When you start shopping for garage flooring in Dallas, you’ll hear a lot of technical terms—some accurate, some stretched, and some thrown around to make a quick-cure 1-day system sound more impressive than it is. Learn these core terms, and you’ll be able to talk coatings like a seasoned installer (and spot shortcuts a mile away).
Epoxy Coatings
Pros know epoxy is the backbone of a durable system. It’s a two-part material that chemically cures into a thick, highly adhesive layer. Epoxy is used for primers and broadcast coats because it bonds tightly to concrete and provides the structural strength your garage flooring needs to stand up to heat, heavy vehicles, and daily use.
Moisture Mitigation
Ask any pro in Texas: moisture is always present in concrete—even when the climate feels dry. Moisture mitigation means applying a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer that blocks vapor from pushing the coating off the slab. If an installer can’t explain their moisture mitigation process, that’s a red flag. Reliable 2-day systems include it; fast 1-day systems often skip it.
Concrete Paint
You’ll hear this term from companies selling quick or inexpensive options. But pros will tell you: concrete paint is not garage flooring. Paint sits on the surface rather than bonding into it, and it quickly fails under hot tires or temperature swings. If longevity matters, paint is not part of the conversation.
Polyaspartic
A pro’s favorite topcoat. Polyaspartic cures fast, resists chemicals, stays crystal clear under Texas sun, and seals the flakes beneath it. But here’s what experts know: polyaspartic is a topcoat—not a substitute for epoxy or moisture mitigation. Any “all-polyaspartic system” claim should raise questions.
Polyurethane
A clear protective coating sometimes used in flooring systems. While strong, polyurethane offers lower UV and chemical resistance than polyaspartic. Professionals typically choose polyaspartic as the final layer for maximum durability and clarity.
Flake/Full-Flake
Pros use flakes for both traction and beauty. In a flake epoxy system, installers broadcast colored polyvinyl acetate (PVA thermoplastic) and/or mica mineral flakes into the wet epoxy for depth and texture. A full-flake installation blankets the entire floor, creating a thicker, more uniform finish that holds up to high-use Dallas garages.
Garage Floor Coating
When pros say “garage floor coating,” they mean a multi-layer system: moisture-mitigating primer, full-flake coverage, and a polyaspartic topcoat. Together, these layers create seamless, long-lasting garage flooring built to handle Texas heat and everyday wear.
Ready to talk coatings like a pro—and get results to match? GarageFloorCoating.com (North Dallas) installs premium, long-lasting garage flooring tailored to North Texas homes. Request your free quote today.