December 4th, 2019 | Updated on June 25th, 2022
It is an unavoidable fact that concrete is prone to cracking. With enough time and use, all concrete floors eventually succumb to their nature and will start to crack and show other signs of wear and tear like pitting.
But just because it is unavoidable does not mean that there is nothing that can be done.
Concrete floors can be a significant investment and there are many concrete repair techniques to help you get the most out of that investment before you finally have to replace them.
But how exactly can concrete be repaired and should you be doing it on your own or calling a professional?
But whether it is Los Angeles concrete repair or concrete repair anywhere else that you are looking for, there are many reputable and skilled concrete contractors who can effectively hide the damage of a cracked floor and repair and restore it.
How To Repair Concrete Floors
1. Clean And Prep The Area That Needs Repairing
Before any kind of repair work can be carried out on the concrete, the surface first has to be appropriately cleaned and prepped.
This involves thoroughly cleaning the floors to remove dust, debris, and dirt. The crack itself will also have to be cleaned to the best of a person’s ability, as it is very likely that some kind of dirt has stuck to the concrete inside the crack.
Using a wire brush to do this has proven to be the most effective way.
Ensuring that the surface is clean means that you are less likely to run into any trouble with adhesion when the next few steps are applied.
Professional concrete contractors will know how to do this, but you may need to learn more things about the process if you are doing this by yourself for the first time.
Once the area has been sufficiently cleaned, you can proceed to the second step of the repair process.
2. Decide What Kind Of Material You Should Use On Your Cracks
You have a few options when it comes to deciding the best material to use to you repair the cracks on your concrete floor.
Deciding which one is best for you can save you a lot of trouble and money. If you only have small minimal cracks on your floors, then you will need a mortar repair mixture.
This often comes in a caulking tube and can be used to fill in small holes on the surface of the floor.
If you have larger cracks on your floors, then the use of a patching compound will have better results than if you were to forcibly use a mortar repair mixture in a big crack.
Patching compounds are stronger and more long-lasting, but they will have to be mixed on-site prior to the application.
For a Di Yer, this can be complex. That’s why you should keep the option open of hiring a professional service of concrete repair Los Angeles or elsewhere.
You can also patch concrete up with an epoxy patching compound. You are probably already aware that epoxy is a far stronger material than concrete, so it follows that using it as a patching compound leads to more resilient results.
However, using an epoxy patching compound can be costly and might not be a suitable choice for someone on a strict budget.
3. Seal The Newly Patched Area
The last thing you want when you’ve just patched up a part of your concrete is to come back and find that it has cracked again after just a few short months.
The good news is: that shouldn’t happen at all. But what can you do to make sure the patched area does not become vulnerable to damage again? The answer lies in concrete sealers, which can be both protective and decorative.
Sealing the patch makes sure that water and other liquids do not damage it and that regular traffic doesn’t hurt it either. And the great thing about sealers is that aside from protecting your floors, they also add an enticing sheen across your floors.
And that’s how you can patch up your concrete floors! Whether you choose to do the job yourself or hire professional services to repair your concrete floors, repairing is undoubtedly a more cost-effective choice over completely replacing them.
