The total volume of cement production worldwide was 4.4 billion tons in 2021. Concrete is a common construction component. It’s used in commercial and residential buildings and is especially important in constructing garages. Concrete is the preferred material for a garage because of the weight it can hold, its non-combustibility, and much more. Unfortunately, even concrete isn’t damage-proof. Here are some of the most common causes of concrete and some ways you can prevent it, such as hiring the right flooring contractors.

1. Corrosion

Reinforced concrete flooring is integral because of its high level of structural stability. However, the steel bars inside the floor can cause problems. Although concrete typically protects the steel underneath from rust, chloride ions from substances such as de-icing salts penetrate through cracks and pores to corrode the steel. Due to steel corrosion, the concrete itself will also start tracking and spalling. Corrosion is one of the biggest causes of concrete damage. The level of corrosion depends on the chemicals and solutions the concrete comes in contact with. In addition to road salt, fluids and gasoline leak from vehicles and even household cleaners cause considerable damage. If you use your garage for maintenance or mechanic work, it will need a garage floor coating to safeguard it.

2. Overloading

Concrete is incredibly strong, but it does have a weight limit. The standard load capacity of concrete slabs is 1.5 kN/m² in domestic buildings. However, you should always calculate a cement floor’s load-bearing ability before using it. Unfortunately, many people don’t and then overload it with heavy weights or pass large vehicles over it, damaging the concrete. For example, placing heavy loads that will initiate microcracks and cracks. Overloading can also occur because there’s a change in the operations of the building without any structural upgrades. The unintentional overloading and other unusual events like earthquakes can ruin the concrete. In addition, early removal of formworks can also overload some parts of the structure. For example, impact equipment will cause extensive microcracking.

3. Fire Damage

Concrete loses its compressive structure and flexural strength due to exposure to high heat. The threshold of concrete degradation is around 150-200°F. Concrete with high aggregate-cement ratios will suffer less loss in compressive strength; however, there will still be damage. Moreover, fire damage will lower the water-cement ratio and the elastic modulus. As a result, the trapped water in the concrete will cause spalling. Portions of the concrete will separate from the surface layer. There will also be external cracking which will cause thermal expansion and then concrete dehydration. It also doesn’t need to be actual fire; exposure to intense heat from equipment will cause just as much damage.

4. Improper Concrete Installation

There is a reason you should always hire an experienced professional for any of your construction needs. Mistakes during installation, such as incorrectly constructed joints, excessive moisture entering during curing or mixing, premature sealing, etc., are just some examples of installation mistakes. If you don’t hire the correct contractor to install the concrete flooring, you’ll quickly find blisters, spalling, and other signs of damage.

Moreover, concrete floors the reinforced with steel to make them strong and less prone to cracking. It helps it hold more weight as well. The reinforcement is a very important part of installing the concrete floor correctly. Using the wrong type or too little reinforcement will cause the floor to sack or crumble. Not to mention exposing dangerous material. This issue is extremely difficult to solve once the cement has been cured.

5. Freeze-And-Thaw Cycle

A freeze-and-thaw cycle can ruin the concrete in regions prone to extreme winter weather. The cement floor freezes and thaws multiple times throughout the season. Because bare concrete can soak in moisture and retain it, an unfinished floor will likely crack due to the cycle. This is another situation where your garage floor coating is an effective solution if not necessary. Moisture is a primary culprit behind concrete damage, and once it freezes and expands, it puts pressure on cavities causing them to eventually rupture. A continued freeze-and-thaw cycle will break down the concrete from underneath.

How To Protect Concrete

There are multiple ways to protect concrete:

• Use concrete with low permeability (low water-to-cement ratio) to hold up better for freeze-and-thaw conditions.
• Check the loading capacity of the concrete before placing any heavy weights on it.
• Do your research before hiring professionals to reinforce and install concrete, so it’s easier to maintain and has minimal risk of damage.
• Use an epoxy floor coatingto prevent chemical spills from reaching the concrete floor and add an extra layer of protection. Before you apply the epoxy, get an inspection to see if there’s any damage in the concrete.
• Regularly inspect existing concrete floors and fix any cracks you find.
• When constructing a concrete garage, pay special attention to where control joints are being placed. This helps prevent damage from high impacts of load.s

Need A Garage Floor Coating?

There’s a lot that can cause that damage to concrete. Luckily, there is also a way to protect it. A garage floor coating will do the trick, and Steel Coated Epoxy Floors can help with that. Compared to regular garage floor paints that can only make the garage look good, we provide epoxy floor coating made of resin and hardener, which makes the garage look amazing and increases its durability.

We offer residential and commercial epoxy floor coating in Layton, Draper, Las Vegas, and Prescott. So whether it’s a garage, shop, basement, patio, or warehouse, we can transform the space that lasts long and looks amazing. Get the exact floor you want with our multiple shades and flake options.

Contact us today to request a quote!