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I have a crack across the entire front of my garage floor. I believe that the crack was caused by a poor drainage issue that has been corrected. The drainage issue also caused the pavers in front of the garage to sink.

Although I believe the drainage issue was fixed, I'm not terribly confident in the base under the cracked concrete or the pavers. Would a complete cut-out of the cracked area (probably about 12 inches by 20 feet), repair of the base and replacement of the cracked area be the better of the two options given the base may (or may not) be compromised?

What is the best way to fix the garage floor? Should I cut out about 12 inches of concrete (between the pavers and the main garage floor), tie into the existing floor with rebar and then pour new concrete? Is there a better solution? Is this a DIY project or should I hire a professional? I have some (although limited) experience with concrete.

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Edit 20230117 Just as a follow-up for anyone who might have a similar situation. I ended up using a grinder with a masonry disc to make the thin cracks a bit bigger and then filled the entire crack with Polymer Modified Structural Concrete Repair sold at Home Depot. It has held up reasonably well so far. Thanks for all the help.

UnhandledExcepSean
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Dean
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3 Answers3

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Good news, that is not a crack in your garage floor. It's just a damaged cosmetic connection from garage floor to the pawers. Someone already patched it before. Since those are thin, it will not support the weight of the car driving over and over.

You can easily chisel it out (just the loose parts), and replace with some concrete. Use a hammer and gently knock on it, to find the loose parts. Do not start cutting with any tool. No need for that.

There is a fiber reinforced concrete which would be good for that. When buying concrete look at what is the minimum thickness it can be used at. I recommend "Vinyl Concrete Patcher "

Also mist the surface before applying concrete, and mist it afterward for few hour so it cures well.

This is very low cost solution and anyone can do it.

isherwood
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DIY75
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I'd pick a line inside the garage and cut it with a concrete cut off saw (14" gas powered) or use a 7" angle grinder with a diamond blade. Setup a straight edge the saw / grinder can follow.

Break out the old concrete.

Then dig out enough to have at least 6" of thickness for a slab that will bear the weight of a car. Depending on the width I'd add at least one row of rebar with rebar chairs.

The new portion of the slab will crack on the cold join but it will be straight. Compact the base and pour your concrete. Finishing a narrow slab like shouldn't be too hard since you have a reference surface. If you haven't poured and finished concrete before then I'd hire that portion out.

As far as the pavers go you'll likely have to pull them and put down a new base and ensure it is properly compacted.

jwh20
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Fresh Codemonger
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2

Just as a follow-up for anyone who might have a similar situation. I ended up using a grinder with a masonry disc to make the thin cracks a bit bigger and then filled the entire crack with Polymer Modified Structural Concrete Repair sold at Home Depot. It has held up reasonably well so far. Thanks for all the help. Dean

Dean
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