Your garage is an important part of your home. You rely on it for a lot of things. And yet all too often we take garages for granted. Think about the uses of your garage. It houses and protects your vehicle(s) and secures and stores items like tools. Perhaps you even spend time in the garage working out or enjoying your hobbies and projects.
Take a moment and look at your garage floor – really look at it. What do you see when you notice the details? Maybe you’re noticing things like chips or cracks in the concrete. Perhaps you even have missing chunks or pieces from the floor.
If you’re noticing damage or signs like these, it might be time to ask yourself whether you need to repair the garage floor or replace it altogether. Before you decide which option is best for you, take a look at this information below.
Garage Floors Endure Many Demands
We put our garages through a lot when you think about it. The garage floor is subjected to things we would never subject our living room or other parts of our home to. Here are a few examples of the demands we make of this surface:
- Heavy vehicle weight
- Vehicle traffic
- Various equipment traffic (lawnmowers, etc.)
- Foot traffic and use
- Material and liquid exposure
- Extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations
Your floor is bound to need replacement or repair at some point.
Factors that Lead to a Garage Floor Repair or Replacement
Ultimately, it’s the use of the floor that will eventually lead to those necessary repairs or replacement. Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors that play a part.
Age
As your floor ages, it is going to wear down. Remember that it often takes quite a beating and sees substantial use over the years. Time and use will wear on the floor, leading to the need for replacement or repairs.
Poor Installation
Unfortunately, there are times when a concrete slab or garage floor are simply not installed properly. Whether the builders didn’t pay enough attention or made mistakes, this will eventually lead to issues for your floor.
Many times, poor installation consists of not digging enough for the sub base, using the wrong mixture, improper settling, or improper grading.
Signs Your Garage Floor Needs Attention
When you start to notice things like cracks in the floor, these are some signs that you’re going to have to take action. You might be able to repair temporarily, but there are times when replacement will be needed, especially if you wait too long.
Here are some signs to look for:
Shrinkage Cracks
Some cracks occur because the concrete that was poured begins to shrink. Shrinkage can happen during the drying and curing process. That shrinkage then leads to hairline cracks in the concrete.
While these might look bad, they typically are not cause for replacement unless they become excessive. Eventually, replacement may be needed as the repair process for this doesn’t look much better than the crack.
Settlement Cracks
These types of cracks are a more worrisome problem. They occur because of a shift in the soil beneath your garage floor. Because the ground is settling, it affects the concrete in the garage. This is less likely to happen with proper installation.
Settlement cracks could eventually become a structural problem, and you will likely need replacement of the garage floor over time to prevent further issues.
Improper Drainage
Improper drainage can be one of the leading causes of issues in foundations, garages, and other areas of your home. As the garage floor is exposed to excessive water over time, it can cause uneven floors, chipping, crumbling, and cracking.
If not resolved, this drainage issue could eventually lead to structural damage as well. And that’s not just your garage, but your entire structure.
General Wear and Tear
Of course, how we use our garages will also affect them over time and can lead to cracking or shifting in the concrete. After all, your vehicle weighs somewhere near 4,000 pounds or more.
The garage floor sees a lot of use from vehicles, foot traffic, tools, equipment, chemicals, and more. Over time, this will wear your garage floors down.
So, How Do You Decide Whether to Repair or Replace Your Garage Floor?
Here’s the thing. You can make repairs to your garage floor, particularly if you’re noticing cracks but your structure remains sound. However, what you should keep in mind is that repairs are not designed to be permanent.
A repair might allow you to keep using the garage floor for a while, but eventually replacement will still be necessary. Consider repairing a short-term fix that costs less, but replacement is the fix for the long haul.
Other factors to consider are aesthetics. Repairs can be unsightly. You might not mind this in the garage, but it’s simply not pretty. If you’re looking at your garage floors and thinking they are not looking good, a replacement could be a good call.
Lifting and Leveling Solution
One thing you might be able to consider rather than a full garage floor replacement is a lifting and leveling garage floor repair. This could be used if you’re noticing sinking or settling in the floor.
This process helps to lift the floors back to where they should be and return them to their original height. The floors are lifted and then leveled to restabilize the structure and improve the overall design.
Let Drycrete Waterproofing Help You with Your Garage Floor Replacement
When your garage floor shows signs of disrepair, you need a name you can trust. We’ve been serving the concrete and waterproofing industry for more than 30 years now. We have a proud commitment to quality and consistency with every customer we help.
If you think your garage floor needs to be replaced or repaired, Drycrete Waterproofing can help. Contact us today to discuss your options further.