The Hidden Dangers of Poor Surface Prep—and How We Fix It

April 18, 2025

Don’t Skip the Most Important Step in Floor Coating

When most people think about concrete floor coatings, they focus on the finished look—sleek surfaces, decorative chips, custom graphics, or that glossy finish that reflects light across a space. But what many don’t realize is that the true foundation of a high-performing floor lies in the surface preparation.


At Rock Solid Surfacing, we’ve learned from experience: you can have the best polyurea or polyaspartic coating on the market, but if the prep is done poorly, the floor will fail.


Let’s break down why surface prep matters so much—and what we do differently.

There are many tools hanging on the wall in a garage.

Why Surface Preparation Is Crucial

Concrete is porous by nature. Over time, it absorbs oil, grease, moisture, and other contaminants that interfere with coating adhesion. Additionally, concrete often has high and low spots, cracks, and imperfections that can compromise the integrity of the finished floor if not corrected.


Improper or rushed surface prep can lead to:



  • Delamination: When a coating peels or bubbles due to poor bonding with the substrate.
  • Uneven Finish: High and low spots cause inconsistent coating thickness, reducing durability.
  • Moisture Problems: Trapped moisture leads to bubbling, blistering, and mold growth.
  • Reduced Lifespan: Floors with improper prep simply don’t last as long.


In short, a floor that looks great on day one could fail in a matter of months without the right groundwork.

A person is cutting a cat 's nails with scissors.

What We Do at Rock Solid Surfacing

We take surface preparation seriously. Before a single coat is applied, our team restores and prepares your concrete to be clean, flat, and ready to bond. Here’s how:


1. Crack Repair That Goes Deep

Many companies fill surface-level cracks and call it a day. At Rock Solid Surfacing, we fill cracks all the way to the bottom, typically four inches deep. We use our proprietary polyurea filler, which is absorbed into the walls of the crack and activated by moisture, curing from within and preventing pressure buildup that leads to delamination.


2. Concrete Grinding (Not Shot Blasting)

We grind every floor with high-performance, dustless equipment. Grinding removes high spots, opens up air pockets, and creates a smooth, level surface that allows our coatings to “wet” into the concrete, becoming part of the slab—not just sitting on top.


3. Moisture Mitigation

By opening up the pores of the concrete and filling all cracks, we’re able to cap off moisture vapor, which is a common cause of coating failure in untreated concrete. The result is a dry, breathable floor that resists mold, bacteria, and humidity.

A group of people are sitting around a table with laptops.

4. Attention to Detail

From cove molding to expansion joints, we make sure every edge, drain, and transition point is properly prepped and protected. This is particularly important in garages, kitchens, medical facilities, and dog kennels where hygiene and durability matter most.


Why It Matters for You

Whether you’re coating a residential garage, a commercial kitchen, or an industrial warehouse, you want your floor to last. Investing in professional surface prep up front:


  • Extends the life of your coating
  • Ensures a uniform, attractive finish
  • Reduces future maintenance and repair costs
  • Protects against water damage, cracking, and bacteria growth
A large warehouse with a lot of doors and a balcony.

Trust the Pros at Rock Solid Surfacing

Our polyaspartic/polyurea coating system is second to none—but what truly sets us apart is our preparation process. We don’t cut corners. We fix what’s broken, smooth what’s uneven, and protect what matters most.


If you’re ready to invest in a concrete floor coating that will last for years and perform under pressure, start with a team that treats every project like it’s their own.


Contact Rock Solid Surfacing today to learn more about our process or request a quote. Your floor deserves a solid foundation—let us build it.

A man and a woman are squatting with a barbell in a gym.
A man is throwing pizza dough into the air
A long hallway in a warehouse filled with shelves and pallets.
A kitchen with a lot of pots and pans on the stove.
A man is washing a car in a garage.
April 25, 2025
Built to Last When it comes to concrete floor coatings, durability isn’t just about toughness—it’s also about how a surface wears over time. Many coatings look good on day one, but develop unsightly scratches, discoloration, and even bacterial buildup after regular use. That’s why at Rock Solid Surfacing, we specialize in advanced polyaspartic/polyurea coatings—not just because they’re strong, but because they’re engineered to resist the kind of microscopic damage that compromises cleanliness, safety, and appearance. So, what makes polyurea coatings the smart long-term investment for garages, commercial kitchens, warehouses, and medical facilities across Colorado? It comes down to scratch resistance and surface integrity.
April 10, 2025
Flooring Solutions Built for Commercial Kitchens In a commercial kitchen, your flooring is just as important as your equipment. With constant foot traffic, spills, grease, and temperature fluctuations, it is critical that the floor beneath your feet can handle everything your kitchen dishes out. At Rock Solid Surfacing, we specialize in high-performance concrete coatings that meet the rigorous demands of commercial kitchens while offering aesthetic appeal and long-term durability. Whether you are running a small café or a bustling restaurant, here are the key factors to consider when selecting the right floor coating—and why polyaspartic/polyurea coatings from Rock Solid Surfacing are the superior choice.
April 3, 2025
Advanced Flooring Options In any veterinary clinic, the health and safety of both animals and staff is the top priority. With rising concerns about infectious diseases such as kennel cough and even bird flu, the importance of a clean, hygienic environment has never been more critical. One of the most overlooked but vital areas in disease prevention is the flooring—and that’s exactly where Rock Solid Surfacing comes in. Rock Solid Surfacing offers state-of-the-art polyaspartic/polyurea floor coating systems that are ideal for high-traffic, high-sensitivity environments like vet clinics. These floors do more than just look good—they are a long-term investment in the health of your facility and the well-being of your patients.
March 28, 2025
Transform Your Business with High-Impact Flooring Solutions For business owners looking to make a bold first impression, the floor is often an underutilized canvas. While most focus on walls, lighting, and displays, the flooring beneath your feet offers one of the most consistent and impactful branding opportunities in any commercial space. At Rock Solid Surfacing, we take floor customization to the next level by embedding high-resolution graphics and logos directly into our polyurea/polyaspartic concrete floor coatings—providing durability, clarity, and design that stands out.
By Jed Hardy March 14, 2025
Ensure Safety and Improve Aesthetics Slips and falls are among the most common workplace and home accidents, often leading to severe injuries, legal liability, and financial loss. One of the best ways to minimize these risks is by investing in high-quality, slip-resistant flooring. For businesses, warehouses, auto shops, and even residential garages, choosing the right floor coating can mean the difference between a safe environment and an accident-prone one. At Rock Solid Surfacing, we specialize in polyaspartic and polyurea coatings, which not only enhance the durability and aesthetic of concrete floors but also significantly improve slip resistance. Here’s why these coatings are the ideal choice for ensuring safety while maintaining high performance and longevity.
March 8, 2025
A Professional Option That Lasts When it comes to commercial flooring, durability, safety, and aesthetics are essential factors that businesses must consider. High-traffic environments, such as warehouses, restaurants, auto dealerships, and medical facilities, require flooring solutions that can withstand daily wear and tear while maintaining a professional appearance. Polyaspartic floor coatings , offered by Rock Solid Surfacing, provide the perfect solution. These advanced coatings offer superior performance compared to traditional epoxy, making them the ideal choice for a wide range of commercial applications.
February 28, 2025
Concrete is a strong and durable material, but it is not naturally waterproof. Over time, moisture can seep into untreated concrete floors, leading to structural damage, mold growth, and costly repairs. Whether in residential garages, commercial spaces, or industrial facilities, waterproofing your concrete floors is a crucial step to maintaining their integrity and longevity.  At Rock Solid Surfacing, we specialize in polyaspartic and polyurea coatings, providing long-lasting waterproofing solutions that not only protect your floors but also enhance their durability and appearance. In this article, we’ll explore why concrete floor waterproofing is essential, the common risks of unprotected concrete, and how our advanced coating solutions offer superior protection.
February 22, 2025
Avoid Future Regrets Upgrading a garage floor is a significant investment, and choosing the right coating can mean the difference between a long-lasting, durable surface and one that deteriorates within a few years. Unfortunately, many homeowners make critical mistakes when selecting and applying garage floor coatings, often leading to peeling, cracking, and premature wear. At Rock Solid Surfacing, we specialize in polyaspartic and polyurea coatings, which offer superior durability, adhesion, and resistance to wear and tear. However, even the best coating will fail if improperly applied or if the wrong material is chosen. Below, we explore the most common mistakes homeowners make with garage floor coatings and explain how to avoid them.
February 14, 2025
Gain Peace of Mind When it comes to gym and fitness center flooring, durability, safety, and aesthetics are key considerations. Traditional flooring materials, such as rubber mats or epoxy coatings , often fall short in meeting the demands of a high-traffic, high-impact environment. Polyurea coatings, however, offer a superior alternative that is not only long-lasting and slip-resistant but also customizable and easy to maintain. At Rock Solid Surfacing, we specialize in high-performance polyurea and polyaspartic coatings that transform gym floors into durable, visually appealing, and safe surfaces for athletes, gym-goers, and trainers. In this article, we explore the benefits of polyurea flooring for fitness centers and why it is the best investment for gym owners .
February 7, 2025
The Perfect Choice Animal kennels , whether for private pet boarding, veterinary clinics, or commercial breeding facilities, require a durable, sanitary, and easy-to-maintain flooring solution. Traditional flooring materials, such as concrete or tile, are prone to moisture absorption, bacterial buildup, and deterioration over time, leading to an unsanitary environment that increases the risk of illness for animals . This is why polyurea/polyaspartic coatings from Rock Solid Surfacing provide an ideal flooring solution for animal kennels. Our advanced polyurea coatings create a seamless, non-porous, and highly durable surface that is resistant to scratches, stains, moisture, and bacterial growth. This not only makes cleaning easier but also helps prevent the spread of common kennel-related illnesses such as kennel cough, parvovirus, and fungal infections. Additionally, polyurea coatings can be customized with colors, patterns, and logos, adding a professional and branded look to any kennel facility.
More Posts