Repairing Guides

how to repair pitted cement garage floor

by Crystel Koelpin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Start with a clean floor. Scrub with a concrete degreaser and a stiff brush, then follow up with a pressure washer. Rinse twice to remove all residue.
  • Find the deep pits. Make a mark 1/4 in. from the tip of a pencil. ...
  • Remove the loose stuff. Chisel away any loose fragments along cracks or craters; there's no need to bust away concrete that’s firmly attached.
  • Concrete Floor Patch: Fill cracks, craters, divots and pits. Mix up a stiff batch of resurfacer, using just enough water for a workable consistency. ...
  • Create a dam. Glue weather strip to the floor exactly where the garage door rests. This will stop resurfacer from flowing onto the driveway.

Clean the slab and fill deep holes and cracks
  1. Clean the slab and fill deep holes and cracks. Start with a clean floor. ...
  2. Remove the loose stuff. ...
  3. Concrete Floor Patch: Fill cracks, craters, divots and pits. ...
  4. Create a dam. ...
  5. Spread it smooth, then let it set.
Mar 16, 2022

How to resurface a concrete garage floor?

STEP BY STEP GARAGE FLOOR REPAIR:

  1. Clean out the crack with a vacuum, remove any loose cement or aggregates.
  2. Inject the crack weld resin into the crack to wet it, it will soon get tacky.
  3. Push the dry silica sand into the crack to fill it.
  4. Thoroughly saturate the sand with the crack weld resin and fill it to the surface.
  5. In 10 - 15 minutes scrape the surface level with a putty knife.

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How do you repair a concrete garage floor?

  • Empty the garage. ...
  • Demolish and remove the current flooring.
  • Excavate deeper to reach solid ground.
  • Repair the foundation or reinforce as necessary.
  • Install a geotextile membrane.
  • Set up a drain for the garage.
  • Fill in the area with gravel (3/4”) and compact it.
  • Put in place a vapor barrier.
  • Install wire mesh or fiber mesh as reinforcement.

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How to repair pits and cracks on concrete garage floor?

Mix and spread the resurfacer

  • Mix like mad. Recruit a helper to mix the resurfacer while you spread it. ...
  • Spread it smooth, then let it set. Spread from the middle of the puddle. ...
  • Erase your mistakes. If you end up with ridges, shallow craters or squeegee marks, you don’t have to live with them forever.

How to repaint the garage floor?

Steps Download Article

  1. Clean your garage. This means power washing the outside and scrubbing the inside. ...
  2. Wear personal protective equipment. This means goggles and chemical resistant gloves and boots. ...
  3. Ventilate the garage. ...
  4. Mix a 3-1 solution of bleach and water to soak and scrub the floor. ...

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Can pitted concrete be repaired?

0:392:47Concrete Surfaces Spalling - Sherwin-Williams - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou'll need a water source mixing bucket variable speed drill mixing paddle steel trowel safetyMoreYou'll need a water source mixing bucket variable speed drill mixing paddle steel trowel safety glasses and a respirator. Before getting started make sure the surface is clean dull dry.

How do you fill pitting in concrete?

4:165:52Concrete Floor Pitting Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we'll just use that margin trowel and just just start applying some of the mortar it doesn't needMoreSo we'll just use that margin trowel and just just start applying some of the mortar it doesn't need to be perfect at this point it really is about getting it to fill with the pitting.

What causes garage floor pitting?

Pitting is characterized by many small yet deep holes on the surface of the concrete. It's typically caused by one or more factors, such as the use of an inadequate concrete mix, improper finishing or years of wear. It can cover large areas of a garage floor.

How do you clean a pitted garage floor?

0:103:36Resurfacing a Garage Floor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can see that the garage floor is very pitted. Clean the floor first with a push broom or aMoreYou can see that the garage floor is very pitted. Clean the floor first with a push broom or a blower. And clean up any oil spills with a detergent. Scrape up and remove any spills from paint or

Why does concrete get pitted?

During a pour, if too much accelerator is used, used so the concrete sets before bad weather comes, it can cause a pitting to occur. The accelerator will force water to dry faster inside the concrete, and this creates the dimpled, pitted surface in driveway.

Can I use self-leveling concrete in a garage?

Self-leveling concrete is perfect for basements or garages because it's resistant to mold growth. It also dries incredibly quickly. Your work will be completed faster and with less risk of someone accidentally stepping in it.

What is the best product to resurface concrete?

Our Top PicksBest For Interiors. Quikrete Fast-Setting Self-Leveling Floor Resurfacer. ... Best for Exteriors. Rapid Set High Strength, 15 Min Set, Featheredge. ... Best For Cracks. KILZ Over Armor Textured Wood/Concrete Coating. ... Best For Flooring. Ardex Feather Finish Grey Self-Drying Cement. ... Best For Small Jobs. ... Best Premixed.

How do you make concrete look new again?

3 Ways to Make Old Concrete Look New AgainPower Wash. Over time, your concrete will accumulate grime and dirt. ... Resurface. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to improve your curb appeal, resurfacing your concrete steps and driveway is a great way to start. ... Add Stain or Sealing Coats. ... Revive Your Old Concrete.

How do you fix salt damaged concrete?

0:1214:21How To Repair And Resurface Spalled, Salt Damaged ConcreteYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll right so the first thing we got to do is remove that damaged concrete. Now for me i find theMoreAll right so the first thing we got to do is remove that damaged concrete. Now for me i find the best way to do it is just with a little four inch grinder and a vacuum.

How do you fix a crumbling concrete floor?

0:472:35How to repair a concrete floor - U-CAN Ready to Use ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipForce the concrete patch repair into the space squeezing out any air bubbles and level the surfaceMoreForce the concrete patch repair into the space squeezing out any air bubbles and level the surface of the concrete in line with the surrounding.

What is the best DIY garage floor coating?

Top 5 Garage Floor Coating OptionsBest Paint Kit: Rust-Oleum RockSolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Kit.Best Value: KILZ One-Part Epoxy Acrylic Interior/Exterior Concrete and Garage Floor Paint.Best Epoxy Kit: Colored Epoxies 1002 Clear Epoxy Resin Coating.Best Concrete Sealer: Siloxa-Tek Penetrating Concrete Sealer.More items...

How do you fix salt damaged garage floor?

Mix 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water and then add a squirt of dish soap. Apply the vinegar solution to the salt stains and let it sit for 5 minutes to penetrate. After 5 minutes, add a little more solution and scrub the stain with a deck brush. Use a wet vac to pull the salty solution out of the concrete.

How do you fix pitted concrete driveway?

Fill Cracks and Holes Fill all cracks and large holes with concrete patch or the material you're using to resurface the driveway. If the cracks and holes are deep, fill with them with sand until they're 1/2 inch deep, then patch. Be sure to smooth it flat with a trowel, and allow the patch to dry.

How do I stop my concrete driveway from pitting?

Applying concrete driveway sealant to prevent damage The best way to prevent your driveway from cracking is to apply sealant.

How do you fix salt damaged concrete?

0:1214:21How To Repair And Resurface Spalled, Salt Damaged ConcreteYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll right so the first thing we got to do is remove that damaged concrete. Now for me i find theMoreAll right so the first thing we got to do is remove that damaged concrete. Now for me i find the best way to do it is just with a little four inch grinder and a vacuum.

Can you Epoxy a pitted garage floor?

On a floor with a smooth finish, epoxies and concrete paints can protect it effectively, but these do not work as well on a pitted floor that is already started to deteriorate. If you simply want to keep down the dust, a “quick and dirty” paint job will likely help ... for a while.

How long does it take to resurface a garage floor?

Cleaning and resurfacing the floor usually takes one day (on the other hand, clearing out your garage so you can work may take weeks!). Spreading the resurfacer smoothly is the trickiest part of the project, so it helps to have some experience with concrete or drywall finishing.

How much does a concrete resurfacer cost?

Concrete “resurfacer” is a cement-based coating that forms a smooth, new surface right over the old concrete. The cost of resurfacer for a two-car garage is typically less than $200.

How long to let resurfacer sit in bucket?

Take two minutes to read the directions before mixing. The key to a smooth, lump-free mix is to let the resurfacer 'slake,' that is, sit in the bucket for a few minutes after the initial mixing.

Can you use a stripper to remove sealer from concrete?

Important: If you find that the cleaner doesn’t soak into the concrete but just beads up into droplets on the surface, you have a sealer over the concrete that you’ll need to remove. In that case, apply a stripper first to remove the sealer, then clean.

1. Assess the damage to the concrete surface

The first step is to determine the depth of damage. If it's less than ½ inch deep, you can use a concrete parge to fill in the pitted areas of the concrete floor.

2. Clean and remove any loose material from the pitted concrete garage floor

Ensure that the area is clean and free of any debris. Use a broom or floor squeegee. This will help prevent dirt from getting into your newly poured concrete mix when it gets wet.

5. Sealing the new concrete floor

Once it's completely dried (and cured), you can seal your new concrete floor.

Work on a clean surface

Start with cleaning the garage surface. Wash the surface with water and grease, cutting household detergent. Soak up a fresh oil spill with granulated cat litter before sweeping. Scrub the floor thoroughly with a stiff brush. Rinse with clean water from a pressure washer. Observe the floor when cleaning.

Determine the depth of the pits and fill cracks

Sharpen the tip of a pencil to a length of ¼ in. Use it to determine the depth of the pitting. Circle them. Tap lightly all over the floor with a hammer and listen. Hollow areas that are a hotspot for future pitting will produce a hollow sound. Smash them open to expose the pitting and fix them together with the rest of the pitted floor.

Make a dam

This step is essential if you’re are repairing large areas of pitting. The resurfacer should not spread over healthy areas. Create a dam to prevent staining healthier concrete with the repair mortar. Stick a weatherstrip with glue all around the edges of the repair area.

Actual resurfacing

Put the compound mortar into a bucket and mix with water, following the manufacturer’s instructions. A powerful mixing drill will make the work easier and give you a smoothly mixed repair mortar. We would advise you to get someone to help with the mixing as the repair compound will stiffen quickly.

Correct your mistakes

You may end up with some repair material stuck on the healthy concrete, shallow craters, ridges, and squeegee marks. All is not lost. You can erase these mistakes. Get a concrete grinder from a rental store and grind down the protruding spots for an even smooth finish. Lastly, you can apply an epoxy-based sealer as a finisher.

Additional Tips

To get a smooth lump-free mix, let the repair mortar sit in the bucket for few minutes after the initial mix, otherwise called slaking. Follow the manufacturer’s promptings on the product’s label for additional hot weather misting procedures or extra time for hardening during cold weather.

Why is my Concrete Garage Floor Crumbling?

A crumbling concrete garage floor is a problem faced, sooner or later by most homeowners. Crumbling of concrete slabs is fairly common in old houses and garages. But it can happen with fresh concrete too! So How To Fix Crumbling Concrete?

What are the Different Levels of Crumbling Concrete?

Concrete garage floors (or for that matter any concrete floor) crumble and the crumbling can be characterized as:

How Water Seepage Causes Crumbling Concrete Garage Floors?

The concrete mix is a slurry, but once the concrete mix has been poured the curing process begins. This happens by a chemical process called hydration. The cement reacts with the water to form crystals. The crystals grow into a matrix enveloping the sand and other aggregates in a tight mesh.

Why does the Top Layer of Concrete Crumble Easily?

After the concrete mix is placed, the contractor will finish it to give a smooth level surface. In this process the water and the finer cement particles rise to the surface. The fine cement particles, on the surface of the garage floor, makes it smooth. However, the surface is also the weakest, structurally.

How does Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) cause Crumbling Concrete?

Cement is alkaline and the coarse aggregates (sand & gravel) have silica. Alkali can react with active silica to form a gel. The concrete industry labels this as Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR). they also call it “concrete cancer”. The gel can absorb water, swell and apply pressure and weaken the concrete.

Why does Temperature Fluctuation cause Concrete to Crumble?

The concrete garage floor obviously does not stay at the same temperature all the time. Even in summer the day temperatures and the night temperatures can be vastly different.

Are Road Salts also Responsible for Crumbling Concrete Garage Floors?

Snow & Ice also contribute to the crumbling of your garage floor! Indirectly, anyway. You are aware that they use salt to melt the snow & ice on the road. This salt will of course find its way into your garage. Through your car tires!

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