Epoxy vs Polyaspartic Garage Flooring — Which Is Best for Vancouver?
If you’re upgrading a garage or small parkade in Vancouver, you’ve probably heard about both epoxy and polyaspartic coatings. They’re often pitched as direct competitors, but in reality they solve slightly different problems.
This guide takes a Vancouver-first look at each system — how they handle moisture, UV, downtime and budget — so you can choose the right garage floor for your home, strata or commercial space.
Why Vancouver’s climate changes the decision
Vancouver’s mild but wet climate means your garage floor has to deal with rain, grit, road salt and humidity almost year-round. Moisture in the concrete is a huge factor: if it isn’t tested and controlled, even the best coating can peel.
That’s why the first decision isn’t “epoxy vs polyaspartic” — it’s “has the slab been tested and properly prepared?” Once moisture and prep are handled, chemistry becomes the fine-tuning for cure time, UV stability and budget.
Epoxy vs polyaspartic at a glance
Ideal for most residential garages and many light commercial spaces where you can give the floor 1–3 days to cure.
- Excellent value on 1–2 car garages.
- Decorative flake, solid colour or metallic options.
- Very durable when installed at the right thickness.
- Needs UV-stable topcoat for areas with strong sunlight.
Best where downtime and UV exposure are major concerns — think condo parkade ramps, busy shops and exposed aprons.
- Fast cure — often back in service in 24 hours.
- Excellent UV stability on exposed areas.
- High abrasion and chemical resistance.
- Higher material cost, often offset by less downtime.
Technical comparison for Vancouver installs
Here’s how the two systems compare on the questions we hear most often across Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby and the Fraser Valley:
| Criteria | Epoxy (100% solids / flake) | Polyaspartic / Polyurea |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cure time | Light traffic in 24–72 hrs; full cure up to 7 days. | Often 2–24 hrs; many systems allow next-day vehicle access. |
| UV stability | Can yellow without a UV-stable topcoat; UV clear recommended near daylight. | Excellent UV stability; ideal for exterior ramps and aprons. |
| Durability | Strong abrasion and chemical resistance at proper thickness. | Equal or better in many formulations; very tough under heavy use. |
| Cost | Lower material cost; often lowest total project cost. | Higher material cost; labour/downtime savings can offset on busy sites. |
| Aesthetics | Flake, solid colour, and metallic finishes all possible. | Solid and metallic looks; usually very high-gloss out of the gate. |
| Best use cases | Residential garages, showrooms, workshops with normal downtime. | Condo parkades, exterior ramps, shops needing rapid return-to-service. |
How the choice plays out in real Vancouver projects
- Detached residential garage (Richmond, Kits, North Van): epoxy flake system — strong value, great aesthetics, downtime is usually not a problem.
- Condo parkade ramp (Downtown Vancouver): polyaspartic — UV stability plus fast cure keeps residents moving.
- Auto workshop (Coquitlam / Langley): heavy-duty epoxy mortar system with clear topcoat for impact and chemical resistance.
- Retail showroom (Surrey / Burnaby): metallic epoxy or high-gloss polyaspartic; choice depends on UV exposure and timeline.
What a proper installation looks like in the Lower Mainland
Any reputable installer around Vancouver follows a similar process. If your quote skips these steps, it’s a red flag:
- Moisture testing (ASTM F2170 or calcium chloride) to check vapor drive.
- Mechanical prep — diamond grinding or shot blasting to create a profile.
- Concrete repairs — cracks, spalls and low spots filled with repair mortars.
- Primer coat matched to the system and slab conditions.
- Base coat + decorative broadcast (flake or metallic, if specified).
- UV-stable clear topcoat for wear, gloss and slip resistance.
- Written handover notes with cure times and maintenance guidelines.
2025 Vancouver pricing guide (ballpark only)
Exact pricing depends on slab condition, repairs and system thickness. But these ranges are a good starting point for budgeting:
- Basic epoxy (1–2 coats): ~$8–$12 / sq ft.
- Decorative flake epoxy: ~$12–$20 / sq ft.
- Polyaspartic systems: ~$16–$28 / sq ft.
- Metallic epoxy (premium): ~$18–$35+ / sq ft.
For example, a 450 sq ft two-car garage in North Vancouver might come in around $5,400–$9,000 for flake epoxy, or $7,200–$12,600 for a polyaspartic system, depending on prep and product selection.
Maintenance and long-term cost
Both epoxy and polyaspartic are low-maintenance, but simple habits pay off:
- Sweep or dust-mop regularly, especially during rainy months.
- Mop with a pH-neutral cleaner instead of harsh chemicals.
- Use entrance mats to capture mud, gravel and road salt.
- Spot-clean spills promptly with a coating-friendly degreaser.
- Plan a re-topcoat on high-wear lanes every 5–10 years, depending on traffic.
For busy commercial sites, factor in downtime costs. Polyaspartic can be a smart investment when every day of closure has a price tag.
Will epoxy peel in my damp Vancouver garage?
It can if prep and moisture aren’t handled properly. With mechanical grinding and documented moisture testing, peeling is rare. Most failures we’re called to fix trace back to skipped prep, not the product itself.
How soon can I park my car after installation?
Polyaspartic systems often allow parking within about 24 hours. Epoxy systems typically need 24–72 hours before light vehicle traffic. Your quote should spell out exact timings based on the products used.
Which system is more slip-resistant when wet?
Both can be textured. In coastal conditions, we usually recommend a flake broadcast with traction additives in the topcoat for ramps and garage entrances.
Do you provide warranties in Vancouver?
Yes. Priority One Epoxy Flooring provides written workmanship warranties and product warranty details with our quotes for Vancouver and Lower Mainland projects.
So which should you choose for your Vancouver garage?
If your priority is best value and a clean, durable finish, a properly installed epoxy flake system is hard to beat for most residential garages.
If your priority is fast access and strong UV stability — condo parkades, exterior ramps, busy commercial bays — a polyaspartic system is usually worth the extra investment.
In both cases, the installer’s prep process, moisture testing and product knowledge matter more than the logo on the pail.
Priority One Epoxy Flooring offers free site inspections, moisture testing and written recommendations for garages and parkades across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam and the Lower Mainland.
