ADVICE NEEDED: Filling-in [EXPANSION JOINTS]

[GunMoto]

Hi everyone - I am thinking about filling-in the expansion joints of my garage concrete floor. The floor already has epoxy on it and would like to know what options I have in terms of using a joint filler/sealant that closely matches the light gray color and would adhere to the surface of the epoxy.

Main reason I would like the joints filled is because of the dirt and grime it collects.

I appreciate any previous experiences, advice and/or thoughts you can share.

 

[boiler7904]

I'm in the same position you are except I want to use the strips as an accent color. I know from previous experience that you'll need a bond break of some sort in the bottom of each joint like a foam backer rod before you put the sealant over the top.

When I get closer to doing the work, I'll call the flooring company and see what they say as far as adhesion and what they would recommend for prep and a sealant product.

 

[sizzler90]

Here is the thread I started yesterday.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15525

 

[Jason B]

Your probably better to leave it alone. I had this in my last garaeg, and do spray it clean every couple months. Goobering it up won't look at nice as it does not.

 

[thegarageguy]

To patch existing expansion joints, you would have to;
1. sand down your whole floor.
2. chase open or rough up the epoxy currently in the joint.
3. use a very flexible expansion joint filler
4. suggest to use a flexible resin
5. use flexible top coat.

or skip all those steps and use a professional installer to warranty the work.

you basically have to redo your whole floor.

 

[JohnZ]

I left all of my saw cuts alone - when the epoxy floor was poured, it filled all the cuts to about 1/16"-1/8" from the floor surface and cured that way. 44' x 58' slab, not a single crack after eight years.

 

[Junkman]

Those are not expansion joints, they are grooves that were put into the wet concrete to allow the concrete to crack on that joint, if it is going to crack. Your floor was poured as a single pour, and probably with wire in the concrete. The wire holds the two pieces together if and when it cracks. Since your hasn't cracked, and it is a couple of years old, I doubt that it will ever crack on those joints. Sweep out the dirt once in a while and forget them. Whatever you to to fill them will look worse than the grooves themselves.