Concrete floors are extremely durable and long-lasting, but over time they may become susceptible to small cracks and holes. Although concrete floors are one of the most affordable and easy-to-maintain flooring options, a natural occurrence of a small crack or hole can happen. It’s inevitable. With any flooring, you’re going to have small problems at some point in time.
As your concrete floor experts, we wanted to give you some tips on how you can repair small cracks and holes yourself. It’s unlikely you’ll need to resurface the entire floor, and repairing these issues right away will prevent further wear and tear, as well as keep your floor looking new and beautiful. Below we’ll walk you through repairing small cracks and holes. And, as always, you can reach out to us if you need professional advice or assistance.
Repairing a small crack or hole in your concrete floor
The method we’re about to explain works best for cracks and holes that are around 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch wide. It’s important to know that larger cracks and holes will require a more considerable repair process. There are products you can buy to fix a small crack or hole at any home improvement store, however, it won’t look as nice. Caulks, vinyl concrete patches and self-leveling concrete sealants are all options available to you.
If the crack or hole in your concrete exists in a garage where you normally park your car, you might not be as concerned about how it looks; if you just want the problem to be solved you can caulk it up real quick. However, if you want it to look as normal and as inconspicuous as possible, we recommend using a sand and concrete mix along with a latex bonding liquid.
A sand concrete mix consists of a mixture of portland cement powder, mineral aggregates and additional additiates. You can also purchase this at any home improvement store. It creates a good bond with the surrounding concrete. Below are the materials you will need, and a step-by-step process.
These are the supplies you will need:
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Wire brush
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Shop vacuum
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Chisel
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Hammer
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Safety glasses
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Trowel
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Paintbrush
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Concrete bonding adhesive
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Sand mix concrete (as mentioned above)
First, you will want to clean the crack or hole; be sure there is no debris that will get in the way of the repair. Use the wire brush to do this, then vacuum out the crack. Next, you will want to undercut the hole or crack’s edges. Wear safety glasses and use the chisel and hammer to slightly widen the crack so that the patching material can really get down in there.
Then, apply the bonding adhesive. Once it’s completely dry, prepare the sand mix as directed on the bag. With the help of the trowel, fill the crack or hole with the patching concrete, wipe away the excess concrete and, finally, smooth off the excess concrete. The patch should dry within 24 hours.
If you want, you can seal the concrete. If you have a polished concrete floor, you will want to do this to maintain the shine on the repaired concrete. A heavy-duty polyurethane coating creates a waterproof barrier, which makes it nonporous and will prolong the life of the concrete floor.
When to reach out to a concrete floor professional
Small cracks and holes in your concrete flooring are not a critical cause for concern. Occasionally, as concrete ages, this commonality will happen. A crack with a vertical offset is a sign of a structural problem, and you will want to have a professional come check it out. Contact us with any questions or concerns!