Epoxy Paint Guide

In due course of time concrete foundations tend to develop cracks thru which water could seep in to damage the interiors of any basement. Sometimes cracks in a concrete basement could be indicative of a structural defect in the wall. Epoxies can be used for structural repairs or for treating cracks.

Causes of Concrete Cracks

One very common cause of cracks is the shrinkage of concrete on getting cured.  Curing results to loss of water from the concrete, making it shrink. The shrinkage causes stress on the concrete that goes to develop cracks. This is a very normal phenomenon and is not to a matter of concern. However if water continues to seep thru it could damage the interiors of the basement. Usually cracks caused by shrinkage are not more than 1/16 of an inch and wouldn’t increase in size throughout the life of the foundation.

Structural damage of the concrete is a serious matter. There could be many effects and reasons for this. One may be that the house is settling down to the ground or it may be sliding down a hillside. Among the very old houses it is the lateral force exerted by the soil onto the foundation. A bowing in of the concrete wall evinces this.

How to conclude if it’s a structural crack?

There are many easy ways to find if a concrete crack is the result of a structural compromise in the foundation.

1. The crack goes along a severe diagonal
2. Horizontal cracks in a foundation wall are indicative of a serious problem
3. Crack widths that get bigger with time.
4. Cracks wider than 3/4 inch

If in doubt, it is best to get in touch with a professional to confirm if it’s a structural crack and take suggested remedial measures.

Epoxy Injection

Irrespective of its being a shrinkage crack or a structural crack, epoxies can be injected to repair those. As epoxy is injected from the interior of the basement, it needs no excavation on the outside. The epoxies get hardened in the crack, thus reinforcing the concrete. They totally fill the crack from bottom to top and from front to back. It’s not unusual for the epoxies to be stronger than the concrete itself. Such a repair prevents any water from seeping into the basement.

Before we begin, let’s elaborate what we are hoping you will learn through this helpful commentary about garage floor paint. So we can begin to piece it together for you.

I’ve got one of those extra-large garages that many people seem to favor these days. It’s big enough for two cars, plus there’s room left over for storage shelves and bins, as well as my workbench and tools. I actually spend a lot of time out there working on my motocross bikes and various other projects, so I’m interested in keeping the place clean and organized. I’m particularly worried about the cement flooring because there are already a bunch of oil and grease stains scattered around.

I don’t want to have more serious issues further down the road, which is why I’m now looking into buying some garage floor paint for added protection. Several of my friends have fixed up their garages, with some of them using tiles and some using paints and epoxies.

I asked for their opinions and suggestions before making my decision, and ended up choosing garage floor paint over tiles because I want a long-lasting solution that will hold up through extreme wear and tear. Although those interlocking tiles that most home improvement stores sell are a cheaper option, I get the feeling that I’d end up having to replace them every so often, which is not something I want to do.

I would rather go all out with garage floor paint that will last for years and years.