Grinding
- Diamond grinder opens the concrete profile
- Dust extracted, not spread
- Full coverage, including edges
A day of machine time. Ask if a quote includes it.
Epoxy or polyaspartic floor coating?
Both are good systems and we install both. The choice usually comes down to two practical things: how cold the space is, and how fast you need to use it again.
Based in
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Estimates
Free & on-site
Before we start
Written scope
On site
Same crew throughout
Side by side
Where each one wins.
| Standard epoxy | Polyaspartic | |
|---|---|---|
| Cure to foot traffic | About 24 hours | A few hours |
| Cure to vehicles | About 72 hours | About 24 hours |
| Application temperature | Needs a warmer substrate | Tolerates lower temperatures |
| UV stability | Can yellow in sunlight | Holds colour |
| Abrasion resistance | Good | Better |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Typical use | Base coat, heated spaces | Topcoat, unheated garages, fast turnarounds |
| Slab prep required | Diamond grinding | Diamond grinding |
The part that does not change
Neither survives bad preparation.
The argument between systems is far less important than the question of how the slab was prepared. Acid etching is the reason coatings peel, and it is invisible in a quote unless you ask.
Repair
- Cracks routed and filled
- Spalled areas patched
- Oil contamination degreased or primed differently
Moisture
- Slab tested before priming
- Different primer where moisture is present
- Coating over a wet slab fails from underneath
Choosing
Which one for you.
Choose epoxy if
- The space is heated
- You can lose the space for three days
- It is a basement, utility room or shop floor
- Budget is the binding constraint
Choose polyaspartic if
- The garage is unheated
- You need the car back quickly
- Direct sunlight reaches the floor
- You want the longest-wearing surface
Either way
- Diamond ground, never acid etched
- Cracks routed and filled first
- Moisture checked before priming
- Cove base and edges detailed
Preparation is the entire durability story.
Questions
Questions, answered.
Is polyaspartic just expensive epoxy?
No — different chemistry. It cures far faster, tolerates lower application temperatures, and holds colour better under UV. Epoxy builds thickness well and is the usual base coat; polyaspartic is most often used as the topcoat over a flake system.
Which is more durable?
Both are durable when the slab was prepared properly, which remains the actual variable. Polyaspartic has better UV stability and abrasion resistance; standard epoxy can yellow in sunlight. Neither survives being applied over an unground floor.
Can polyaspartic be done in winter?
It tolerates lower temperatures than epoxy, which is why it exists in this market. It still has limits, and an unheated garage in January is either tented and heated or scheduled for spring.
Which should I actually choose?
Heated basement or shop floor with no rush: standard epoxy is the sensible spend. Unheated garage, or you need the car back in two days: polyaspartic earns its premium.
Related
Other things we build.
Free estimate
Get a quote for either.
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Or call directly(647) 473-3454