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Why Your Garage Floor Coating Is Peeling (and How to Fix It)
August 12, 2024

Few things are more frustrating than investing in a garage floor coating—only to watch it bubble, peel, or flake within months. Whether you installed it yourself or hired a cheap contractor, peeling epoxy or polyaspartic floors are a common complaint.

At DFW Flake & Epoxy, we get called in all the time to repair failed coatings. In this blog, we break down the real reasons garage floor coatings peel, how to prevent it, and why professional installation makes all the difference.

Top 5 Reasons Garage Floor Coatings Peel

1. Poor Surface Preparation

The number one cause of failure is improper prep. If the concrete surface isn't correctly ground, cleaned, or profiled, the coating won't bond.

  • 🛑 What went wrong: Skipping diamond grinding or using just acid etching.
  • Fix: Professional prep with industrial grinders ensures a clean, porous surface for bonding.

2. Moisture Vapor Problems

Concrete may look dry, but moisture can still seep through from below. This invisible vapor lifts the coating, causing bubbles and peeling.

  • 🛑 What went wrong: No moisture testing before applying epoxy.
  • Fix: At DFW Flake & Epoxy, we use moisture meters to test slabs and apply vapor barriers when needed.

3. Wrong Product for the Environment

Not all epoxies are created equal. Using water-based or low-solids epoxy in high-traffic or outdoor settings leads to failure.

  • 🛑 What went wrong: Choosing a DIY kit or low-grade materials.
  • Fix: We use commercial-grade epoxy and UV-stable polyaspartic systems suited to your space.

4. Poor Weather or Application Conditions

Temperature and humidity play a big role in how coatings cure. Applying in the wrong conditions leads to bubbling, soft spots, and adhesion issues.

  • 🛑 What went wrong: Installing during extreme heat or cold without experience.
  • Fix: We schedule coatings during optimal conditions—or use products designed for variable climates.

5. No Topcoat or Improper Curing

A missing or incorrect topcoat can expose the base layer to moisture and wear. And rushing the cure time ruins the finish before it sets.

  • 🛑 What went wrong: Incomplete coating systems or impatience.
  • Fix: Every DFW installation includes a top-tier polyaspartic topcoat and proper curing time.

How to Fix Peeling Garage Floor Coatings

Fixing peeling epoxy or polyaspartic coatings isn’t just a quick touch-up—it often requires grinding the surface down to bare concrete and reapplying the entire system.

That’s why we recommend:

  • Full removal of failed coatings
  • Concrete moisture testing
  • Reinstallation using commercial-grade products
  • Optional vapor barrier or primer layer

How DFW Flake & Epoxy Prevents Peeling from the Start

Here’s why our floors don’t fail:

Industrial Surface Prep
We diamond grind every slab to ensure strong adhesion.

Moisture Testing
We don’t skip vapor checks—and we apply mitigation if needed.

Premium Materials
Our epoxy and polyaspartic systems are proven to last for decades.

Expert Installation
Every team member is trained to handle environmental variables, curing protocols, and detail work.

Peeling garage floor coatings aren’t just ugly—they’re a sign of poor prep, bad products, or rushed installation. Whether you're dealing with flaking, bubbling, or full coating failure, we can help.

📞 Let DFW Flake & Epoxy Floor Coatings repair or replace your garage coating the right way—so it lasts. Free estimates available now.