
Why? Because (i) quick-curing polyurea-polyaspartics cure even quicker in the presence of moisture (so they don’t properly penetrate and bond with the concrete), and (ii) they can only be applied thinly. The result? Thin, poorly-bonded coatings lead to early failure, especially in places like Horseheads.
Long-Lasting Garage Floor Coatings: 2-Day Systems
Our 2-day system offers a long-lasting solution. The first day focuses on applying a high-build (read “thick”) moisture-mitigating 100%-solids epoxy primer which creates a moisture vapor barrier. This slow-curing primer deeply penetrates and strongly bonds with the concrete. It mitigates against moisture that may wick its way up the porous concrete. After a full day of curing, Day 2 involves the application two polyaspartic topcoats (not 1 like 1-day coatings). The dual topcoats offer extreme protection from UV rays, stains, and chemical spills.
What sets the 2-day system apart is how well each layer is designed to work together. The epoxy provides the protection against moisture-related issues, while the polyaspartic topcoats offer UV, stain, chemical and impact protection. Together, they create a garage floor coating that can last well over 20 years, even in the challenging conditions of upstate New York.
Quality Eco-Corflex Coatings: The Best in the Business
At Garage Floor Coating of New York, we use only the best 100%-solids coating products—Eco-Corflex—which have been tested for over 25 years. Our experience and commitment to quality mean we’re able to offer some of the strongest warranties in the business and long-lasting garage floor coatings. You can rest easy knowing your garage floor will be protected for decades.
For those in Horseheads and the surrounding areas, our 2-day system ensures a durable and long-lasting garage floor coating that can handle everything the weather throws at it.
