9 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Garage Epoxy Installer in Lehi

Before you hire a garage epoxy installer in Lehi, ask whether they grind the whole slab, how they check moisture, how they repair salt damage and cracks, which topcoat they use for road salt and hot tires, and what goes in writing. Those answers decide whether the floor survives a Utah County winter, and you can call 435-773-8856 to ask us all nine.

A garage floor coating in Lehi has to deal with two seasons that pull in opposite directions: salty snowmelt all winter and hot tires all summer. A floor that handles both starts with the prep and the materials, and you cannot see either one once the job is done. These nine questions help you sort out an installer before you sign, and we are happy to answer every one of them.

1. Will you come look at the garage before quoting?

Square footage is only part of a garage quote. The condition of the slab, the amount of salt damage, cracks, oil, moisture, and how much edge work there is all change the job. An installer who quotes over the phone without seeing any of that is guessing, and guesses tend to get fixed later with change orders or shortcuts. Ask whether the estimate is done on site and whether it costs anything. Ours is a free on-site estimate. We measure, look at the slab, and give you the quote then. The pricing page lists what moves the number.

2. Do you diamond grind the whole slab?

Ask exactly how the concrete gets prepared. A diamond grinder cuts a fresh profile into the slab so the coating locks on. Acid etching washes the surface with chemicals and does not cut it, which is why so many etched floors let go in the tire lanes. Ask whether the edges and corners get ground too, since a big machine cannot reach them. Ask how they control the dust. If an installer plans to etch, ask why. We grind every garage floor we coat and do not acid etch. Our grind vs acid etch page explains the difference.

3. How do you check for moisture?

Moisture coming up through the slab can lift a coating from below. In Utah County, spring snowmelt, sprinklers near the garage, and slabs poured on damp ground can all add moisture you would never notice by looking. Ask whether the installer checks for it before coating and what they do if they find it. The answer might be a different primer, a different system, or waiting until the slab dries out. What you do not want is someone who skips the check and hopes. A moisture check is part of how we start every floor.

4. What will you do about salt damage and flaking?

Older garage floors in Lehi often have pitted, sandy patches where salty snowmelt has worked on the surface, and flaking along the door. Ask how the installer handles those spots. Grinding takes off the loose surface, and deeper damage needs patching so the floor ends up flat and solid. Salt left in the concrete also needs to be cleaned out before coating. A good answer names each step. If the plan is to roll a thick coat over the rough spots and call it good, the damage will show back through.

5. Which topcoat do you use, and why here?

The topcoat is the layer that takes the abuse: salt, slush, hot tires, dropped tools, and sun through the door. Ask what the installer puts on top and why it fits a Utah County garage. Some topcoats yellow in sunlight or soften under hot tires. Others are made to resist both. Our top layer is polyaspartic, chosen because it handles hot tires, sun, and freeze and thaw cycles. Whoever you hire, ask them to name the layers in order so you can compare estimates fairly. See hot tires and UV for the summer side of the story.

6. How much grip will the floor have when it is wet?

A smooth, glossy floor looks great in photos and can be slick with snowmelt on it. Ask what the installer does for traction. A flake broadcast adds texture and hides grit, and some topcoats can take an added texture as well. Think about who uses the garage: kids, older family members, anyone carrying things in from the car. The right amount of texture is a balance between grip and how easy the floor is to clean. You can see what a flake finish looks like on our flake epoxy page.

7. When do you install, and how does cold affect it?

Coatings cure slower in the cold, and some will not cure right if the slab is too cold. Ask what time of year the installer prefers, what they do if the garage is cold, and how long the cure might take in your season. Late summer and fall are popular times in Lehi because the floor is ready before the first storm. If you are calling in winter, ask how the timing would work and what conditions they need. A clear answer here tells you they have actually worked through a Utah winter.

8. What do I need to move, and how long is the garage out?

Plan on emptying the garage. Cars, shelves, bikes, and anything sitting on the floor need to come out so the whole slab can be ground and coated. Ask how long before you can walk on it and how long before the cars can come back in. If your HOA limits driveway or street parking, check that before the install date. It also helps to know what the installer will do with items that cannot be moved, like a fridge or a heavy workbench.

9. What goes in writing?

Before any grinding starts, get a written estimate that spells out the area, the prep, crack and salt damage repair, each coating layer, the color or flake blend, edges and footers, and the apron if you want it. If a warranty is offered, get the terms on paper too. A clear estimate protects you and the installer, and it makes it easy to compare two bids line by line. If one estimate is much shorter than the other, ask what got left out. Missing prep steps are the usual answer.

Ask us all nine

Call or text 435-773-8856 with your town and a rough garage size. We will come look, answer every one of these questions for your floor, and give you a quote on site. Our garage epoxy floors page lists what goes on the slab, and the FAQ has more short answers. The estimate is free, and we do not publish rates online.

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