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Every concrete coating company markets a lifetime warranty.
It’s on every website, every truck wrap, every flyer. And most homeowners assume “lifetime warranty” means everything is covered, forever.
It doesn’t.
And the companies saying it rarely explain what they mean.
At TORQ Coatings, we think you deserve to know exactly what a warranty covers and what it doesn’t before you sign anything.
This article gives you the full picture, including the exclusions most contractors leave out of the sales pitch.
What TORQ’s lifetime warranty covers
A properly installed polyaspartic coating system shouldn’t peel, chip, or yellow. If it does, that’s a product failure or an installation failure. Both of those are on the installer, not you.
TORQ’s lifetime residential warranty covers three things:
Peeling. If the coating separates from the concrete due to installer error, the surface wasn’t prepared properly. Diamond grinding creates the bond that prevents peeling. If the coating peels due to installer error, we fix it.
Chipping. If the top coat chips away from normal use, that means it wasn’t applied thick enough. A properly installed polyaspartic top coat at the right thickness resists chipping from dropped tools, rolling carts, and everyday garage activity. If it chips due to installer error, we fix it.
Yellowing. If the coating turns yellow over time, that means the wrong product was used as a top coat. Polyaspartic is UV-stable and doesn’t yellow. Epoxy does. If we installed it and it yellows, we fix it, barring some extreme circumstance.
The warranty covers both labor and material. That matters. Some companies cover the material but charge you for labor on a warranty claim. That’s not a real warranty. TORQ covers both.
The warranty is transferable to one additional homeowner. If you sell your home, the warranty goes with it. That’s a selling point for you and peace of mind for the buyer.
What no warranty covers (and why)
Every lifetime warranty has exclusions. Honest companies tell you about them upfront.
Here are the things TORQ’s warranty does not cover, and why.
Hydrostatic pressure
When moisture pushes up from underneath the concrete slab, that’s hydrostatic pressure. It can cause the coating to bubble, lift, or delaminate from below.
We can’t control what happens under your slab. But we can identify moisture issues before installation. During your in-home consultation, we use a moisture reader to check the concrete.
If moisture is present, we spec the right product for that environment.
But if conditions change after installation, if ground water levels shift or drainage patterns change and moisture starts coming up through the slab, that’s beyond what any coating warranty can cover.
No installer in the industry covers hydrostatic pressure, and anyone who says they do isn’t being straight with you.
Concrete substrate failure
Concrete cracks. It happens. Earth movement, settling, freeze-thaw cycles. When the concrete itself fails, the coating on top of it will show that damage.
If a crack opens in your slab because the ground shifted underneath it, that’s not a coating failure. That’s a concrete failure. The coating went along for the ride.
In the Chicagoland and Milwaukee markets, freeze-thaw cycles put real stress on concrete. Water gets into tiny pores, freezes, expands, and breaks the surface.
That kind of damage to the substrate itself isn’t something a coating can prevent or that a warranty can cover.
Corrosive liquids
The polyaspartic top coat handles everyday garage chemicals. Gas, oil, common spills. That’s what it’s designed for.
But battery acid and brake cleaner are a different category. These are super corrosive liquids that eat through a polyaspartic top coat. If that happens, the warranty is void for that damage.
This isn’t a loophole. It’s chemistry. No polymer coating on the market can resist concentrated acid or aggressive solvents indefinitely.
If you work on vehicles and use brake clean regularly, just be aware that it needs to be cleaned up quickly.
What to ask every other contractor about their warranty
If you’re getting estimates from other coating companies, ask these three questions. Their answers will tell you a lot about how they do business.
“What’s the length of your warranty?”
Lifetime is common for residential. But does lifetime mean your lifetime in the home? The life of the product? 10 years with fine print that calls it “lifetime”? Get the specifics.
“Is it transferable?”
If you sell your home, does the warranty transfer to the new owner? And if so, how many times? TORQ’s warranty transfers once. Some companies don’t transfer at all, which means the warranty dies the day you sell.
“What does it cover and what doesn’t it cover?”
This is where you separate honest contractors from everyone else. If they can’t give you a clear, specific answer about exclusions, that’s a red flag.
Every warranty has things it doesn’t cover. The question is whether the company tells you about them before you pay or after you file a claim.
Read the fine print
That’s not a cliche. It’s real advice for this industry.
Get the warranty in writing before you agree to anything. Read the exclusions.
Ask about the specific scenarios we described in this article. Hydrostatic pressure. Substrate failure. Corrosive chemicals. Maintenance requirements.
A warranty is only as good as the company behind it.
Look for a company that puts their warranty details in plain language, covers both labor and material, and has the track record and stability to honor it for the long term.
Frequently asked questions
What does a lifetime concrete coating warranty cover?
At TORQ Coatings, the lifetime residential warranty covers peeling, chipping, and yellowing. These are the three most common coating failures, and each one points to either a preparation issue or a product issue. Both labor and material are covered.
Is a concrete coating warranty transferable?
It depends on the company. TORQ’s warranty is transferable to one additional homeowner. Some companies don’t offer transferability at all. Ask about this before you commit, especially if you think you might sell your home in the future.
What is hydrostatic pressure and why isn’t it covered?
Hydrostatic pressure is moisture pushing up from underneath the concrete slab. It can cause the coating to bubble or lift from below. No coating company covers this because it’s a groundwater or drainage issue, not a product or installation defect. Professional installers test for moisture before installation and spec appropriate products.
Does the warranty cover concrete cracks?
No. If the concrete slab cracks from earth movement, settling, or freeze-thaw cycles, that’s a substrate failure. The coating follows the concrete. It can’t prevent the slab from cracking, and no coating warranty covers damage caused by the concrete itself failing.
Will brake cleaner damage a coated garage floor?
Yes. Brake cleaner and battery acid are highly corrosive and can eat through a polyaspartic top coat. The coating handles everyday chemicals like gas, oil, and common spills, but concentrated corrosives will cause damage that isn’t covered under warranty.
How do I know if a coating company’s warranty is legitimate?
Ask for the warranty in writing before you pay. Check whether it covers labor and material (not just material). Ask about exclusions, transferability, and warranty length. If a company can’t give you clear, specific answers about their warranty terms, that’s a warning sign.
What’s the difference between a manufacturer warranty and an installer warranty?
A manufacturer warranty covers the product. An installer warranty covers the labor and workmanship. TORQ’s warranty covers both. Some companies offer only a manufacturer warranty, which means they’re not standing behind their own installation quality.