My garage floor paint is peeling off in sheets — what went wrong and how do I fix it?
My garage floor paint is peeling off in sheets — what went wrong and how do I fix it?
Garage floor paint failure is extremely common in Metro Vancouver, and the root cause is almost always moisture. Our climate pushes moisture up through concrete slabs via hydrostatic pressure, and if the floor wasn't properly tested and prepped before painting, the paint loses adhesion and peels.
Before you repaint, do a simple moisture test: tape a two-foot square of plastic sheeting to the bare concrete and leave it for 72 hours. If moisture collects underneath, you have a vapour transmission issue that needs to be addressed before any coating will stick.
To fix it properly, start by removing all the failing paint. A floor scraper and diamond grinder work best — chemical strippers are messy and leave residue. Expect this prep work alone to take a full day for a standard two-car garage. Professionals typically charge $800 to $1,500 for complete floor prep including grinding and crack repair.
Once the floor is clean and profiled, apply a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer designed for below-grade concrete. This is the step most DIY jobs skip, and it's exactly why they fail. Follow with a two-part epoxy floor coating — not regular floor paint. Quality two-part epoxy systems for a standard double garage run $300 to $500 for materials alone.
Timing matters in Vancouver. Do this project during a dry stretch in July or August when you can leave the garage door open for ventilation and the concrete is at its driest. Avoid fall and winter when moisture levels in the slab are highest.
For your next step, consider getting a professional moisture test done before investing in materials — it will tell you exactly what prep and products your specific slab needs for a lasting result.
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