Can polyaspartic coatings be applied over old epoxy in my Stittsville garage

Applying Polyaspartic Over Existing Epoxy in Stittsville Garages

Yes, polyaspartic can be applied over old epoxy — but only if the existing epoxy is still well-bonded to the concrete and in reasonably good condition. This is actually one of the most common recoating scenarios Ottawa flooring contractors handle, especially in established Stittsville neighbourhoods like Fernbank, Bradley Commons, and Poole Creek where homes from the early 2000s are now seeing their original garage floor coatings reach end-of-life. The key is thorough assessment and preparation of the existing surface, because a new polyaspartic layer is only as strong as the epoxy beneath it.

Before any new coating goes down, the existing epoxy needs to pass several tests. First, the adhesion test — the contractor will attempt to pry or scrape the old epoxy at multiple points across the floor. If the epoxy lifts easily or has areas where it has already delaminated from the concrete, those sections must be removed down to bare concrete. Small areas of failure can be spot-repaired, but if more than 20 to 30 percent of the floor has adhesion issues, a full strip-back to bare concrete is the safer and more cost-effective approach. Second, the old epoxy must be mechanically abraded — typically by diamond grinding to a CSP-2 profile — to give the polyaspartic something to grip. Polyaspartic will not bond reliably to a smooth, glossy epoxy surface.

Ottawa-specific concerns add a layer of complexity to recoating projects. If your Stittsville garage floor has been through 15-plus winters of road salt exposure and freeze-thaw cycling, moisture may now be migrating through micro-cracks in both the old epoxy and the concrete beneath it. The contractor should perform a calcium chloride moisture test on any areas where the old coating has been removed to expose bare concrete. Spring and early summer are particularly risky times for moisture in Stittsville, where the local clay soils hold water and the water table can rise significantly during snowmelt. Moisture vapour emission must be below 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet per 24 hours before applying any new coating.

The cost of applying polyaspartic over old epoxy is typically $6 to $12 per square foot in Ottawa if the existing coating is in decent shape and only needs grinding and cleaning. If significant removal of failed epoxy is needed, add $3 to $6 per square foot for stripping and additional preparation. A full removal and fresh polyaspartic system from bare concrete runs the standard $8 to $15 per square foot. For a typical Stittsville two-car garage of 450 to 550 square feet, budgeting $2,700 to $8,250 for a recoat over existing epoxy is reasonable.

One advantage of polyaspartic for recoating work is its fast cure time — your garage can be back in service within 24 hours for vehicle traffic, compared to the 5 to 7 days an epoxy recoat would require. For Stittsville homeowners who rely on their garage for daily parking, this matters enormously, especially during Ottawa's colder months when leaving a vehicle outside overnight is deeply unpleasant. Have a contractor assess your existing floor in person to determine whether a recoat is feasible or a full redo is needed — you can find flooring professionals through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Luxe Painting and Renovations
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Somar Contracting Inc.
• Exquisite Flooring and Renovations
• Timely Touchups Construction