The coating on my garage floor is peeling or failing. Who do I call?
Usually, start with
Garage-floor coating / concrete-surface professional
If a garage-floor coating is peeling, bubbling, or separating while the concrete itself appears generally intact, a garage-floor coating or concrete-surface professional commonly evaluates the existing finish, surface preparation, and substrate condition.
Change course if
The concrete beneath the coating is crumbling or breaking apart
A concrete repair professional may be relevant when the substrate itself is deteriorated.
Moisture appears beneath, through, or around the failed coating
A concrete moisture-testing or water-intrusion professional may also be relevant before another coating is installed.
The slab is cracked and vertically displaced
Concrete leveling or structural expertise may be relevant when movement is part of the condition.
Who handles what
Garage-floor coating / concrete surface
Evaluates coating adhesion, surface preparation, and options for removal or replacement of the finish.
Concrete repair
Evaluates deterioration or damage in the slab beneath the coating.
Concrete moisture testing
Evaluates moisture conditions that can affect the performance of floor finishes.
What might be happening
Coatings can fail because of surface preparation, compatibility, wear, moisture, concrete deterioration, or movement. The appearance of peeling or bubbling alone does not establish which condition is responsible.
Useful things to notice
Where the failure began
Tire paths, cracks, edges, damp areas, or widespread peeling can provide useful patterns.
What the concrete looks like underneath
Sound concrete, powdery material, dampness, or broken surface material are useful observations.
Whether the coating bubbles or changes after wet weather
A moisture-related pattern is useful to document before the failed finish is removed.
Before you call
Photograph the overall floor, the edges of failed coating, and exposed concrete beneath it. If moisture is visible, document it before cleaning or stripping the surface.
Before you fix the visible symptom
Recoating over a failing finish can conceal the condition that caused the first failure. Understanding the substrate and any moisture condition before applying another finish can help avoid repeating the same problem.
References
American Concrete Institute, Committee 302. ACI 302.2-22, Concrete Slabs that Receive Moisture-Sensitive Flooring Materials.
ASTM International. ASTM F2170, Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes.
ASTM International. ASTM F2659, Preliminary Evaluation of Comparative Moisture Condition of Concrete Floor Slabs.