Tonight is the big night–the Friday night garage party. As you walk into your garage, you notice some cracks in the floor. While standing there, you finding yourself pondering: have those cracks always been there? How did they occur? Is it time to panic? Will the neighbors notice? Do I need to call in a structural engineer? How do I cover this up?

There are a few reasons why your Orlando garage floor may have cracked. However, not every crack is a sign of a more serious issue.

Shrinkage could have caused your Orlando garage floor to have harmless hairline cracks. As concrete dries, it normally shrinks. The problem occurs when too much water is added to the concrete mix during new home construction. If the concrete mixture is too watery, there will be more cracks as the water evaporates. You may want to keep an eye on these cracks to see if they get any larger.

When a home settles, it naturally sinks further into the ground. Shifting soil can also cause small cracks. Variations of moisture in different types of soils can cause the uneven settlement of the slab. The settlement of your house could cause serious cracks in the garage floor. When movement of the soil occurs, it puts damaging pressure on your garage floor which further affects the cracking. Compacting the soil around a home’s footings and foundation during construction can help prevent cracks in garage flooring.

An underground water source like a spring could also be the cause of a cracked garage floor.

You may need to contact a professional if the crack widens and continues to grow or one side of the crack is higher or lower than the other. Generally speaking, cracks wider than a credit card need attention to prevent structural damage or injury from tripping.

You want to enjoy those weekly neighborhood garage parties so make sure you address any major floor cracking issues before they become serious problems. Once your Orlando garage floor has been fixed by a professional, ensure it’s durability with one of Garage Design Works’ epoxy garage floor coatings. We are available to help you keep your garage beautifully maintained for years to come. For additional information, contact Garage Design Works today.
How do you protect your garage floors? Tell us how you protect your garage floor from cracks and other damage.