If you’ve ever seen a garage or driveway coating start peeling up, there’s one main culprit—and it’s not the product.
The Truth About “Quick Fix” Coatings
We see it all the time here in the Coachella Valley: a homeowner hires someone to “pressure wash and recoat” their driveway or garage floor. It sounds simple enough—wash it, paint it, done. But epoxy and acrylic coatings don’t bond like paint. They need a properly prepared surface, and that means one thing: mechanical grinding.
Skipping this step is like trying to paint over dust—it might look good for a few weeks, but it won’t last.
What Grinding Actually Does
Grinding (using a commercial diamond grinder like ours) removes old coatings, opens the pores of the concrete, and creates the right surface profile for new material to grip.
Think of it like sanding wood before staining—it allows the new product to soak in and lock on tight. Without that microscopic “tooth,” even the best coating system will delaminate when moisture, heat, or tire friction hits it.
What Happens When You Don’t Grind
When prep is skipped or done with a pressure washer instead of a grinder, here’s what usually happens:
- Peeling and flaking within months
- Hot tire pickup, where your tires literally pull the coating up
- Moisture bubbles under the surface
- Uneven color or sheen, since the coating can’t absorb evenly
- And the worst one—you pay twice to fix it later
If you’ve ever walked across a “newly coated” driveway and felt crunchy or loose spots, that’s a telltale sign that the surface wasn’t properly prepped.
Our Approach: Grind It Once, Grind It Right
At Artisan Design Concepts, we don’t skip corners—literally or figuratively.
We use industrial-grade diamond grinders with proper dust collection to fully remove old coatings and profile the concrete to the exact CSP (Concrete Surface Profile) that our commercial grade systems require.
The result?
A rock-solid bond, smoother finish, and coatings that last for years—not months.
The Takeaway
Prep work isn’t the most glamorous part of the job, but it’s the one that makes everything else possible.
So the next time someone says they can “just pressure wash it and recoat,” remember: a clean surface isn’t a prepped surface.
If you want a coating that actually performs in our desert heat—trust the pros who do it right from the ground up.
Ready to Breathe New Life Into Your Floor?
Whether it’s a flake garage system, a decorative driveway, or a commercial concrete space, we’ll grind, prep, and coat it to perfection.
Request your free quote today and see the Artisan Design Concepts difference—From Mild to Wild.
