When it comes to garage floors, longevity is key. If you’re like most homeowners in Phoenix, you’re probably looking for a flooring solution that can handle the intense Arizona heat, daily wear and tear, and still look great decades down the line. So, let’s talk about why a 2-day system is your best bet for long-lasting garage floors that can last upwards of 20 years or more.
Long-Lasting Garage Floors: The 2-Day System
A properly installed 2-day system isn’t just another garage upgrade. It’s an investment. The process starts with a thick, moisture-mitigating 100%-solids epoxy primer that acts as a moisture vapor barrier (we never apply a polyurea as primer; we’ll explain why).
This thick, slow curing, deeply penetrating primer coat provides the best protection against the most common issue with garage floors: moisture. In a place like Phoenix, moisture might not seem like an issue, but even in the desert, ground moisture can rise up through your porous concrete and weaken the bond between the concrete slab and primer coating. That’s why this moisture-mitigating epoxy primer is so critical.
After the initial epoxy primer layer (and full flake broadcast), we apply two clear polyaspartic topcoats, not just one. The dual polyaspartic coats provide protection against UV rays, hot tire transfer, staining from automotive fluids, and daily wear. (Unlike a high-build epoxy, polyaspartics can only go down thinly. This is precisely why we apply two polyaspartic coats…while 1-day systems apply a single coat of a less-than-100%-solids coating only). The dual layers, combined with the thick epoxy primer, create a 35 mil+ thick, durable coating system designed to handle Phoenix’s extreme weather. Because the epoxy primer is a slower-curing product, the installation stretches to 2-days instead of one. However, 2-day installations are the gold standard for longevity.
Why 1-Day Systems Don’t Last
The 1-day system is tempting. Quick, in and out, done in a day, right? But that’s where the problems start. In order to complete the installation in 1-day, these systems use quick-curing polyurea-polyaspartics as both the primer and topcoats. And it’s use as a primer coat is the real problem!
Polyurea-polyaspartics have an interesting property. These fast-curing coatings cure even faster in the presence of moisture (in the concrete or the air). They cure so quickly, that the coating fails to sufficiently penetrate and bond with the concrete slab in medium to high moisture conditions. So the primer in 1-day systems are wafer-thin and poorly penetrating. Without a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer, the moisture protection is minimal. Over time, this shortcut leads to peeling.
But the worst part? Even 1-day system installers know their method has flaws. They often include warranty exclusions for “moisture-related issues”, because moisture is the most common reason for floor coating failures. And without proper moisture mitigation, those failures are inevitable.
Long-Lasting Garage Floors: Why the 2-Day System Outperforms
A 2-day system ensures that the epoxy primer layer has the time to cure properly (we allow one full day). The slow cure enables deep concrete penetration and bonding, creating a moisture vapor barrier. This, along with the dual polyaspartic topcoats (not 1) produces a floor coating system that lasts for decades. In the 2-day process, the moisture-mitigating primer sets the foundation, and the dual polyaspartic topcoats build on it. Each layer is carefully applied, making sure your floor can handle whatever life throws at it. In Phoenix, with extreme temperatures, this kind of durability is essential.
Other Flooring Options: Quicker Deterioration
Compared to epoxy floors, options like rushed “1-day” installs, concrete sealers or paints are simply no match. These coatings may work for a short time, but they break down fast under the stress of hot tires, heavy loads, moisture and chemical spills. Over time, these options need to be re-applied more frequently, costing you time and money. They simply don’t offer the same level of moisture protection as a 2-day system.
Conclusion
At GarageFloorCoating.com, we’ve been continuously testing and refining our process to ensure that your garage floor stands the test of time. If you’re in Phoenix and want a floor that can last for decades, contact us today. We take pride in providing long-lasting garage floors that won’t fail under pressure.