Your garage concrete flooring in Ottawa is something you seldom think about. Unless you are looking for extra living space or remodelling your home, it is just not at the top of your list. However, the weight of vehicles and daily use takes a lot of beating from the weather, temperature, and elements like the odd spill or automotive fluids. All of this can create cracks, holes and even crumbling. This happens because concrete cannot stretch or bend without breaking. While it can contract and expand with temperatures, it is likely to crack in the process. If the soil under the garage settles or shifts, you will experience cracks that are beyond human control.
Slab Sinking
If the slab in your garage starts to sink, there is no quick fix like for a crack. The first place to start is with the cause, which could be any of several things.
Water
If the drainage is inadequate, moisture will seep into the cracks.
Temperature
Winter freeze and thaw will affect the slab, especially if there is no heating.
Soil
If the soil was not correctly or completely compacted before the concrete was poured, it could begin to shift.
Low-Quality Concrete
If the quality of the concrete was not up to standard or had aggregates like iron pyrite, the floor will start to give.
Pitting and Settling
The use of salt on streets to melt snow and ice is carried into the garage on tires and wheel wells. This can cause pitting, and combined with poor underlayment, you will have shifting.
Keep an eye open for water pooling in a corner or in the same spot on uneven sections of the garage. These can be significant signs that the floor is starting to sink. If the garage is attached to the house, this will cause other problems like the garage pulling away from the main portion of the house or water seeping under the house.
When you see these problems, you need to decide whether it will be better to make some repairs or simply replace the entire slab. This can be a difficult decision, especially monetarily. Here are some factors to add to the mix.
- If it will take more than two inches of repair materials, it is better to replace them entirely.
- Age of the existing concrete.
- The extent of the damage.
- Overhead clearance for vehicles if you will be adding depth to an existing floor.
- How long you can last with the garage out of use.
- What will the final product look like, especially at the time of resale?
Count on Garage Perfect for garage floor services.
For the best advice, contact our offices. Whether you need garage concrete flooring in Ottawa, including coatings, repairs, or depth added to your existing concrete, we can help. Let us show you how a perfect garage floor is within reach! At Garage Perfect, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to have a beautiful, functional garage space. We will be happy to send someone to your home to evaluate the situation and give you reasonable advice about how to proceed.