Make it New Again! - Garage Floor Refinishing

Garage floor refinishing can be as simple as patching scaled or spalled areas and applying a coat of sealer. Or it can involve applying an entirely new surface or overlay.

It used to be garage floor refinishing wasn't worth the time and effort because sooner or later that topping was going to start coming off. You were better off just ripping it out and pouring a new floor. Well that's not the case anymore. The products used for refinishing and resurfacing have come along way. Not only are they extremely durable and versatile, but they are easy to work with even for the do-it-yourselfer. The new stuff is so soupy when it's mixed that it almost spreads itself out. And the slow set allows plenty of time for workability.

A good resurfacing product contains a blend of cement, polymer resins and fine aggregates. Polymer modified toppings solve the problem of poor bonding and shrinkage of resurfacing materials from the past. As far as durability goes, the compressive strength of many of the newer products almost doubles that of conventional concrete. They can easily withstand vehicle traffic and are proven able to hold up in the harshest climates and withstand concrete's worst enemy, freeze and thaw cycles.

As with any other topping or coating, the key to successful garage floor refinishing is the floor prep. The concrete needs to be clean as possible with a profile comparable to fine sandpaper or rougher. This provides a good surface for adequate bonding.

Any existing cracks in the floor can be "treated" but not fixed. It's impossible to glue concrete back together. The best option is to fill the crack with sand and saturate it with epoxy crack filler. The sand gives the overlay something to grab on to. This is no guarantee that the crack won't come through the new topping. If the floor moves or shifts at all cracks will reappear. For this reaon, an overlay should not be used just to get rid of cracks. But don't let the fact that there are cracks discourage you from resurfacing. Concrete cracks. It's just the nature of the beast. Many great looking concrete floors have visible cracks.

Garage Floor Resurfacing Video

This video is an example of how to make the floor look new again. The grinding takes care of cleaning and profiling. Notice there is a difference between the material used to patch holes and the material used to resurface. Patching material has bigger aggreagates allowing it to be built up or applied thicker. Resurfacing material has finer aggregates for a smoother finish.

If you're a serious do-it-yourselfer, don't be afraid to attempt a garage floor refinishing project. However, decorative concrete is a skilled trade so keep it simple. There's plenty of advice out there if you need it. Come back to this site and ask any questions. We're more than happy to help.