Vazquez Project

Case Study: Refreshing an 575 SQFT Garage in Palm Harbor, Florida

Mr. Vazquez wanted to explore a new finish for his garage, but he first needed to understand his options. His existing painted floor was peeling, and he wanted to compare coating systems and pricing before deciding how to move forward. The starting point was a closer look at the surface and the preparation it needed.

The Vazquez project covered 575 square feet of garage flooring. Before installation, Tru-Grit evaluated the existing coating, checked moisture and surface hardness, and identified the areas included in the work. That assessment shaped the preparation requirements and the selected flooring system.

The Challenge: Peeling Paint and a Brittle Entrance Edge

The existing DIY coating was peeling, leaving scattered worn areas across the garage. Near the entrance, a larger section had separated and exposed the gray surface beneath. The lip where the garage met the apron also had brittle spots.

These conditions affected more than the floor’s appearance. The old coating needed preparation before the new layers could be installed. The entrance edge also required attention during the assessment because it formed the boundary of the coating area.

Moisture testing identified a need for MVB primer. This added an important requirement to the project without establishing moisture as the cause of the peeling paint. The installation approach needed to account for both the existing finish and the conditions within the concrete.

The Solution: Shoreline Flooring with a Coordinated Cove Base

The selected system combined full flake garage flooring in Shoreline with an MVB FC primer requirement. A coated cove base extended the decorative finish onto the low raised base around the perimeter. Including this detail brought the floor and its edges into the same design.

The garage apron remained outside the coating scope. Defining that boundary before installation made clear where the new finish would end and which adjacent surfaces would remain unchanged.

The Process: Preparation, Primer and Flake Broadcast

The crew began with surface preparation on the existing painted floor. This stage came before the coating applications and established the surface for the next layers. Primer was then applied to the prepared garage floor.

Next, the crew applied the base coat and broadcast the Shoreline flakes across the surface. Full flake coverage created the decorative pattern throughout the garage. The finish continued onto the cove base, while joint lines remained part of the floor’s layout.

Why Surface Preparation Matters

For a homeowner comparing garage flooring options, color is often the easiest feature to picture. The condition beneath that finish is just as important to discuss. A floor with an existing coating may call for a different preparation approach than bare concrete.

This project also shows the value of defining the work beyond the main floor. The cove base and apron were separate scope decisions. Considering those details at the beginning helped connect the installation plan with the finished appearance the homeowner would see.

The Outcome: A More Finished Garage

The completed Shoreline floor gives Mr. Vazquez’s garage a consistent decorative appearance in place of the patchy painted surface. The coated cove base creates a coordinated perimeter, and the visible joint lines give definition to the floor.

The change carries across the space rather than stopping at a small area of damage. From the entrance to the interior walls, the garage now has a more intentional look that feels connected to the rest of the home.