Concrete floor cracks don’t just look unappealing. They can damage your car’s tires, create dangerous tripping hazards, and cause a host of other problems.
That’s why prevention is such an important part of garage floor maintenance.
But what if you already have a crack in your garage floor? Don’t panic! It’s not too late to get rid of them, and you can even make it look like the crack was never there in the first place.
All it takes is a few layers of the right concrete coating.
We’ve put together this guide to show you how concrete cracks, what to do about them, and how to prevent them from coming back in the future. If you want your garage floor to last as long as possible, don’t hesitate to keep reading below to get started!
What Causes Concrete Cracks?
That garage floor might look tough, but if you don’t take care of it, the concrete can end up with dents and cracks. This is especially true for aged concrete floors. If it’s been a few years since you installed your concrete floor, you should do your best to prevent cracks and imperfections from forming while you can.
Concrete naturally expands and contracts with the seasons. When the weather gets cold, your concrete floor will contract, and when it warms up again, the floor will expand. This process is one of the most common causes of concrete cracks.
But it’s not the only one you have to worry about.
While concrete is strong, heavy objects can still damage it if you drop them. Other things like water spills and oil spots can wear down the material and create weakness. Even the sun can cause UV damage to the surface, which can result in a number of problems (cracks included!).
No matter how well you take care of your garage floor, over time, wear and tear will break it down and cause cracks.
How to Prevent Cracked Garage Floors
Just to be clear, there is no way to stop concrete from expanding or contracting. Because of this, the risk of cracks will never go away completely. That said, you can lower your chances of finding a crack in your garage floor by applying a polyurea coating.
Is this the same thing as an epoxy coating?
Not quite.
While polyurea and epoxy are similar, polyurea is about 20 times stronger. It is currently the highest performing garage floor coating material on the market, and it will help prevent concrete cracks better than epoxy.
Here’s How It Works
First of all, polyurea coatings are resistant to UV rays. While this might not seem important for your garage (it’s covered by a roof, after all), a lot of natural sunlight still reaches your concrete. This is especially true if you leave your garage door open often or if your garage has windows.
The UV protection will prevent the sun’s rays from damaging the concrete, which will improve its lifespan.
Our team will apply two lawyers of polyurea coating to your floor, and that will prevent any moisture from making it to the concrete beneath it. Water can interfere with the expansion and contraction of concrete, something that will increase the likelihood of developing a crack.
Polyurea also creates a strong surface over your floor. If you drop something heavy, the polyurea will protect the concrete and resist chips, cracks, and scratches. You won’t even have to worry about stains since polyurea is resistant to that as well.
Other Benefits of Polyurea Coatings
Not only does polyurea improve the strength and longevity of concrete, but it also gives you a lot of design options. In other words, your concrete floor doesn’t have to look like concrete.
You can choose polyurea coatings of all different textures and colors, which makes it a good choice for people with a creative view. And nice designs do more than look pretty. These coatings can increase the value of your home, too.
Can Polyurea Coatings Fix Concrete Damage?
In short, no.
Applying a lawyer or two of polyurea to your garage floor will not, unfortunately, repair any cracks or dents that are already in the concrete. It will, however, cover those imperfections up and give you a much more beautiful finish on your floor.
But don’t worry. At Garage Force, we don’t leave you with damaged concrete. If we notice any cracks during the installation, we will repair those first. This will prevent the cracks from getting worse with time and will make the polyurea coating look much nicer when it’s dry.
How Long Does a Polyurea Coating Last?
You won’t have to worry about your polyurea coating wearing out for a long time. This material can last, in good condition, for 10 years or more. It is an investment that will keep paying you back for a long, long time.
If you’re worried about the polyurea coating getting damaged, though, we do offer a warranty. Should something go wrong, we will come back and fix it for you.
Preventing Concrete Floor Cracks From Ruining Your Garage
The best way to deal with concrete floor cracks is to prevent them before they have the chance to form. Otherwise, you’ll have a much more expensive and difficult job on your hands.
Are you ready to install one of our polyurea coatings?
We’re happy to help! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Garage Force to pick your coating and schedule your appointment. We’ll make sure you receive a beautiful, crack-free garage floor!