Heavily pitted slab — oil contamination, a failed DIY sealer, and three widened control joints. Diamond ground to CSP-2, cracks filled, Domino flake over 100% solids epoxy, finished with a UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat.
This Calgary-area double garage came to us with a slab that had seen fourteen years of Alberta winters. Road salt had worked its way into the surface. A DIY epoxy kit applied two seasons prior had lifted at the edges and was peeling across roughly 40% of the floor. Three control joint cracks had widened beyond cosmetic repair and required routing before any coating could be considered.
The homeowner had researched extensively before reaching out — they understood the prep requirement and specifically asked for a system that would hold through Calgary's freeze-thaw cycles. The Domino flake system was chosen for its traction, durability, and the fact that it conceals surface variation better than any other system we install.
Moisture vapour testing was performed before any equipment hit the slab. The readings came in within acceptable range, so a standard penetrating primer was specified rather than a moisture-mitigating primer — but we test every time regardless.
The main challenge was the failed DIY coating — removing it added roughly 1.5 hours of grinding time before we could get a clean CSP-2 profile. Oil contamination in the centre bay required a second grinding pass to confirm full removal. All three control joints were routed to 4mm, cleaned with compressed air, and filled with semi-rigid filler; we waited the full 2-hour cure window before priming. Moisture came in at 4.2 lbs per 1000 sq ft per 24 hours, within threshold for a penetrating primer. Base coat was applied in two lifts with a 45-minute window between. Flake was broadcast at full rejection with no skip zones. Topcoat was sprayed, not rolled, for a more even film across the aggregate texture.
Domino flake over diamond-ground concrete, sealed with UV-stable polyaspartic. Warranted for 15 years, built to hold through every Calgary winter without lifting, peeling, or fading.
Every step matters. Here is exactly what happened between site assessment and the homeowner parking their truck on it.
Slab ground to a CSP-2 surface profile using a planetary diamond grinder. Failed sealer removed to bare concrete. All laitance and oil contamination eliminated. Surface vacuumed and moisture-tested before anything else touches it.
Control joints routed to a consistent profile and filled with flexible epoxy filler. Structural cracks addressed with rigid filler. Penetrating epoxy primer applied across the entire slab to maximise adhesion of the base coat.
100% solids epoxy base coat rolled at correct film thickness across the primed slab. Domino vinyl flake broadcast by hand in an upward arc until the surface reaches full rejection — every square inch covered before the base cures.
Excess flake scraped and the surface lightly profiled. UV-stable polyaspartic topcoat applied at full coverage. Non-yellowing, chemical-resistant, and ready for foot traffic same day — vehicle traffic within 24 to 48 hours.
