What Makes a Strong, Long-Lasting Concrete Coating In Ontario?

When it comes to creating a high-performance concrete coating, three factors make all the difference:

1. Choosing the right material

2. Proper surface preparation

3. Attention to detail during installation

Let’s break each of these down.

Choosing the Right Material

Picking the right coating isn’t as simple as grabbing a product off the shelf. Here in the Heart of Ontario, we face different challenges that other installers across Canada may not have. From the harsh winters up in Muskoka to the constant freeze and thaws in the GTA, we've got you covered. Every environment—whether it’s a Garage, Pool deck, Basement, Commercial kitchen, or Indoor showroom—has different requirements. These needs will determine which coating system is best.

• Polyaspartic coatings are our go-to option for many projects because of their:

  • High UV resistance

  • Excellent chemical resistance

  • Excellent resistance to our beloved Ontario Road Salt

  • Extremely fast return-to-service time

• For indoor showrooms where aesthetics matter, we might choose a 100% solids epoxy to create a custom metallic swirl design. Epoxy has a longer working time, which allows us to build in decorative finishes while still producing a durable floor.

• For pool decks, which are exposed to sun and moisture, we typically use Polyaspartic or MMA systems due to their UV stability. Instead of flakes, we might apply a quartz broadcast system, creating a six-layer coating that maximizes traction in wet, slippery environments.

It’s All in the Prep

Preparation is everything. In fact, the difference between a great job and a failed one usually comes down to surface prep.

Concrete isn’t perfect—but it’s our job to make the finished floor smooth and seamless. That includes:

• Patching cracks

• Repairing control joints

• Fixing spalling or pitted concrete

If these steps are skipped or rushed, the imperfections will show through the final floor.

Primer Selection

Using the correct primer is just as important. We apply a top-of-the-line Epoxy-based moisture vapor barrier primer (MVB), which:

• Chemically blocks moisture from rising through the slab

• Prevents issues like Epoxy peel

• Meets and exceeds ASTM F3010 standards

• Handles vapor emission rates up to 25 lbs/24 hrs/1,000 ft²

Its low-viscosity formula penetrates deep into the concrete, promoting strong adhesion and moisture resistance—far better than standard Epoxy primers.

However, even the best primer won’t perform if it's applied over contaminants. The installer must remove any chemical or physical bond breakers, like:

• Oils

• Chemicals

• Dust and debris

Grinding vs. Shot Blasting

Sometimes, a floor is in such poor shape that standard diamond grinding isn’t enough. Floor grinders work on the surface, but they can’t reach deep pits, valleys, or delaminated areas.

In these cases, we use a shot blaster—a machine that shoots metal beads into the concrete surface to prepare every square inch for bonding. It’s like a sandblaster, but tailored for deep, aggressive prep. This step ensures total surface readiness for a long-lasting bond.

Attention to Detail

If you’ve read this far, you’ve already seen that we care about the small things. But the details don’t stop at material selection and prep. Here are two real examples that highlight our commitment to craftsmanship:

Garage Door Tracks

In many garages, the metal tracks for the garage door go all the way to the floor. On some jobs, installers coat around the tracks, bonding them to the floor. This causes problems down the road if you ever need repairs or adjustments.

At Valiant, we always cut the bottom 1–2 inches off the tracks before coating. This allows the door to close properly, avoids damaging the coating during future maintenance, and maintains a clean finish.

Floor Transitions

Where your garage floor meets your driveway or door sill, we go the extra step. We:

• Remove any old caulking

• Coat underneath

• Re-caulk for a clean, professional transition

On asphalt driveways, for example, there's often a small gap where the garage meets the asphalt. Many contractors overlook this and let the coating fall into the gap. Instead, we ensure a straight, clean edge, finished with a fresh bead of caulk—so what you see is a perfect transition, not a patch job.

In Summary

A great concrete coating comes down to:

• Choosing the right system for the environment

• Meticulous surface preparation

• Attention to even the smallest installation details

These are the standards we follow at Valiant—because every step counts when it comes to delivering a strong, seamless, and long-lasting floor.