How To Repair Garage Floor Cracks And Pitting
In this article, we look at how to repair cracked and pitting garage floor.
19/07/2021
Is your garage floor cracking and pitting,
and you’re wondering how to go about it? Worry
no more as we have the solution to your problem.
An Epoxy Coating Company in Minnesota The
Concrete Guy was nice enough to lend a hand with
this article.
In most cases, garage
floors are made of sturdy and durable
construction materials like concrete. But still,
they develop some imperfections due to various
factors. One of the leading causes of concrete
cracking is shrinkage. This occurs as a result
of the expansion of the concrete during curing.
The concrete releases the excess water used in
the mix as it hardens and dries.
However, you don’t have to worry about concrete
cracking or pitting as it is a normal thing that
could or happens to any concrete garage floor.
What you should be worried about is how to
repair your cracked or pitted floor. And here is
how.
Repairing garage floor cracks and pits
1. Chase the crack
Don’t be fooled by the appearance of the
crack and assume it isn't deep. Sometimes a
crack may look shallow on the outside, but it's
deep inside. Therefore, before you begin the
repair, you must first determine the extent of
the crack.
You’ll need a hammer and a
chisel to widen the crack. The aim is to break
away the loose materials and edges within the
crack. If you decide to skip this step and
continue with the repair, then the repair won’t
last. The products you use during the repair
need to adhere to a firm surface.
However, you should be careful not to damage
your entire garage floor in the name of chasing
a crack. Chase the crack with caution.
2. Clean your garage floor
After widening the crack, there will be a lot
of dirt and debris on your garage floor. You
won’t go on with the repair without cleaning it
up. The reason is that the refinishing or repair
material won’t bond well on a dirty surface.
First, use a broom or a scrub brush to sweep
away the large dirt particles. If they are very
large, you can start by picking them by hand.
When you’re done, use a shop vac to vacuum the
area to remove the small dirt particles and
other components on your garage floor.
When vacuuming or scrubbing your damaged garage
floor, make sure the dirt or debris doesn’t go
back into the cracks or pits. If they do,
they’ll fill the cracks and prevent the
repairing product from bonding.
The
final cleaning stage is using water and/or a
cleaning solution to scrub and wash the garage
floor thoroughly. The idea is to make your
garage floor super clean.
3. Fill the cracks
You’ll need to apply a filler into the crack
to patch the surface. For large and wide cracks,
use a concrete patching compound to patch and
seal the crack. If the crack is small, you can
just use a liquid filler or a concrete caulk.
You’ll need to mix the patching compound
with water before using it on your cracked
garage floor, after which, use a trowel to apply
the mixture into the crack. Make sure the whole
crack is completely filled before smoothing and
texturing. You’ll realize that the color of the
patching compound does not match that of your
garage floor. To make them even, you can just
paint the whole floor.
If you’re dealing
with a cracked garage floor alone, here is the
place to give yourself a tap on the back for a
job well done. However, if your floor is, pitted
there’s still some work to be done.
4. Resurface the garage floor
For a pitted garage floor, you’ll have to
resurface the whole garage floor. There are
different materials you can use to give your
pitted garage floor a new look. Just make sure
you choose the right product, and you follow the
manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when
using the product.
After mixing the
resurfacer thoroughly, use a squeegee to spread
it over your pitted garage floor. Start from one
corner and work your way towards the door.
When done, cover the surface and keep your
garage floor out of use for about two days. Note
that you may require more or less drying time
depending on the type of product you use and the
weather conditions available.
Epoxy Floors Are A Long Term Solution
Garage floor repairs should never make you scratch your head. The process is very simple and straightforward. All you need is to use the right materials and products. It’s worth noting that surface preparation is mandatory and crucial during such a project.