Anyone can spread a garage floor coating on bare concrete—but without the right prep, it won’t last. In Houston’s hot, humid climate, with plenty of vehicle traffic and moisture in the mix, concrete prep (and the selected primer coat) is what separates a short-lived floor from one that holds strong for years. Here’s how professionals handle it.
Without good concrete prep, it’s like trying to slap a sticker onto a surface after forgetting to clean the glass or plastic first. It might adhere for a bit, but it’s going to peel off fairly quickly. We’ve all been there, wishing we would have just wiped it off first!
Concrete coating systems aren’t like stickers, but the general concept applies. Without good prepping of the surface, you shouldn’t expect the adhesion you want from your coating system. Let’s break it down.
What Concrete Prep Really Means
- Definition: Concrete preparation is the process of roughening the surface so a garage floor coating’s primer coat can bond properly.
- Why it matters: A smooth floor doesn’t give the coating anything to grip, while an overly rough surface creates problems of its own. The goal is balance—just enough texture for adhesion without overdoing it.
- Applies everywhere: This isn’t just a garage thing—it matters for commercial floors too.
The Propane Grinder Advantage
Pros in Houston rely on propane grinders because they deliver consistent results.
- Powerful and efficient: They grind evenly and quickly, ideal for large garages.
- Cord-free mobility: No time spent yanking extension cords through the work space (especially if it’s damp).
- Safe indoors: Despite the name, propane grinders are very safe. They emit near-zero exhaust and propane itself has a narrow flammability range.
In short, propane grinders are the best tool to reach the right concrete surface profile without slowing down the job.
Tools We Don’t Trust
Other prep methods exist, but they fall short:
- Acid etching / water jetting: Leaves the floor too smooth, so coatings peel.
- Sandblasting / rotomilling: Go too far, roughening the floor more than necessary for residential garages.
Professionals avoid these because they don’t reliably hit the target surface profile.
Grinding for the Right CSP
The end goal of prep is a proper Concrete Surface Profile (CSP), which basically measures how smooth or rough the concrete surface is. That’s what lets the concrete coating really bond (or “stick” if you’re using our sticker metaphor).
- CSP 1: Smooth like glass, bad for adhesion.
- CSP 10: Extremely rough, not needed for homes.
- Target for garage floor coatings: CSP 3–4.
This “sweet spot” is where the coating bonds securely while keeping the surface clean and even.
Why DIY Projects Fall Short
One-day solutions and DIY kits don’t properly prep the concrete. Without grinding to achieve CSP 3–4, coatings peel under hot tires, crack from moisture, and wear out fast. Houston’s environment only makes those issues worse.
Final Word
At Garage Floor Coatings of Houston, we don’t cut corners. Concrete prep is the difference between a coating that fails and one that lasts, and we take pride in doing it right. Call or email us today and let’s talk about leveling up your garage floor with professional prep and a coating built for Houston conditions.