# Problems guides

> What goes wrong: independent, numbers-first guidance from Epoxy Garage Floor Lab.

Canonical: https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/problems/

Last updated: 2026-11-08

## Symptoms first, quotes second

Most expensive epoxy garage floor mistakes start with a symptom described to a salesperson. The table maps the common symptoms to their usual cause — the diagnosis a contractor should confirm before quoting.

 |  | Symptom | Usual cause

 | Hot tire pickup | Under-cured or thin topcoat

 | Peeling | Moisture or poor prep

 | Bubbles | Outgassing from concrete

 | Yellowing | UV exposure on epoxy

 | Cracks telegraphing | Slab movement, not the coating

## What to document

- Photographs with something for scale, taken at the same angle over time.

- Dates: when it started, whether it changes with weather.

- Water: where it goes, where it pools, what it damages.

- Previous work: who did it, when, and with what material.

## What not to do first

Do not accept a repair scope before the cause is named. Patching a symptom is how the same problem returns next season with a bigger invoice. The [methods hub](/methods/) explains what each fix addresses; the [cost hub](/cost/) shows what it should cost.

### When is it an emergency?

When water is entering the structure, when something is structurally unstable, or when a safety system has failed. Everything else can wait for a second opinion.

### Should I get an independent inspection?

For anything structural or over about $5,000, yes. A few hundred dollars for an independent report is cheaper than a wrong scope.

## Guides in Problems

- [Bubbles: how to prevent it](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/bubbles-prevention/)
- [Bubbles on Epoxy Garage Floors: Repair Options](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/bubbles-repair/)
- [Bubbles: Warning Signs on Garage Floors](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/bubbles-signs/)
- [Cracks telegraphing: how to prevent it](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/cracks-telegraphing-prevention/)
- [Cracks telegraphing: repair options](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/cracks-telegraphing-repair/)
- [Cracks telegraphing: warning signs](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/cracks-telegraphing-signs/)
- [Epoxy maintenance: the yearly routine](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/epoxy-maintenance/)
- [Epoxy problems: causes and fixes](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/epoxy-problems/)
- [Flake broadcast maintenance](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/flake-broadcast-maintenance/)
- [Flake Broadcast Guide](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/flake-broadcast-problems/)
- [Hot tire pickup: how to prevent it](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/hot-tire-pickup-prevention/)
- [Hot tire pickup: repair options](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/hot-tire-pickup-repair/)
- [Hot tire pickup: warning signs](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/hot-tire-pickup-signs/)
- [Metallic pigment maintenance](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/metallic-pigment-maintenance/)
- [Metallic pigment problems](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/metallic-pigment-problems/)
- [Peeling: how to prevent it](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/peeling-prevention/)
- [Peeling: repair options](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/peeling-repair/)
- [Peeling: warning signs](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/peeling-signs/)
- [Polyaspartic maintenance: a cleaning routine](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/polyaspartic-maintenance/)
- [Polyaspartic problems: what fails and why](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/polyaspartic-problems/)
- [Polyurethane maintenance for garage floors](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/polyurethane-maintenance/)
- [Polyurethane problems on garage floors](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/polyurethane-problems/)
- [Yellowing: how to prevent it](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/yellowing-prevention/)
- [Yellowing: repair options](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/yellowing-repair/)
- [Yellowing: warning signs](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/yellowing-signs/)
- [Epoxy Garage Floor Maintenance Schedule: What to Do](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/epoxy-garage-floor-maintenance/)
- [Epoxy Garage Floor Repair: When It Is Worth It](https://epoxygaragefloorlab.com/epoxy-garage-floor-repair/)