Exterior dealership concrete has different requirements from an indoor showroom. At Florida Pre-Owned, Kongcrete Coatings installed a 2,200 sq. ft. commercial polyaspartic flooring system across exterior aprons and walkways using a moisture vapor barrier base, full vinyl flake broadcast, and a clear polyaspartic topcoat.
The existing surface first required removal of the previous epoxy paint and mechanical profiling of the concrete. Kongcrete then repaired defects, prepared the surface, applied the grey MVB base, broadcast 1/4-inch grey and black vinyl flakes to full coverage, and finished the system with an industrial clear polyaspartic coating.
For Orlando and Central Florida commercial properties, the project demonstrates how an exterior coating specification differs from a decorative interior showroom system.
Project Summary / Quick Facts
| Project Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Property type | Pre-owned auto dealership |
| Coated areas | Exterior aprons and walkways |
| Project area | 2,200 sq. ft. |
| System | MVB + full-broadcast vinyl flake + clear polyaspartic topcoat |
| Existing surface | Concrete with existing epoxy paint |
| Coating removal | PCD grinding |
| Final mechanical preparation | 16-grit diamond grinding |
| Surface profile target | ICRI CSP 2 |
| Repairs | High-performance industrial polyurea |
| Base coat | Grey industrial moisture vapor barrier |
| Base application rate | 100 sq. ft./gal |
| Flake | 1/4-inch grey/black vinyl flake |
| Flake coverage | Full broadcast / 100% coverage |
| Topcoat | Industrial clear polyaspartic coating |
Why an Exterior Dealership Area Needs a Different Floor System
Exterior dealership surfaces are exposed to conditions an indoor showroom generally does not encounter, including direct sunlight, rain, vehicle movement, and outdoor contaminants.
That does not mean one coating solves every exterior condition. The substrate, moisture conditions, traffic, cleaning procedures, and selected coating products all affect system design.
For the Florida Pre-Owned exterior areas, Kongcrete Coatings used a layered system in which the MVB served as the base beneath a full vinyl flake broadcast, while the clear polyaspartic coating formed the exposed topcoat.
This is different from the Charcoal Metallic epoxy system used inside the same dealership.
Step-by-step Exterior Flake System Installation
Step 1: Heavy Mechanical Diamond Grinding & Substrate Profiling
A permanent coating bond requires proper surface preparation.
- Coating Removal: Our installation team utilized Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) blades to strip away existing thick, failing surface coatings.
- Mechanical Profiling: We profiled the concrete slab using 16-grit diamond blades to achieve an ICRI Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) 2. Opening the concrete pores allowing our industrial vapor moisture barrier base coat to penetrate deep into the concrete slab.
Step 2: High- Performance Polyurea Surface Patching
To ensure a smooth, seamless finish, all cracks, pits, expansion joint edge spalls, and surface gouges were repaired using fast-curing, high-strength commercial polyurea materials.
Step 3: Industrial Debris & Dust Extraction
Airborne dust prevents chemical adhesion. The entire floor underwent industrial concrete mopping and an acetone wash solution to remove remaining micro-dust and surface contaminants.
Step 4: Pigmented Moisture Vapor Barrier & Full Flake Broadcast
A permanent coating bond requires proper surface preparation and a deep penetrating base coat to create a foundational anchor.
- Sub-Slab Moisture Protection: Kongcrete applied an industrial grey Moisture Vapor Barrier (MVB) sealer and base coat at 100 sq. ft. per gallon to block sub-slab moisture vapor transmission. This thicker coating delivers a more durable foundation and gives customers a better feel underfoot.
- 100% Full Flake Broadcast: While the base coat was wet, our crew broadcasts 1/4″ vinyl flakes to complete rejection (100% full coverage). The thick vapor barrier also provides a higher volume of vinyl flake embedment. This means a thicker shield and no patchy or inconsistent areas.
- Cure Time: Our modern moisture vapor barrier technology allows this layer to dry within 2 1/2 hours. Faster dry and cure times means faster turn around time so businesses can open their doors quickly to start or resume operations.
Step 5: Scrape the Flake and Remove Loose Material
After the flake layer was ready, excess vinyl flake was scraped to establish the desired surface texture.
The floor was then cleaned with commercial HEPA-filtration vacuums to remove loose aggregate before the clear topcoat was installed.
This step prepares the broadcast layer so loose flakes are not trapped unpredictably in the finished surface.
Step 6: Apply the Clear Polyaspartic Topcoat
Kongcrete Coatings finished the system with an industrial clear polyaspartic coating.
The topcoat forms the exposed wear surface over the decorative flake layer and was selected for an exterior commercial environment.
Polyaspartic coatings are commonly considered for exterior applications because formulations are available with UV-stability, abrasion-resistance, and chemical-resistance characteristics. The exact performance of a particular installation depends on the product selected, its application, and the conditions of use.
For this project, the documented topcoat cure period was 2–3 hours. That figure should not be interpreted as a universal vehicle-return or full-cure time unless the product manufacturer specifies it.
Technical Project Specifications
| Specification | Florida Pre-Owned Exterior |
|---|---|
| Area | Exterior aprons and walkways |
| Total square footage | 2,200 sq. ft. |
| Existing coating removal | PCD grinding |
| Mechanical preparation | 16-grit diamond grinding |
| Surface profile | ICRI CSP 2 |
| Repair material | High-performance industrial polyurea |
| Base layer | Grey industrial moisture vapor barrier |
| Base application rate | 100 sq. ft./gal |
| Decorative aggregate | 1/4-inch grey/black vinyl flake |
| Flake application | Full broadcast / 100% coverage |
| Final layer | Industrial clear polyaspartic topcoat |
| Finish | High gloss |
| MVB dry time stated for this project | Approximately 2 1/2 hours |
| Topcoat cure period stated for this project | 2–3 hours |
These are project-specific installation details. Product cure schedules and return-to-service requirements can vary with the coating, temperature, humidity, substrate, and other job conditions.
Why the MVB, Flake and Polyaspartic Layers Have Different Jobs
A multi-layer coating system does not rely on one material to perform every function.
In this installation, the MVB was used as the base layer, the vinyl flake created the broadcast layer and surface texture, and the clear polyaspartic served as the exposed protective topcoat.
That layered approach also helps explain why comparing “epoxy versus polyaspartic” as though one material must always replace the other can be misleading. Resinous flooring systems can combine different materials according to the role each layer needs to perform.
Check out this guide to hybrid epoxy-base and polyaspartic-topcoat systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best exterior floor coating for a car dealership?
For a car dealership, the best exterior floor coating is typically a commercial-grade hybrid flooring system built with a Moisture Vapor Barrier (MVB) base coat, full vinyl flake broadcast, and a polyaspartic clear topcoat. This system is well suited for dealership drive lanes, service areas, walkways, customer parking areas, and other high-traffic concrete surfaces exposed to vehicles, weather, chemicals, and UV.
The MVB base coat provides the foundation, creating a strong, deeply anchored layer designed to address moisture-related challenges in concrete. The full vinyl flake broadcast adds texture and coverage, while the polyaspartic clear topcoat provides the protective surface layer, delivering excellent UV stability, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and durability.
Polyaspartic is specifically designed to perform as a protective topcoat, where its performance advantages can be fully utilized. Combined with an industrial MVB foundation, this creates a proven, time-tested commercial and industrial floor coating system designed for demanding dealership environments.
Why are polyaspartic coatings preferred over standard epoxy for exterior concrete?
Polyaspartic coatings are preferred over standard epoxy for exterior concrete because they offer superior UV stability, flexibility, thermal shock resistance, and faster cure times. Unlike conventional epoxy, a quality polyaspartic topcoat is designed to withstand prolonged direct sunlight without the yellowing and UV degradation commonly associated with epoxy.
Polyaspartic also has greater elasticity, allowing it to better accommodate the expansion and contraction that exterior concrete experiences with changing temperatures. Its superior thermal shock resistance and rapid cure time make it particularly well suited for demanding outdoor
So you can put polyaspartic coatings outside?
Yes. Polyaspartic coatings are particularly well suited for exterior concrete because they offer excellent UV stability, flexibility, thermal shock resistance, and chemical resistance. Unlike standard epoxy, polyaspartic is designed to function as a durable protective topcoat in environments exposed to sunlight, rain, temperature changes, vehicle traffic, and chemicals.
What is the difference between epoxy and polyaspartic floor coatings?
Epoxy and polyaspartic serve different roles in a high-performance coating system. Epoxy is commonly used as a strong bonding and build layer, while polyaspartic is frequently used as the protective topcoat. Polyaspartic offers advantages for exposed surfaces, including superior UV stability, faster cure times, greater flexibility, and strong resistance to abrasion and chemicals.
How long does a polyaspartic floor coating last outside?
The service life of an exterior polyaspartic floor coating depends on the concrete condition, surface preparation, coating system, traffic, chemical exposure, UV exposure, and maintenance. A properly engineered commercial system with appropriate substrate preparation and a high-quality polyaspartic topcoat can provide long-term performance in demanding exterior environments. The coating system and installation quality are just as important as the individual coating material.
Get a Commercial Flooring Estimate in Orlando
If your dealership, retail property, service facility or other commercial property in Orlando or Central Florida needs a new floor coating, the first step is evaluating the existing substrate and how the area is used.
Kongcrete Coatings installs commercial epoxy, metallic and polyaspartic flooring systems based on project requirements.