Every installation starts with a slab assessment and moisture test. Marietta’s humid summers raise moisture vapor levels in concrete, and coating over a damp slab is the leading cause of bubbling and bond failure. The installer uses a plastic sheet or calcium chloride test to confirm the slab is dry enough to accept a primer. On older Cobb County homes with attached garages or basement floors, this step determines whether a moisture barrier primer is needed before anything else goes down. Only after the slab passes does surface preparation begin.
Surface preparation covers three tasks: diamond grinding to a CSP 2-3 profile, degreasing to remove oil contamination, and crack repair using the right filler for the crack type. Hairline cracks get a flexible polyurethane sealant; wider cracks are chased and filled with a rigid patching compound troweled flush. Grinding with a diamond cup wheel removes old coatings and opens the concrete so epoxy bonds mechanically, not just chemically. A HEPA vacuum on a dust shroud keeps the workspace clean throughout. Skipping or rushing any of these steps is why most epoxy floors peel within a year.
Once the slab is prepared, the installer applies a primer layer, an epoxy base coat, a decorative flake blend broadcast, and a polyaspartic topcoat. The polyaspartic finish is UV-stable and vehicle-traffic-rated, which matters in Marietta’s high-sun environment where standard epoxy topcoats yellow within a season or two. An anti-slip additive can be mixed into the topcoat for garages or wet areas. Cure time varies by product and ambient humidity, and the installer schedules each stage around Georgia’s conditions. A final curing inspection confirms the floor is fully set before the documented handover is provided.