A great garage floor coating starts long before the resin goes down — it starts with good preparation. The good news for Dartmouth and Halifax homeowners is that the heavy lifting is ours. Your part is simple, and this checklist walks you through it so installation day goes smoothly.
At Coastal Resin Resurface, proper prep is the reason our floors last 15 to 20 years, so we never skip a step. Here’s how you and our team get your garage ready together.
What you should do before we arrive
- Clear everything off the floor — vehicles, tools, shelving, bikes, storage bins. We need the entire surface accessible.
- Remove wall items low to the ground if they’ll be in the way of edging.
- Sweep loose debris if you can, though a deep clean isn’t necessary — we handle that.
- Plan parking for a day; you’ll have your garage back within 24 hours.
- Point out problem spots — oil stains, cracks or areas that stay damp.
What we handle (the technical prep)
This is where a professional garage floor coating separates itself from a DIY kit. Surface preparation is the single biggest factor in how long a coating lasts, and it’s not something a mop and a bottle of etch can replicate.
- Diamond grinding or shot-blasting to open the concrete’s pores for a mechanical bond.
- Crack and pit repair using durable patching compounds.
- Oil and contaminant removal so the coating adheres cleanly.
- Moisture check to confirm the slab is ready, with a vapour primer if needed.
Why preparation matters so much in Nova Scotia
Coatings fail when they’re applied over a slick, sealed or contaminated surface — they peel, bubble and lift, especially under our freeze-thaw stress. Mechanical grinding creates the rough profile the resin needs to grip. Skip it, and even the best polyaspartic coating won’t hold. Do it right, and the floor becomes part of the slab.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to clean the oil stains myself?
No. Just flag them for us. Our grinding and degreasing process removes contaminants as part of preparation.
What if my concrete has big cracks?
Most cracks and pitting are repaired during prep and disappear under the finished coating. We’ll assess anything major during your quote.
How long does the whole process take?
Most residential garages are prepped, coated and cured for foot traffic the same day, with vehicle traffic the next day.
Ready to get started? Request your free quote from Coastal Resin Resurface and we’ll handle the prep that makes a coating last — serving Dartmouth, Halifax and all of Nova Scotia. Call (902) 986-6900.
