Why Epoxy Floors Peel and How to Fix One
An epoxy floor peels when it never bonded to the concrete. The cause is almost always in the prep or the slab. Here are the four common ones and how to fix a floor that is already lifting.
Why epoxy floors peel
1. The concrete was too smooth
Coatings bond to a rough surface. Concrete that was not ground or etched, or that still had a sealer on it, gives the coating nothing to hold. See grinding vs acid etching.
2. The slab was damp
Moisture coming up through the concrete pushes the coating off. A 24-hour plastic sheet test finds it. See how to test a concrete floor for moisture.
3. Oil was left in the slab
If a stain comes back a day after degreasing, the oil is in the concrete. Those spots need oil stop primer first.
4. The coating was too thin for the job
Thin kits lift where hot tires sit. Read why a pro system outlasts a big-box garage kit.
How to fix a peeling epoxy floor
- Find the cause. Do the plastic sheet moisture test on bare concrete where the coating came off.
- Remove what is loose. Grind off the lifting coating. For a floor that is peeling in many places, grind the whole floor back to concrete.
- Repair and prime. Fill cracks, rebuild chipped spots, and prime damp or oily areas.
- Recoat. Roll the new base coat and topcoat over a clean, ground surface.
Before you recoat
Call (877) 703-7699 and tell us what the floor is doing. A few photos help. If we miss you, we call back within an hour. When you are ready, start with the garage floor epoxy kits.
