Your garage is a vital space in your house where you store your vehicle, arrange your tools, and spend your weekends working on your projects. However, while working in your garage, the floor may exhibit severe wear and tear over time. This article delves into the various problems encountered by garage owners and the different ways of not only preventing their occurrence but also the solutions.
Damp Garage Floor
Dampness in your garage can be distressing and uncomfortable, even for your pets. Constant dampness can also destroy the concrete and make your garage flooring age faster, let alone spoil your foundation. The most common reason for damp floors is condensation (accumulation of moisture beneath the slab). However, due to the porous structure of concrete, moisture from the earth may seep into your concrete floor.
Solutions to Your Damp Floor
You can invest in damp-proofing membranes (DPM) during the construction of your garage floor to keep the moisture away. The membrane will form a protective barrier, preventing moisture from reaching the surface of your garage floor. You can also prevent surface water from dampening your floor by investing in quality floor coating. Epoxy floor coating works best since it creates a hardened barrier on the concrete, preventing water from sipping through.
If you need Garage epoxy in Middlesex County or any other location, all you need to do is do a simple internet search using phrases like “garage floor coating near me” or “best epoxy floor expert near me,” and you’ll have a list of options to choose from. Make sure you hire the best in your list based on customer reviews and other parameters.
Cracks in Your Garage Floor
Cracks in your garage floors are unsightly and potentially unsafe for your structure. The following are some typical reasons for garage floor cracks:
Poor concrete quality:
The quality and composition of the concrete mix heavily influence the endurance and strength of your garage floor. You can avoid such problems using high-quality materials and appropriate mixing processes or purchasing a proper garage floor coating near you.
Inadequate control joints:
Control joints are cuts or grooves in the concrete slab to guide the natural cracking process when the concrete hardens and shrinks during curing. Proper control joint placement design and execution can reduce the possibility of uncontrolled cracking.
Soil movement:
The garage floor may shift and crack due to soil movement beneath the concrete slab. Soil moisture changes across seasons and other factors like poor plumbing and leakage can cause soil expansion or contraction, putting pressure on the slab.
Taking appropriate measures to ensure correct soil compaction and drainage can prevent soil-related cracking.
Sinking or Settling Foundation
When a slab splits down the middle, it usually means that the ground beneath the slab has shifted, resulting in a void beneath the floor. These gaps are formed by either water eroding the soil or soil settling. Granular soil stacks more loosely and is more likely to have air gaps that allow for settling.
If erosion is the problem, look at where your gutters and downspouts are draining. Downspouts extending at least 10 feet from your home are recommended to lessen the potential for erosion and water damage. Slabjacking is the finest option for elevating the concrete back into place if your garage floor has a void underneath it. Slabjacking is the process of pumping polyurethane foam through the concrete slab. The fill foams up and solidifies as injected, lifting the concrete. The crack in the floor can be closed and sealed once the slab returns to its original location.
Unstable Floor
If you have an uneven garage floor or persistent chipping, it means your contractors installed the original floor incorrectly. So, why does your garage floor appear brittle and weak?
First, if there is nothing but the soil beneath the concrete, it lacks a solid foundation and can sink, chip, or crack depending on soil conditions. It would be best to lay it over sand or gravel to stabilize and sturdy the garage floor. Compacted gravel is also a good choice for a strong foundation for concrete flooring.
Bottom Line
It is important to pay attention to the quality of your garage floor installation if you want it to last you a long time without the problems discussed above. Choose the best professionals who use the best material in the market, including coatings that prevent moisture. Be sure to also perform garage floor care at least twice yearly, if not more frequently; this means removing stains, cleaning, polishing, inspecting for cracks, etc.
