Advice on large crack and spalling

[MNMuskie]

I've just purchased a house with a 3-car garage. The slab is over 20 years old and has seen better days due to MN's harsh climate and salt. There's a fairly significant crack running across two of the stalls as well as some spalling.

I'm hoping to do a little repair before winter as I'll be heating it and a nasty brine mix will be dripping off cars until spring possibly making the situation worse and making it really hard to squeegee. Any advice on what products I can use to deal with these issues to get me through winter? Mainly concerned with stabilizing and filling the crack, but not looking for a band aid fix because I intend to move forward with epoxy or tile in the spring when I have more time.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

MN:
The crack should be chased out. This grinds the weaks edges and widens it in preparation for a filler. If you don't chase it, at least peen the edges so the weakness is gone.

Vac them out and fill with a good gel crack filler.

http://legacyindustrial.net/cart/hd821-crack-sealant-gel-style-p-94.html

 

[BlackTalon]

is the concrete surface in-plane on both sides of the crack, or does it look like there has been some differential settlement? If it's in-plane and looks like just a shrinkage crack than rout/ chisel it out and use a filler/ sealant compatible with the floor finish system you want to install next year (usually an epoxy resin if an epoxy primer will be used). If it's out-of-plane you may want to investigate further to see if some stabilization is needed before sealing.

 

[MNMuskie]

is the concrete surface in-plane on both sides of the crack, or does it look like there has been some differential settlement?

The crack is jagged and perpendicular to the relief cuts in the slab. However, it seems like it is mostly level on either side with maybe a small difference in some areas of less than 3mm.

 

[BlackTalon]

If you can post a couple pics it will be easier to determine if you should doanything else. maybe one or two pics from a distance that show most of the slab, and one or two up close.

 

[MNMuskie]

Thanks for your feedback. I should have attached a picture in the first post, but I'm in the transition of moving as we speak. Below are the pictures. The first two were taken from the same vantage point. Sorry, I only had my phone which takes really bad photos.

 

[steve308]

Roll out rubber flooring to catch the melt.
http://www.garageflooringllc.com

 

[shaun oriold1]

Once you chase the crack out, you'll either have to use a thick crack filler, and apply a couple coats as it sags down. Or fill it with some clean sand, and use a more watery filler. I prefer to over-fill cracks and grind them smooth with the floor afterwards. Its totally repairable. Just takes a bit of work. Do it right, and whatever you put on top will conceal it perfectly.

Keep in mind though that if the slab wants to move, a little coating in the crack isnt going to stop it. Its probably 20k pounds. A flexible joint compound will help if the movement is minimal. So it could potentially be a band aid solution. There would be an underlying problem ( excessive water under slab / drainage) Since its 20 years old, you're probably fine though. Usually in that time, problems are sorted out.

 

[BlackTalon]

Looks a bit wide to just be shrinkage, so likely from differential settlement. You can monoitor if for a few months to see if it is moving. One way is with a simple plastic crack gauge that you visually check every now and then, and another way is to bridge the crack at a couple locations with a material such as mortar and check it after a couple months for the crack telegraphing through and also for the top surface of the material to no longer be in plane. If it is moving than chances are the crack will telegraph through the coating system so you may need to cover it with an elastomeric sealant instead of the expoxy system.

 

[MNMuskie]

Thanks for all the helpful feedback. I'm not moving for a while so I want to make sure I do this right. I think, or hope, it's done settling. Now that we're very near the freeze/thaw cycle I'll monitor any movement and proceed from there.

 

[leeklm]

Hey MN,

I am here in Mpls, and my floor was just like yours. Follow the above advice for the crack with chasing it and fill. For product, I tried several. For cracks and holes not very deep, I like the Rustoleum branded patch kit for about $20. It is somewhat self leveling and does a nice job. If deep, you need to fill with sand, or your repair epoxy will go bye-bye! I had one that was way deep, and then used the Rock Solid 2-part epoxy repair (now sold by Rustoleum). This stuff is similar, but is thicker and will not settle into the crack.

I am a rookie, and not sure how to best address the spalling. I went over mine with a large diamond cup wheel I rented, and then also went over it with a 4" diamond cup in my hand grinder. I then went over it with the epoxy repair products noted above.

I just finished mine last week, and am having an issue with epoxy pulling up where the front tires sat (theses are not the patched areas). Sounds like I may have a moisture issue. Spend a few hours on this site, and you will find some good tips & tricks!

 

[Swisstrax]

We deal with this issue on a daily basis of customers that have large cracks running through their slab. This is the beauty of modular flooring! The tiles simply lay over the cracks and you dont have to worry about an unsighly crack in your floor!

Our Ribtrax tile is 3/4" thich which cast a large enough shadow so you dont see what is going on under the tiles, such as LARGE CRACKS. The Ribtrax is what I recommend in nothern areas that get lots of "weather conditions" such as snow, sand, magchloride, rain, dirt, etc. It is by far the easist to maintain and is the same floor I just installed in my parent garage which is on a ranch in South Dakota. I obviously wouldnt stray my parents wrong!

If you have any questions feel free to call and speak to any of our flooring specialists and they would be happy to send out FREE SAMPLES.

Kind regards,

Jesse J. Stolp
Vice President of Operations
Swisstrax Corporation
82-579 Fleming Way, Unit A | Indio, CA 92201
Toll Free 866.748.7940|Direct 760.347.3330 ext. 102|Mobile 760.880.6605
Fax 760.347.3343
www.swisstrax.com
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