The most important step in any floor coating project happens before the coating goes down. Surface preparation is the difference between a coating that lasts 15 years and one that peels in 15 months. This is where cheap installers cut corners — and it's where we never do.
Diamond Grinding: The Only Way
We use professional diamond grinding equipment on every single job. Here's what diamond grinding does:
- Removes existing coatings, paint, and adhesives
- Eliminates surface contaminants — oil stains, tire marks, chemical residue
- Removes laitance (the thin, weak top layer of concrete)
- Opens the pores of the concrete for a permanent mechanical bond
- Creates a consistent surface profile across the entire floor
We grind wall-to-wall, edge-to-edge, including corners and tight spots. The entire floor gets the same preparation.
Why Not Acid Etching?
Some installers use muriatic acid to "etch" the concrete surface. It's cheaper and faster than diamond grinding, which is exactly why they use it. The problem? Acid etching doesn't create a consistent profile, it leaves chemical residue in the concrete pores, and the resulting bond is dramatically weaker than a diamond-ground surface.
Any floor coater who acid etches is cutting corners. We don't.
Crack and Joint Repair
Before coating, we address every imperfection in your concrete:
- Cracks: Filled with flexible polyurea joint filler that moves with the concrete
- Control joints: Can be filled flush or left visible — your preference
- Spalling: Damaged areas are patched with polymer-modified repair compound
- Pitting: Surface imperfections are filled and smoothed before coating
Surface Prep Is Included
You don't pay extra for proper prep. Diamond grinding and crack repair are included in every floor coating project. It's not an upsell — it's the bare minimum for a job done right.
