Your Top Concrete Floor Coatings Questions—Answered by Amy from Fortress Floors Midwest Pro

When Cincinnati-area homeowners start exploring concrete floor coatings for their garage, basement, patio, or pool deck, they often have a lot of questions. As the Co-Owner and Sales Manager of Fortress Floors Midwest Pro, Amy has met with hundreds of homeowners across Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Eastern Indiana—so she knows exactly what people are most curious (and cautious) about.

Below is a collection of the most frequently asked questions Amy receives, along with clear, helpful answers you can trust as you plan your own project.

1. What is the difference between polyurea and epoxy concrete floor coatings?

This is the question Amy gets more than any other.

Epoxy is an older technology—rigid, brittle, and prone to peeling, yellowing, and hot-tire pickup.
Polyurea, however, is:

4X stronger than epoxy
Flexible, so it expands and contracts with Cincinnati’s freeze–thaw cycles
100% UV stable (no yellowing or fading)
Resistant to salts, chemicals, and moisture
Installed and cured much faster

Fortress Floors Midwest Pro uses a 100% solids polyurea base coat with a polyaspartic top coat—the most advanced system available for residential coatings today.

2. How long does the installation take?

Most Cincinnati homeowners are surprised when Amy tells them:

Most projects are installed in just ONE DAY.
You can walk on the surface the next day and move items back in 48 hours after top coat is applied.

Basements, garages, patios, pool decks, porches, and sidewalks—almost all are completed start-to-finish in a single day.

3. Is the coating slippery?

This is a big concern—especially for basements, pool decks, and porches.

Amy explains it this way:

Our standard finish has a slip-resistant texture.
For wet areas (pool decks, bathrooms, entryways), we can add extra traction.
For indoor comfort (basements, playrooms), we can make it smoother on bare feet.

Your coating’s texture is fully customizable.

4. Will it hold up to flooding or moisture?

After last spring’s Ohio River flooding, this question skyrocketed.

The answer: YES.
Polyurea is non-porous, meaning water cannot penetrate it.

Benefits include:

No yucky stuff like mold or mildew growth
No musty smells
Easy cleanup
No discoloration or peeling

Basements in Cincinnati, Anderson Township, Milford, Loveland, Northern Kentucky, and Lawrenceburg benefit tremendously from this moisture-resistant system.

5. What color options do you offer?

Fortress Floors Midwest Pro offers:

20 standard flake blends
Unlimited custom combinations
On-site samples during your estimate
A Floor Visualizer tool to preview colors digitally

From charcoal and granite to tans, browns, and bold multicolor blends, there’s a look for every style.

6. How long will my new floor last?

Amy’s answer is simple:
Decades.

Because polyurea is flexible, UV stable, and impact resistant, it resists:

Cracking
Peeling
Hot-tire pickup
Stains
Salt and chemical damage

Every residential project includes a 15-Year Transferable Warranty on peeling and discoloration.

7. Is there a strong odor during installation?

No. Customers are often surprised to learn that our coatings:

Contain no harmful VOCs
Are safe for families, pets, and indoor air quality
Produces minimal smell that dissipates quickly

This makes them ideal for basements, mudrooms, and interior spaces.

8. Can you install the coating in winter?

Yes! Cincinnati winters don’t slow us down.

Our polyurea system can be installed in temperatures as low as 0°F, meaning:

Year-round scheduling
No waiting for summer
Less downtime for your family
For outdoor projects and our installers safety we may adjust installation schedules when temps are below freezing

This is one of the main reasons homeowners choose polyurea over epoxy, which requires much warmer conditions.

9. Do you use subcontractors?

No. Never.

Fortress Floors Midwest Pro uses:

Full-time, professionally trained installers
Technicians instructed by our product suppliers
Employees who follow our strict installation process—no exceptions

This ensures consistent, high-quality results on every project.

10. How much does a concrete coating cost?

Amy always explains that pricing depends on:

Square footage
Condition of the concrete
Custom color choices
Indoor vs. outdoor location

But she also emphasizes:

Free written estimates are always provided
Financing is available for residential customers (with credit approval)

Most homeowners are pleasantly surprised by how affordable these long-lasting coatings can be.

11. What areas do you service?

Fortress Floors Midwest Pro proudly serves the entire Tri-State, including:

Southwest Ohio

Cincinnati, Milford, Loveland, Anderson Township, Batavia, Amelia, Goshen, Mason, West Chester, Lebanon, Hamilton, Fairfield, Blue Ash, Montgomery, Hyde Park, Madeira, Dayton, Middletown, Bethel, Springboro, Monroe, Trenton, Miamisburg

Northern Kentucky

Florence, Independence, Fort Thomas, Covington, Erlanger, Hebron, Newport, Union, Triple Crown,

Southeastern Indiana

Lawrenceburg, Greendale, Bright, Rising Sun

Have More Questions? Schedule Your Free Estimate Today!

Amy and the Fortress Floors Midwest Pro team are here to help you choose the best coating for your garage, basement, patio, porch, pool deck, or driveway.

📞 Call us at 513-704-6162
🗓 Book your free estimate online
💬 Ask about financing options

Whether you’re worried about moisture, looking to add style, or ready to transform your concrete, Fortress Floors Midwest Pro has a solution you’ll love for decades.