Why a quote should read like a recipe
A garage floor coating quote should tell you exactly what will happen to your floor, in order. If it only lists a color and a total, you cannot compare it with anything. The most useful quotes break the job into lines: protection and move-out, surface preparation, crack and pit repair, primer or base coat, decorative layer, top coat, and cure time before use. The most-viewed installation videos on YouTube all follow that same sequence, so it is a fair way to check whether a bid includes everything a lasting floor needs.
Line 1: surface preparation and grinding
Preparation should be the first and most specific line. Tim Seay, in a video with more than 1.3 million views, starts every floor by grinding the concrete before anything else. Mike Day of Everything About Concrete, whose garage video has nearly 1.9 million views, grinds with a diamond tool hooked to a vacuum and notes that grinding is the easiest way to remove old paint or a previous epoxy coat. If a quote says clean and etch, or does not mention prep at all, ask exactly how the surface will be opened up so the coating can bond.
Line 2: crack, pit and joint repair
Next, look for how cracks and divots will be handled. Mike Day describes fixing cracks and divots with a patch material and then grinding the repairs smooth before cleaning. Tim Seay patches hairline cracks before the first coat goes down. A quote should say whether repairs are included, whether there is a limit, and how control joints will be treated. Unlisted repairs are a common source of change orders, so it helps to have this spelled out in writing before the work starts.
Line 3: cleaning and dust removal
After grinding and repair, the floor has to be completely clean. Mike Day vacuums and then wipes the slab with denatured alcohol to pick up remaining dust. This step rarely shows up as a separate line, but you can ask how the crew removes fine dust before coating. Dust trapped under a primer weakens the bond, so a crew that has a clear answer is usually a crew that takes adhesion seriously.
Line 4: primer or base coat
The base coat is where systems differ most. Tim Seay explains that his crew prefers a high-solids epoxy primer because it sets more slowly than a polyurea primer, giving it time to soak into the concrete. Mike Day says his primer also blocks moisture coming up through the slab. Leggari Products, in a contractor training video with more than 1.5 million views, uses a thin first coat of epoxy to seal the pores and reduce outgassing bubbles. Ask what product the base coat is, what percentage solids it is, whether it is moisture-tolerant, and how much area each kit is meant to cover.
Line 5: flake or decorative layer
If you are getting a flake floor, the quote should say whether the flakes will be broadcast to full coverage or scattered lightly. Tim Seay describes broadcasting to rejection, which means covering the wet base until it will not take any more chips, and he says this also keeps the epoxy underneath out of UV light. A light scatter uses far less material and looks different. Neither is wrong, but the quote should state which one you are paying for, along with the flake blend name so you can see a sample.
Line 6: top coat
The clear top coat protects the flakes and takes the wear. Tim Seay uses a polyaspartic top coat because, in his words, it does not turn yellow like some clear epoxies do and its slower set lets the crew roll it out evenly. A quote should name the top coat chemistry, how many coats, and whether any texture or grit is added for traction. If one bid uses a clear epoxy top coat and another uses a UV-stable polyaspartic, they are not the same product even if the prices are close.
Lines that are often missing
Some quotes leave out items that later become surprises: moving stored items, protecting walls and doors, treating the garage door apron, and cove or stem-wall edges. Lowe's Home Improvement, in its how-to with more than 600,000 views, reminds homeowners that everything touching the floor has to come out and stay out for a few days. Ask who moves what, and whether the coating stops at the door line or continues onto the apron.
Questions to write next to each line
Next to every line on the quote, write one question. For prep: grind or etch, and with what equipment? For repairs: how many linear feet are included? For the base coat: product name and solids? For flake: full broadcast or partial? For the top coat: chemistry and number of coats? For schedule: walk-on and drive-on times? A contractor who answers each one clearly is giving you a quote you can actually compare.
Line 7: schedule, cure and what you need to do
Finally, the quote should explain the schedule. Tim Seay describes a two-day process: base coat and flakes on day one, then cleanup and top coat on day two. Ask when you can walk on the floor, when you can park on it, and what needs to be moved out before the crew arrives. Austin Epoxy Flooring Pro writes these lines out on every estimate for homes in Austin and Georgetown. Call (512) 325-5434, open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and we will walk through a quote line by line with you.
Related pages
Related pages on our site: Garage floor epoxy quote; Compare epoxy flooring estimates; Comparing coating proposals and prep methods; Crack and joint scope in a floor proposal; How to prepare a garage floor for epoxy.
Call 512-325-5434 (open 24 hours, 7 days a week) or request a free estimate.
Sources
Epoxy, Polyurea or Polyaspartic : Which is the BEST garage floor coating? — Tim Seay (@TimDCVA) (YouTube, 1,367,340 views as reported 2026-10-14)
How To Epoxy Coat Your Garage Floor | Must Watch For Diy'rs — Mike Day Concrete (Everything About Concrete) (YouTube, 1,892,569 views as reported 2026-10-14)
A CONTRACTOR TELLS ALL! - EPOXY FLOORS FOR BEGINNERS — Leggari Products (YouTube, 1,554,858 views as reported 2026-10-14)
How to Epoxy a Garage Floor — Lowe's Home Improvement (YouTube, 617,355 views as reported 2026-10-14)