How much does it cost to strip and recoat a garage floor epoxy in Ottawa

Stripping and Recoating a Garage Floor Epoxy in Ottawa

Stripping and recoating a garage floor epoxy in Ottawa costs significantly more than a first-time application — plan on $8 to $16 per square foot for the complete job, or roughly $3,200 to $9,600 for a standard two-car garage of 400 to 600 square feet. The extra cost comes almost entirely from the removal and preparation phase, which is labour-intensive and cannot be shortcut without risking failure of the new coating.

The stripping process is the most expensive component. Existing epoxy, polyaspartic, or polyurea coatings must be mechanically removed using diamond grinding, shot blasting, or scarifying equipment. Chemical strippers can soften some coatings but rarely remove them completely, and they can leave residue that interferes with adhesion of the new system. Mechanical removal for a two-car garage typically costs $3 to $6 per square foot — sometimes more if the existing coating was a high-build system or if multiple layers need to come off. If the previous coating was a DIY kit that was applied over sealed or painted concrete, removing all the layers down to bare concrete can be especially time-consuming.

Once the old coating is removed, the contractor needs to assess the concrete underneath. After years under a failed coating, Ottawa garage slabs often reveal moisture damage, salt crystallization, cracks, and spalling that were hidden by the previous finish. Road salt that infiltrated through coating failures can leave white efflorescence deposits that must be cleaned and neutralized. Crack repair and concrete patching typically add $1 to $3 per square foot depending on severity. Moisture testing is absolutely critical at this stage — the reason the original coating may have failed could be excess moisture vapour transmission through the slab, a common issue in Ottawa given our high water tables and spring snowmelt conditions.

The recoating phase costs the same as a new installation: $5 to $12 per square foot depending on the system selected. Given that you are already investing heavily in removal and preparation, it makes sense to upgrade to a premium system this time around. A 100 percent solids epoxy with decorative flake and a polyaspartic topcoat will provide maximum durability and resist the conditions that may have contributed to the original coating's failure. If moisture was the root cause, a moisture mitigation primer such as an epoxy moisture barrier rated for higher vapour emission rates is essential before the new coating goes down.

One important point: not every failing epoxy floor needs full stripping. If the existing coating is well-bonded to the concrete but has surface wear, scratches, or dullness, a scuff-and-recoat approach may be possible. This involves lightly abrading the existing surface to create a mechanical bond profile, then applying a new topcoat or full colour coat over top. Scuff-and-recoat runs $4 to $8 per square foot — considerably less than full removal. However, this only works if the existing coating has solid adhesion everywhere. Any areas of delamination, peeling, or bubbling mean full removal is necessary in those zones at minimum.

Always get a minimum of three quotes for strip-and-recoat work and ask each contractor to explain their removal method and how they will test for moisture before recoating. Confirm WSIB coverage and liability insurance. You can find and compare flooring contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com.

---

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

• Luxe Painting and Renovations
• RenoMotion Inc.
• 3829588 canada inc (o/a Terry's Rugs).
• Valcor Construction
• Nic’s D.U.C.T Works Inc

View all contractors →