Calgary & Alberta
Surface Prep
Epoxy floors are low maintenance but not no maintenance. What you do in the first few years determines whether the floor still looks good in year ten or needs a full recoat.
The most common maintenance question we get is also the simplest: what should I actually be doing to keep this floor looking the way it does on install day? The answer is less complicated than most people expect. Epoxy floors are forgiving surfaces. They ask for consistent, light attention rather than periodic deep intervention.
Sweep or dust mop regularly to remove grit and debris. Small particles of road sand and gravel act like sandpaper under foot traffic and tire contact. Over time they cause micro-scratching that dulls the topcoat finish. A dust mop pass after each time you bring a vehicle in takes about two minutes and prevents the most common form of surface wear.
For washing, use a neutral pH cleaner diluted in warm water and a soft mop. Avoid anything acidic, including vinegar, and avoid anything alkaline like bleach or ammonia-based cleaners. Both types attack the polyaspartic topcoat chemistry over time. There are purpose-made epoxy floor cleaners available, but a mild dish soap diluted in water does the job without any risk to the coating.
Oil, antifreeze, and road salt are the three most common contaminants on a Calgary garage floor. Clean them up the same day. Oil and antifreeze do not immediately penetrate a good topcoat, but they will if left for extended periods, especially in warm temperatures. Road salt is abrasive and can work into micro-cracks at the perimeter and expansion joints over winter.
The first place a floor shows wear is at the perimeter near the garage door and in the tire contact zones. This is normal. The topcoat in those areas takes more UV, more temperature cycling, and more physical abrasion than the rest of the floor. When you notice the sheen fading or the surface starting to look slightly rough in those zones, it is time to consider a topcoat reapplication rather than waiting for full failure.
Small chips or scratches from dropped tools can be spot-patched with topcoat material. If you catch them early, before debris works into the exposed area, the repair is nearly invisible. Left for a season, the exposed substrate absorbs contamination and the repair becomes more visible.
EFC Standard
We test moisture vapour emission on every slab using ASTM F2170-compliant in-slab probes. If the reading exceeds 4.5% relative humidity, we install a moisture vapour barrier before any coating goes down. It adds time and cost. It's also the only way to guarantee the system holds through Calgary winters.
Sharp impacts are the main physical threat. Dropping a heavy steel tool directly onto the surface can chip through the topcoat and base coat if the impact is concentrated enough. Placing rubber mats with a non-slip backing directly on the epoxy surface for extended periods can also cause issues: some rubber compounds contain plasticizers that leach into the topcoat and cause discolouration or softening. Use mats with fabric or foam backing instead.
A floor that is wearing through the topcoat but has no delamination, bubbling, or bond failure can be recoated. Light sanding to scuff the existing surface, clean the substrate, apply one or two fresh coats of polyaspartic, and the floor performs like new. This is substantially less expensive than a full reinstall and is the normal lifecycle of a well-installed floor. A floor with widespread delamination, moisture blistering, or bond failure across multiple areas is a candidate for full removal and reinstall.
Consistent light maintenance is worth far more than occasional heavy cleaning. Sweep regularly, clean spills promptly, avoid harsh chemicals, and watch the high-traffic zones for early topcoat wear. Catch the wear before it reaches the Flake layer and the floor stays in good shape for a decade with minimal intervention.
Get a quote on a properly installed floor — one that holds through Calgary winters.
