Why Does My Garage Floor Crack When It Becomes Cold Outside?
It's that time of the year again. The icicles start appearing on the overhangs, snow is all over the ground, and you just noticed that your garage floor has a crack going down the center that's about the size of the San Andreas fault. Why does this always seem to happen in the winter, do you ask?
A Concrete Garage Floor Will Absorb Any Liquid
Your concrete garage floor acts like a very, very slow sponge. Any liquid that comes in contact with it will be soaked up, albeit slowly. Those of us who have changed their own oil know this as the smallest bit of motor oil will create a tiny, but permanent stain. All concrete garage floors are the same, so you're not alone here, either. Any garage flooring that has no cover will absorb water as well. Water doesn't sound very threatening, I know, as it would be a clear stain, right? Unfortunately, when the temperature gets low enough, water does something that many other chemicals don't do...
Water Is A Frigid Saboteur
It freezes. Although things generally contract when they become cold, water included, ice is obviously much more solid than water. Concrete is definitely much stronger than ice, of course, but having tiny pockets of ice throughout the concrete adds solidity where there generally is none. This makes the concrete garage floor a lot more rigid than it generally is. This rigidity is a very bad thing when the concrete begins to contract, as it naturally will when it becomes cold.
Moisture Is Always Incredibly Tenacious
Your first thought will be to always make sure the garage door is closed. That won't always help, though. Humidity is also in the air, and will find ways to seep in to the garage floor, no matter how well sealed it is. There is no such things as a waterproof garage (is there?), so every garage floor can be compromised by moisture, no matter how protected they seem. Moisture will also get to the concrete from the ground, on the underneath and the sides, but that largely depends on the area you are in, how often it rains, and if water tends to stand against the garage, as well as the height of your area's water table.
A Garage Floor Covering Can Prevent 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?
You will still see benefits, yes. With the exception of the big fireball in the sky, which has little effect on a covered garage, the majority of your garage floor's warmth is going to come from the ground. Using a covering or coating can help contain this warmth, which will make the garage floor stay warmer, and hopefully not crack. - 21396
A Concrete Garage Floor Will Absorb Any Liquid
Your concrete garage floor acts like a very, very slow sponge. Any liquid that comes in contact with it will be soaked up, albeit slowly. Those of us who have changed their own oil know this as the smallest bit of motor oil will create a tiny, but permanent stain. All concrete garage floors are the same, so you're not alone here, either. Any garage flooring that has no cover will absorb water as well. Water doesn't sound very threatening, I know, as it would be a clear stain, right? Unfortunately, when the temperature gets low enough, water does something that many other chemicals don't do...
Water Is A Frigid Saboteur
It freezes. Although things generally contract when they become cold, water included, ice is obviously much more solid than water. Concrete is definitely much stronger than ice, of course, but having tiny pockets of ice throughout the concrete adds solidity where there generally is none. This makes the concrete garage floor a lot more rigid than it generally is. This rigidity is a very bad thing when the concrete begins to contract, as it naturally will when it becomes cold.
Moisture Is Always Incredibly Tenacious
Your first thought will be to always make sure the garage door is closed. That won't always help, though. Humidity is also in the air, and will find ways to seep in to the garage floor, no matter how well sealed it is. There is no such things as a waterproof garage (is there?), so every garage floor can be compromised by moisture, no matter how protected they seem. Moisture will also get to the concrete from the ground, on the underneath and the sides, but that largely depends on the area you are in, how often it rains, and if water tends to stand against the garage, as well as the height of your area's water table.
A Garage Floor Covering Can Prevent 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?
You will still see benefits, yes. With the exception of the big fireball in the sky, which has little effect on a covered garage, the majority of your garage floor's warmth is going to come from the ground. Using a covering or coating can help contain this warmth, which will make the garage floor stay warmer, and hopefully not crack. - 21396
posted by X - Men @ 1:08 AM
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