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How can you repair cracks in your garage floor? Helping my brother prepare his garage for the winter taught me a few essential skills to fix and prevent future faults in a garage floor. Cracking could mean a world of trouble but is a simple fix on the surface.
How do you fix cracks on a garage floor? Fixing cracks on a garage floor is a simple job. The steps include:
- Clean the crack and surface area of debris. Use a hammer and cold chisel on the edges of the break.
- Make sure the edges are free of loose rock.
- Shop-vac the area thoroughly.
- Fill the cracks with epoxy, using a trowel to pack the hole.
- Allow several hours for the epoxy to set.
Although cracks in your garage floor can be unsightly, they are easy to repair. Below I have compiled some simple instructions that will help you fix those cracks.
Table of Contents
How To Fix Cracks In A Garage Floor
Cracking in a garage floor is a common occurrence. When concrete is poured, it shrinks during the drying process, making it highly probable for cracks. A large divot placed at the edge of each sheet forces breaks towards them, but that doesn’t always work.
1. Clean the Cracks and Surface Area
A clean area around the cracks and inside them is essential for this job. Sweep the large floor portions with a shop broom and the tiny pieces with a house broom. Take special care to remove oil spots and deep stains.
2. Make Sure the Edges Are Free Of Loose Rock
Creating a firm surface for your epoxy to adhere to is an essential part of the job. Neglecting to cut out corners leaves loose rock that won’t be absorbed by the filler. Take a hammer and cold chisel to the edges. Use an angled strike to remove loose pieces and debris. Make sure you use eye protection.
3. Shop-Vac the Area Thoroughly
Freeing up the loose rock is going to make a mess. Be prepared to start from square one and do a thorough cleaning of the cracks and surrounding areas.
Once you’ve worked up a nice lather sweeping, we can break out the shop vac and completely clean the area. Tiny particles will be everywhere, and this makes all the difference when we apply the filler.
4. Fill the Cracks with Epoxy
All the working hours spent behind the broom were made for this moment. Using a caulking gun or the provided tube, layer the filler into the crack. Making sure to mash any excess back into the crack. Pushing back the excess makes a tight seal inside the crack and keeps you from having to do this again.
5. Allow Several Hours for The Epoxy To Set
After a few hours, the epoxy will dry to a milky white substance that can easily blend into the rest of the flooring. The number of coats depends on how deep the hole is and the severity of the crack.
Top 6 Garage Floor Fillers
Rust-Oleum 238467 Professional Floor Coating
- High solids solvents based epoxy coating ideal for garage floors, basements, workshops, etc
- Provides superior resistance to chemicals, wear and even standing water
- Covers up to 200 sq feet per gallon and is ready for heavy foot traffic in 1 day, vehicle ready in 4 days
Not only is Rust-Oleum a top-notch pick for a filler, but the package also contains enough covering to paint 200 square feet of space. This means that if there are faults, and they usually are, you can easily apply another coat.
This is one of the pricier options but it’s great if you are looking for a brand name finish from a company that prides itself on a quality product.
Coat Epoxy Resin Kit by Super Clear
- FOOD GRADE SAFE: Superclear Table Top Epoxy is independently tested and certified to 21 CFR 175.300 compliance and ASTM D-4236, ensuring it’s completely safe for food contact once cured.
- HIGHEST SUPER GLOSS: Experience an unparalleled ultra-gloss finish with our Superclear Table Top Epoxy, providing a stunning, mirror-like surface that enhances the aesthetic appeal of any project.
This ultra UV resistant epoxy cures in around 30 minutes, leaving a base for any color flake you’d like. For those of you who have to color match, everything adding color to each batch is a snap.
Valspar Premium Clear Epoxy Kit
- Glossy finish
- Advanced bonding technology
- Anti-peel protection
- No hot-tire pickup
This epoxy was hot on the market for a while and has become scarcer. What makes this rank so high on the list is its ability to maintain shine after several years. Plus, it will stick to anything. Making it useful for other projects that might arise.
It can sometimes be found on Amazon.com but you may have better luck looking locally for it.
Clear Epoxy Resin Coating by Coloredexpoxies
The Coloredexpoxies clear epoxy is on the list for water resistance alone. It is such a deterrent for water and snow that using this in a garage in colder climates would be beneficial.
Foundation Sealant by Liquid Rubber
- PROTECTIVE FINISH FOR – Foundations, ICF’s, Basements, Shower Liners, Deck and Fence Posts, Planter Boxes, Metal, Wood, Concrete and more
- HIGHLY FLEXIBLE – Sealant final membrane has over 900% elongation in the sealing material preventing adhesion failure causing cracks and tearing.
I’ve used this several times to patch leaky basement walls. Using the garage sealer was a no brainer. It isn’t the cheapest stuff but some of its benefits include:
- Environmentally friendly
- No chemical smell
- A few coats give you a professional-looking shine that is hard to beat
1-Part Epoxy Acrylic Floor Paint by KilZ
- A good concrete floor paint is highly durable, easy to clean and won’t scuff, fade, crack or blister easily, even from hot tires and other heavy activity.
- This single component, water-based floor paint is formulated to last in hard to clean areas like basements and garages. It’s resistant to staining and damage from chemicals, Oil and gasoline.
This option is the best looking of the bunch. Done correctly, Kilz leaves a shine that is hard to duplicate.
One bucket can cover over 400 square feet. This is enough to cover most 20×20 garages.
How Can I Protect My Garage Floor?
Depending on your climate, the needs for your floor protection may vary. In an arid environment keeping a reliable seal around your garage door keeps out the dust and aids with climate control.
For snowy and wet weather, a garage door seal is recommended, but more important is an aggregate additive to prevent slippage on your new floor.
How Can I Make My Garage Floor Look Better?
Painting the garage floor with epoxy paint will add color and shine to your home. Not only will the paint improve the look of your garage, but it will protect it from the elements and general use.
There are several things to consider when sprucing up your garage floor. They are:
- Color
- Sheen
- Thickness
Should I Paint My Garage Floor?
When first moving into a new home, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to paint and protect the garage floor. You should paint your garage floor to protect your investment and prevent future problems with the area.
Fixing Uneven Garage Doors and Floors
My garage surface is uneven. How do I protect my toys with an even garage enclosure? There are two options, a giant seal for the door or lifting the concrete to meet the door.
Replacing the seal on the door, from around 3 inches to almost 7, gives more bulk and allows for more area to be sealed on closing.
Lifting the concrete to meet the door at one time would have been a ludicrous idea.
Today, there are several companies available to burrow beneath the concrete and pump in a foam material that expands and raises the concrete to its original height.
Fixing Sinking Spots in a Garage Floor
Helical Pier
The first option is using something called a Helical Pier. A helical pier attaches to the foundation and uses hydraulics to move the slab back into place. Then you backfill the hole and fortify the area to prevent further spots.
Foam Insulation
Second option, you can inject foam into the holes. Blown insulation is a foam material that expands on contact with air.
Filling a gap central to the depression with foam will cause the cement to rise back into place. Be careful not to over inflate.
What Causes Cracks in A Garage Floor?
Several factors can contribute to cracks forming on your garage floor. The most prominent and most apparent is the shrinking, which a concrete pad undergoes as it dries. Drying causes tiny fissures that, over time, become the scar running along your floor.
Several other factors that could be to blame include:
- Poor concrete mixing
- Untamped area where the pad was poured
- Settling of the foundation
- Failure to seal off moisture