Garage floor slab assessment checklist

Record what you know

Bring these details and dated photos to the assessment. Write “unknown” where needed. Describe what you see—for example, “the finish is peeling beside the door”—without assigning a cause.

• Measured floor area, plus steps, edges and other surfaces you want coated.
• Existing finish, concrete age and any available installation records.
• Visible damage, known spills, water events and previous repairs.
• Garage heating and the date you need to park inside again.

Use the same project record for each proposal. There is no need to send your notes to this guide.

Seven questions for the assessment

Ask the proposed installer to document these answers. If an issue is outside their scope, ask who should assess it and leave the item unresolved until that happens.

1. What happens to the existing finish?

   Ask which paint, coating or sealer must be removed and what preparation follows. If compatibility is uncertain, request manufacturer confirmation. The quote should identify the removal area and how additional work is priced.

2. How will cracks and damaged areas be assessed?

   Ask who evaluated the cracks, pits, broken edges or uneven areas and what work is specified. If the condition or repair is outside coating work, ask for a qualified concrete or design professional. Record included repairs, quantities, exclusions and any separate assessment still needed.

3. What moisture evidence does this system require?

   Report damp-looking areas, stains and known water events. Ask the installer or testing specialist for the test method, date, locations, result and units, applicable product limit, and response to an out-of-limit result. Identify testing or treatment charges that remain unpriced.

4. Which joints will remain visible?

   Ask the installer and whoever is responsible for the joint detail how each joint or cut will be handled. Get the proposed detail, finished appearance and included work in writing.

5. Is the concrete ready for the proposed system?

   Share the pour date or write “unknown.” Ask how the installer will establish readiness using the selected system’s current instructions and any required assessment. Record who makes that decision and what happens if work must wait.

6. Where does the coating stop?

   Request a sketch or marked photo showing steps, drains, edges and adjoining surfaces. Match the measured area, finishing details and exclusions to the quote.

7. What if conditions are unsuitable on installation day?

   For an unheated garage or seasonal work, ask which product-specific conditions must be met and who measures them. Record responsibility for conditioning, additional costs and delays.

These are questions to organize a proposal, not prescribed tests or repairs. Ask for the current documents for the actual system being quoted.

Keep unanswered work visible

Give each item a status: included, priced extra, excluded or unresolved. An unresolved treatment is not a zero-dollar allowance. Record what will resolve it, who will supply the answer and whether the price or schedule could change.

Transfer the known scope and price to the quote comparison worksheet. Record products and layers in the system specification.

Sources and limits

Sources checked October 20, 2026. These manufacturer examples explain why the actual system’s instructions matter; neither is a recommendation for your garage.

• SIMIRON SIMFLAKE SB/UV 1-Day Polyaspartic System Guide, July 12, 2024, pages 2–3 and 5: existing-coating removal, moisture requirements, joint treatment and movement limitations.
• Sherwin-Williams concrete evaluation guidance: documenting slab conditions and evaluating moisture and contaminants. This is general manufacturer guidance, not a requirement for every garage to receive the same tests.

Barrett Industries LLC prepared this homeowner planning aid. We have not inspected your floor, tested these systems or obtained an independent technical review.

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