Having a durable garage floor is essential anywhere in Montana — work equipment, general adventuring, and a pretty unforgiving climate, beat up your garage floors. Imagine trying to create a painting on a rough, uneven canvas; it’d be cracking and peeling in no time. Similarly, ensuring your floor (AKA your canvas) has the proper concrete prep is crucial for a successful garage floor coating. Proper preparation ensures your garage floor can handle Montana’s extreme conditions, providing a long-lasting, attractive finish.
Legal considerations are also important here in Montana. Local building codes and regulations impact how garage floors need to be prepped and coated. Compliance with these regulations ensures not only safety but also enhances your property’s value (who doesn’t want that?). Professional contractors are familiar with these local requirements and can navigate them effectively.
Proper Concrete Prep
So how do we make sure concrete is prepared the right way? We’ll break it down for you.
Concrete surface profile (CSP) measures the roughness of the concrete surface, which needs to be just right for the epoxy coating to bond effectively. CSPs range from 1 (smoothest) to 10 (roughest), and for epoxy coatings, a CSP of at least 3 to 4 is what you need.
Giving it a “thorough clean” or even acid etching only produces CSPs below 2, which aren’t enough for durable bonding, especially in high-traffic areas. You don’t want to go over the top, either. Methods like sandblasting and rotomilling can create CSPs above 4, which can be too harsh for residential applications.
If you want the best possible CSP, between 3 and 4, you’re going to want contractors to use a propane grinder. They’re safer in commercial settings, produce near-zero exhaust (excellent for using inside), and are highly efficient.
Concrete Prep: Call the Professionals
If you’re thinking about trying to DIY your whole garage floor, know that many DIY attempts fail because of improper concrete preparation. Propane grinders and all the other required equipment are usually too costly for anyone trying to do it themselves.
Montana isn’t the most forgiving when it comes to its harsh climates, so you want it done by someone who is both local and a seasoned professional. That’s how you’ll get that ideal CSP, comply with local codes, and have a garage floor that’s going to last for years.