When a Coating Is the Right Call
- Cracks are hairline or non-moving
- Surface is pitted, stained, or cosmetically rough
- Previous coating is peeling but slab underneath is solid
- Broom finish is too rough to clean
When the Slab Needs to Come Out
- Heaving or offset cracks over 1/2 inch
- Sunken sections from soil settlement
- Crumbling, delaminating concrete across large areas
- Active moisture from below with no vapor barrier
The Middle Ground: Repair Then Coat
Most slabs fall in between. Structural crack repair, joint fills, spall patching, and a resin coating on top will restore the floor without tear-out — as long as the concrete itself is still doing its job.
Cost and Disruption Difference
Coating a two-car garage takes 1–3 days with no demolition. Replacement is a week or more of demo, forming, pouring, curing, and coating — and typically 4–6x the cost.