How Repair Cracked Garage Floors

Originally posted 3/15/19, revised 11/19/21

Your garage floor is going to crevice.  How could information technology not?  It endures heavy vesture and tear, usually over the same areas repeatedly.  And fifty-fifty inside a edifice, it still endures some pretty substantial temperature fluctuations, plus the natural erosion or water damage caused by rainfall.

If cracks are inevitable, you may wonder if the physical is worth fixing.   And that'due south an splendid question!  In this commodity, we're going to hash out what types of cracks are more 'cosmetic,' and which ones signal actual damage that needs repair.

Acculevel is a family-endemic and operated company based out of Rossville, Indiana.  Since our start in 1996, we've helped more 35,000 homeowners preserve and protect their homes.  We specialize in foundation repairs and waterproofing, and have more than than 25 years of feel with concrete slab leveling and lifting.

What Causes Your Garage Floor to Cleft?

There are a few unlike culprits who could be responsible for the fissures developing in your floor.

Temperature Changes Tin Exist a Problem

I of the chief causes of floor cracks is the temperature fluctuations.  Concrete isn't a flexible material, but it is porous.  This means water, moisture, or humidity tin can seep into the concrete.  Fifty-fifty if it only has just a hint of moisture in it, that can be enough to cause it to expand and contract with seasonal changes.  Since information technology's not flexible, these minor shifts create cracks.

These cracks are usually thin, and don't crusade the surface to be uneven.  While they're cruddy, if a crack isn't large enough to create a trip hazard, it doesn't demand major repairs.

Lack of Soil Compaction

To explain this, we need to talk about how your garage was built.  In many cases, the garage foundation and walls were congenital beginning, and the floor was poured afterwards.  This makes your garage floor a "floating slab," pregnant that it's not part of the garage's foundation, merely the flooring.

Before the slab can be poured, builders have to prepare the site.  This means gravel, sand, soil, or a combination of these is spread out and compacted.  (Compacted = pressing until firm and level.)  If compaction is not done thoroughly, or is uneven, this ground layer will shift or settle, creating gaps below the flooring.

Once there are gaps under the slab, it tin develop cracks.  Information technology doesn't matter if the gaps are created past poor compaction or erosion…

Erosion Can Crusade Cracks and More

Erosion is another major cause of garage floor cracks.  When rainwater erodes the footing below the garage, it creates gaps that undermine the force of the floor.  Then, when y'all drive over it, the concrete doesn't have the support it needs and cracks under the pressure.

These cracks are more significant, because concrete tin can outset to settle (sink) into the gap below.  This volition make your garage floor uneven, and can only go worse over fourth dimension.

This photo was taken by an Acculevel project counselor during an in-habitation assessment.  A long cleft has formed across the garage flooring.

Yous should accept these cracks repaired and the floor lifted/leveled to minimize the damage done to your garage.  Leaving these problems untreated volition eventually affect the functionality of your garage flooring.

Settling Can Happen Forth the Outside, Likewise

Erosion can crusade problems around the perimeter of the garage, also.  You may notice that your garage flooring is beginning to slope towards the outside wall, or y'all may be able to run into settling cracks on the outside of the garage.

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This is most common in garages where the floor and garage foundation are all one piece; the entire base of the garage was poured, then the walls built on top of it.

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This settling causes cracks because as the wall sinks, it strains the concrete.  We mentioned earlier that concrete isn't flexible- so when the outside pulls on the floor, information technology will somewhen crack under the pressure.

This photograph was too taken past an Acculevel projection advisor.  The long zigzag crack is a distinctive sign that the garage is settling towards the outside.

You need to accept a settling garage foundation repaired, because it is going to keep to shift.  It tin eventually de-stabilize the construction until it'due south not safe for you to employ.

How Do Yous Repair a Garage Floor?

There are two repair methods for repairing a cracked garage floor: slabjacking and helical piers.  In some circumstances, you may actually need both.

How Does Slabjacking Piece of work?

Slabjacking is a concrete leveling method .  It'due south similar to mudjacking; you drill small holes in the concrete and inject a filler fabric underneath the slab.  However, slabjacking uses a polyurethane foam that is lightweight, sets up near immediately, and is platonic for filling voids beneath physical slabs.

How Practice Helical Piers Piece of work?

Helical piers are long steel posts with screw-style blades, which allow them to be driven deep into the footing.  Once they reach stable, undisturbed soil, they can be fastened to the garage foundation.  This volition stabilize the garage, keep it from sinking any deeper, and in some cases, lift information technology dorsum upwardly.

This is an illustration of helical piers being used to stabilize a business firm foundation.

If the perimeter foundation is successfully lifted back into place, the repair may create a void under the garage floor.  Nosotros would suggest using slabjacking every bit a method for void make full , so that the entire garage is on a level, solid surface.    Under these circumstances, slabjacking is actually preventative maintenance.

Why Would You Need Both Repair Methods?

If there is pregnant erosion underneath your garage, it may be necessary for you to have both slabjacking and piers.  We discussed how a garage foundation may be all one piece; just this isn't always the case.  Builders oftentimes construct the foundation and walls of the garage, then cascade the floor afterwards.  (This is how well-nigh basements are synthetic.)  This results in what is sometimes chosen a "floating slab."

This matters considering if erosion has caused problems effectually the perimeter, piers will just stabilize the outside wall.  The erosion under the floor isn't addressed, so the floor will go along to slope or sink.  Slabjacking is then needed to level the floor separately from the foundation.

Want to Know More than?

You can learn more nearly repair options in these other manufactures:

Nosotros explore garage repair options- including underground garages- in this blog .

Not certain if slabjacking is the right selection for you?  Nosotros have an illustrated guide that demonstrates when slabjacking will not be effective .

Want to know more than about piers?  Nosotros explain why we recommend helical piers (instead of push piers) for residential apply.

Exercise You Need Your Garage Assessed by a Professional?

If y'all have cracks in your garage floor, or on the outside of the garage, you'll need to work with a foundation expert. You can phone call Acculevel at 866-669-3349, or fill out our online contact form .  We'll schedule an engagement for you with ane of our knowledgeable and experienced project advisors.  They will discuss your concerns, evaluate your garage, and help you determine the best solution.

If you don't live in Indiana or the surrounding areas (y'all can check our service area here !), you lot volition want to be certain the contractor you work with is properly insured and accredited by the Better Business organization Bureau .  It is essential that you only utilise a qualified and experienced contractor for any repairs that crave piers.  If these are installed poorly- or in the wrong location- yous could be spending money without resolving the structural problems.

Source: https://acculevel.com/how-to-repair-cracks-in-garage-floor/

Posted by: harperforting.blogspot.com

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