Salt and freeze-thaw
Brine carried in on tires soaks into the slab, then freezes. That expansion is what pits and spalls the surface over time.
Exterior painting · Floor coatings
Garage & Shop Floor Coating in Edmonton
An Edmonton garage floor spends every winter under salt-laden slush dripping off a vehicle. Bare concrete drinks that in, and the salt works away at it from the inside. A proper coating seals the slab and turns it into something you can actually sweep clean.
- Typical job
- 2–3 days
- Key step
- Mechanical grinding
- Finish
- Sealed and washable
Why garage floors need coating
Road salt is the reason concrete floors fail here.
Bare concrete is porous. Salt water soaks in, then freezes and expands inside the slab, breaking it apart from within — that is what causes the pitted, flaking surface you see on older Edmonton garage floors. Sealing the concrete stops the water getting in.
Grinding, not just cleaning
Concrete has to be mechanically opened up so the coating can key into it. A coating over a sealed or dirty slab will peel in sheets.
Actually cleanable
A coated floor sweeps and mops. Bare concrete holds oil, dust, and salt stains permanently, no matter how hard you scrub.
What's included
What a floor coating job involves.
Almost every failed garage floor coating we get called about failed for the same reason: the concrete was rolled rather than ground. Preparation is not the part to economise on here.
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- Cleared and cleanedFloor emptied, swept, and degreased — oil stains treated specifically, since coating will not bond over them.
- Mechanically groundThe slab is ground to open the surface profile. This is the single step that decides whether the coating stays down.
- Cracks and pits filledChips, spalled patches, and cracks filled with a repair compound and levelled before coating.
- Moisture checkedSlabs that push moisture up from below need a different product. We test rather than assume.
- Primer and base coatPrimer keyed into the ground profile, then the base colour coat applied evenly across the slab.
- Flake and topcoat if chosenDecorative flake broadcast into the base if you want it, then a clear topcoat for abrasion and chemical resistance.
How it works
From bare slab to finished floor.
- AssessmentWe check the slab for moisture, cracks, oil contamination, and previous coatings before recommending a system.
- Written quoteSystem, colour, flake choice, repair scope, and how long the garage is out of use — in writing.
- Grind and repairFloor ground to profile, cracks and pits filled, and the whole slab vacuumed clean.
- CoatPrimer, base coat, flake if chosen, then the clear topcoat — each layer within its recoat window.
- Cure and returnWe tell you exactly when to walk on it and when to drive on it. Those are different dates.
Measured and priced on siteQuoted per project
Free quote. A standard double garage is roughly 400–600 sq. ft.
Get your exact pricePricing
What garage floor coating costs in Edmonton.
Floor coatings are measured and priced on site, driven by the system you choose and the condition of the slab. A newer floor needing only grinding and coating sits well below one needing extensive crack and spall repair first.
System choicePenetrating sealer is the cheapest; polyaspartic with a full flake broadcast is the most expensive.
Slab conditionCracks, spalling, and pitting all need filling and levelling before any coating goes down.
Oil contaminationLong-standing oil stains need specific treatment, and deeply saturated concrete sometimes cannot be coated at all.
Existing coatingsA previous failing coating has to be ground off completely, which adds significant prep time.
FAQ
Garage floor coating questions, answered.
Wondering if your slab is a good candidate? Send a few photos and we will tell you.
Get a free quoteHow much does a garage floor coating cost in Edmonton?
It depends on the system and the slab's condition, so we measure and quote on site. A penetrating sealer costs considerably less than a full flake system with a clear topcoat, and a slab needing crack and spall repair costs more than one that only needs grinding. A standard double garage is roughly 400 to 600 square feet. Every quote is free and in writing.
Why do garage floor coatings peel?
Almost always because the concrete was not mechanically ground before coating. Concrete straight from the trowel is tight and sealed, and a coating rolled onto it has nothing to grip — it can look perfect for a season, then lift in sheets when a hot tire sits on it. Grinding is the step that makes it permanent.
Can you coat a floor that already has a failing coating?
Yes, but the old coating has to be ground off completely first, which is real work and gets quoted as its own line. Coating over a failing system just means the new coat comes up along with the old one. If your floor is currently flaking, expect stripping to be a meaningful part of the price.
Will it handle hot tires?
A properly ground and coated floor will. Hot tire pickup — where a warm tire lifts the coating as it cools and grips — is the classic failure of a rolled-on floor paint over unprepared concrete. Grinding, the right primer, and a genuine topcoat is what prevents it.
How long is the garage out of use?
Typically two to three days. You can usually walk on it after about 24 hours and drive on it after 48 to 72, depending on the system and the temperature. Polyaspartic cures faster than epoxy and works better in a cold garage, which is why it is worth considering for winter work.
Can you do this in winter?
In a heated garage, yes. In an unheated one, it depends on the product — epoxy needs warmth to cure properly, while polyaspartic tolerates much lower temperatures. We will tell you which option your space can actually support rather than coating something that will not cure.
From the blog
Garage Floor Coating guides for Edmonton homeowners
Why Paint Peels — and How to Stop It Happening Again
If your paint is peeling, the paint is rarely the problem. Here are the three real causes and what actually prevents them.
Read the guide
When Can You Paint a House Exterior in Alberta?
The exterior window here is short and it books out fast. Here is what actually decides whether a coating will cure — and when to get your quote in.
Read the guide
