Why Does Your Garage Floor Crack When It Gets Cold?
Winter is here again. There is snow on the ground, the trees are suspiciously shiny with ice, and suddenly a crack is appearing in your garage floor. Oh, don’t worry, your garage isn’t the only one affected; this happens to many people once temperature starts to drop.
Your Concrete Garage Floor Will Happily Absorb Any Liquid
Just like anything else concrete, a concrete garage floor is porous. Therefore, any type of liquid gets soaked right up. I am sure you have seen this yourself if you have ever changed your own oil without a garage floor covering of some sort, and noticed that even a drop of oil will turn in to a nice, permanent stain. You can take some comfort in the fact that everyone’s concrete garage floors have the same issue. Garage flooring that is uncovered will also absorb water. This doesn’t sound bad, since water doesn’t stain. However, during the winter months, water can have an unexpected effect…
Water Is A Frigid Concrete Assassin
Water, of course, freezes. Most people know that things usually contract as they become colder, and while water is no exception, it also becomes solid. No, ice itself is not stronger than concrete, but tiny pieces of solid ice peppered within the concrete will add solidness where it’s not supposed to be. This will result in a concrete garage floor that exhibits unusual rigidity. This can be a very destructive thing as the concrete contracts, which is what it will do as it gets cold.
Moisture Is Incredibly Tenacious
The first thing that comes to mind, I’m sure, is making sure you’re keeping your garage door down. That will help to a degree, but not always. Keep in mind, there is generally some moisture in the air as well, and it will find ways to get into your garage and your garage floor. Every garage floor can and will be affected by moisture to some degree, unless someone starts making waterproof garages. Water can also get to your concrete through the soil itself, from both the sides and the bottom, but that may or may not be a significant factor depending on the area you live in, if water stands against your garage when it rains, how often it rains, and where your area’s water table sits.
A Garage Floor Covering Could Have Prevented This Problem!
Garage floor coverings, such as mats and tiles, can help protect your concrete and keep it from cracking. Although there is really nothing you can do about the moisture that comes in from the sides and bottom of your concrete, that is really only a small portion of what you need to worry about. The majority comes from above. An epoxy garage floor coating will seal the top of your garage floor against moisture, keeping it out almost entirely. Even a garage floor covering such as a mat or tiles will help as they will absorb much of the moisture themselves.
Will A Garage Floor Covering Help If I Know Moisture Wasn’t To Blame?
Yes, it sure will. Aside from the sun heating it from above, which isn’t very likely if your garage is kept closed up, your garage floor’s main source of warmth comes from underneath. With a covering or coating of any kind, this warmth will be retained far more effectively, and keeping your garage floor warmer means keeping it from contracting, and hopefully cracking.
Check out Sweet Garage Floor for more garage flooring information.
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