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Why Concrete Floor Coatings Fail—and What Can Be Done About It
Peeling, hot-tire marks, fading, and bubbling can make a coated floor frustrating to use. The visible damage tells only part of the story. Before recommending a repair, we inspect the concrete and the existing coating to understand what caused the failure.
Legacy Floor Coating helps Phoenix-area homeowners evaluate failing garage floors and other coated concrete surfaces. Here are some common problems we encounter and what we look for.
Peeling or Delamination
When a coating lifts away from the concrete, the bond between them has failed. Possible contributing factors include inadequate surface preparation, moisture moving through the slab, or a coating system unsuitable for the conditions.
What we check: Where the coating is lifting, the condition of the exposed concrete, and whether moisture may be involved. The right repair depends on how widespread the failure is. In some cases, the existing coating needs to be removed before a new system can be installed.
Competitors Failed Coating, Scottsdale, Arizona
Competitors Failed Coating, Fountain Hills, Arizona
Hot-Tire Pickup
If a coating softens, discolors, or lifts where a vehicle is parked, we examine both the coating and the concrete beneath it. The cause may involve the product used, how it was installed or cured, and how well it bonded to the slab.
What we check: Whether the damage is limited to tire areas or appears elsewhere on the floor. That helps us determine whether a localized repair is reasonable or a larger replacement should be considered.
Hot tire pickup, competitors floor, Phoenix, Arizona
Hot tire pickup,
competitors floor,
Peoria, Arizona
Bubbling or Blistering
Bubbles can appear when a coating does not bond or cure as intended. Moisture, surface contamination, and installation conditions are among the factors we assess.
What we check: Whether the bubbles are isolated, when they appeared, and what the concrete looks like underneath. We do not want to cover a symptom while leaving its cause in place.
Excessive Moisture Bubbling, Prescott, AZ
Excessive Moisture Reading, Prescott, AZ
Fading, Yellowing, or Wear
Garages with sunlight exposure, patios, driveways, and pool decks put different demands on a coating. A finish may change appearance or wear sooner than expected if the system does not suit the location and its use.
What we check: Sun exposure, vehicle or foot traffic, cleaning habits, and the existing coating. We then discuss finishes suited to that particular space.
Competitors, faded, Sunburnt, peeling, Patio, Clarkdale, Arizona
Competitors, Faded, Discolored Floor, Sun City, Arizona
Cracks and Concrete Damage
A coating can improve the appearance of concrete, but it does not stop every crack from moving or correct structural problems in a slab. We inspect cracks, chips, and damaged areas before recommending preparation and repairs.
What we check: The extent of the damage and whether it is appropriate for our coating process. If a slab needs substantial structural correction, we will explain that before quoting a coating.
Our Approach to a Failing Floor
We start with an onsite assessment. We look at the coating, inspect the concrete where possible, discuss how the area is used, and check conditions relevant to the replacement system. From there, we explain whether repair, removal, or a new coating system makes sense.
Competitors, failed, peeling, faded, floor coating, Mesa, Arizona
Competitors, failed, peeling, faded, floor coating, Mesa, Arizona
Re-finished, garage floor, Mesa, Arizona
At this Mesa garage, the existing coating was fading, lifting, and showing hot-tire pickup. During our inspection, we found that the concrete had been acid washed rather than diamond ground before the original coating was applied. The coating was also thinner than expected.
We removed the failed coating by diamond grinding, prepared the concrete for the new system, and repaired visible cracks and surface imperfections. We then installed a decorative flake coating with an epoxy base coat and a polyaspartic clear topcoat. The finished floor has a textured, high-gloss appearance.
Have a Coating That Is Peeling or Wearing Out?
Send us photos of the floor and tell us where the damage is occurring. We can discuss the next step and arrange an onsite consultation if needed.