If you have a concrete garage floor, it’s pretty common to find some cracks there. These cracks are often too thin or small to notice. But sometimes, they can be enormous. Large cracks raise the question of how to repair large cracks in concrete garage floor.
You can repair large cracks in your concrete garage floor with some DIY fillers like epoxy at home. You can find them online or at hardware stores. Applying these filters can take a few steps, but they are easy to implement. Following some basic steps will help you get rid of these cracks and avoid facing further damage.
Some large cracks are easily mended through DIY solutions. On the other hand, some might need a specialized approach to repair. You need to look for when to go DIY and when to ask for help from an expert.
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Why Cracks Happen in Concrete Garage Floor
There can be several reasons to get cracks in the concrete garage floor. One of the most common reasons is improper construction. Natural phenomena like earthquakes can create large gaps in faulty construction.
Whether the floor is made of concrete slab or bricks, the mixture of sand, cement, and other components has to be in the perfect amount. Otherwise, there is a probability of the floor being cracked after drying. These kinds of cracks are found mostly if inexperienced people do the work.
Again, concrete is a kind of ductile material. Even though concrete tends to expand or shrink by changing temperature, it cannot change shape without breaking. Thus, it ends up creating cracks in the floor.
The settling of the ground underneath the concrete is a significant reason for cracking. Also, the joining of the slabs might show some cracking between them. This can result from exerting too much weight on the floor or the placement of the slab into the ground.
DIY Products for Repairing Concrete Garage Floor
There are two types of DIY products available that can be used for repairing your concrete garage floor. One is a self-mixing binder, and the other one has to be mixed by you.
Professional builders generally use the second one. So, if you are new at this, it is better to go for the self-mixing binder.
It is always best to use epoxy, polyurethane, or polyurea-based fillers. These products have a greater strength to hold concrete. Some of these fillers can be mixed with sand or cement.
In the case of larger cracks, the mixture sits more strongly than the filler itself. Also, an epoxy-based filler allows you to paint over it.
Try to avoid water-based or latex-based concrete filler. It is hard to give any shape to these files after they are dried. They are not as sandable as epoxy, polyurethane, or polyurea-based fillers, and you cannot paint over them.
Also, over time, they might shrink and detach from the crack. The self-leveling sealant has the same issue of separating.
Repairing Large Cracks In Concrete Garage Floor
Repairing the large cracks on your concrete garage floor might sound like heavy-duty work. But the truth is it will need only five steps. You can take out some hours from your weekend and do it yourself.
Step 1: Choose the kind of filler you want to use
The epoxy concrete patch is best to use if you have a more extensive crack wider than 1/3 inch. These kits come with sand aggregate. You have to mix the epoxy gel with the sand to fill deeper gaps.
Step 2: Smooth out the crack
You can smoothen the edges of the cracks with the help of a cold chisel and a hammer. Put the chisel at a definite angle. Now strike it with the hammer. This will allow the rough edges to come off.
Also, you can use a crack chaser. This will take less time and will give more smoothness in the rough cracks. Smooth edges hold the fillers more strongly.
Step 3: Clean the floor properly
Take any kinds of dirt and derbies out of the crack. If necessary, use a vacuum cleaner to take out the dust properly. Any loose dust can temper with the sealer.
Remove all kinds of loose concrete pieces, large or small, from the crack. You can use a wire brush. This will help you to take out the loose parts easily.
Step 4: Apply the fillers into the cracks
These fillers are basically of a gel consistency. They need some time to adjust to the crack. Make sure there are no air holes. You can use rubber pads to put the gel into the pits to eliminate the air holes.
Step 5: Let it rest
A resting period for settling the filler into the crack is critical. Reading the label will let you know how much time to give.
Depending on the type of filler you’re using, it might take 5 hours to 24 hours to dry up. Painting on the fillers after drying up will give you the final result you want.
When To Call an Expert
Though we’re telling you to mend your crack by yourself, sometimes you might need help from an expert. DIY solutions cannot solve extensive damages. So in some cases, it is wise to look out for experts.
In these following cases, contact an expert as soon as possible. They will identify the root of the problem and resolve it for you.
- The crack can be from structural issues. In that case, you have to take help. There is no DIY solution for structural problems.
- If the crack has water leakage, just filling it with the fillers will not be enough. You will need an expert hand to look into the cracks and find the real problem.
- Suppose the two edges of the crack are not at the same level. This can point towards some serious problems that need to be dealt with by an expert.
- If the crack is spreading fast and the previous DIY solution has failed, calling in an expert or professional repairman is the best way to go.
Go For a More Permanent Solution
It is always wise to remember that repairing with these fillers is like patching your floor. They will never give you a permanent solution. This helps to stop the spreading of the crack. Further damage can be avoided for some time.
These cracks can lead to the entrance of water into your garage floor. This will tamper with the existing equipment in the garage. Reconstruct the garage floor as soon as possible to avoid severe damage.
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Final Words
The materialistic nature of the concrete floor prevents it from taking any other shape. Therefore, changing the weather or any other circumstances leads it to crack. Though it might seem complicated, the fillers will allow you to repair it yourself.
Always remember to read the manual of the kits you are buying. It will guide you to work with the filler kits. Take help from the expert in time of necessity or if you are new to concrete works.