How to fix a dusty garage floor with Epoxy.

On average once a week we get a call from a potential client with the main concern being a dusty garage. Either they have been living with a dusty garage for years and have finally decided to do something about it or they just bought a brand new home and are disappointed with the garage right out of the gate. Unfortunately in Mississippi and the south in general we have to deal with soft to very soft concrete in our homes. The hardness or lack thereof is due to multiple factors including poor mixing from the concrete plant, excess clay and silt in the concrete mix, the age of the concrete and insufficient curing. THe most common reason especially in the south is to much water being used during the finishing our troweling step. When concrete mix has been turning in the cement truck for longer than expected it starts to get hot and wants to set up. Once its poured the set up time is a lot quicker then it would have been if poured in a timely manner. The concrete finisher can add water to the top to extend the time he has to finish out the slab. Now thats great for him, but not for you since excess (bleed) water carries finer particles to the surface creating a weak layer of concrete. The excess moisture creates a top layer that looks solid from the top but close up resembles a sponge with thousands of holes and valleys which will either continually break down over time creating dust or soak up water, dirt and oils leaving a very attractive floor. Sweeping is only a temporary fix because the next time you walk or drive on it you are further wearing it down. Pressure washing will actually have the reverse intended effect gauging the soft slab and further weakening it.

So what can be done to fix a dusty garage floor?

We offer two solutions to a dusty floor that will provide a permanent fix. The first one being a concrete densifying treatment. Densifier is exactly what is sounds like, it works by penetrating the top layers of the surface to create a chemical bond reaction with the minerals in the slab. This bond forms a hard substance called calcium hydrate which acts as a filler in the pours of the slab, creating a solid state. Densifying the concrete can increase the strength of the surface by 50%-60% depending on the hardness of the slab prior to the install. Densifier does not change the appearance of the concrete at all so it will only work to control dust but will not remove or cover stains, crack or diviots.

For sever dusting and wear we recommend Epoxy flooring.

Epoxy or polyaspartic flake floors

This is the best option in our opinion because it involves completely removing the weak layer of concrete which causes the dusting. Then adding a multi layer commercial grade epoxy coating system to the floor. We start by adding a penetrating vapor barrier that will act as the densifier, solidiving any remaining porous concrete remaining . Then adding a color base layer of epoxy that acts as a leveler insuring for a flat floor. Then our flake and clear top coat. Since you are completely removing the first layer and then sealing the second you trap any remaining dust for good. Below you will find photos from a floor we recently repaired in Clinton Mississippi that had the same issue we covered above. You will agree that it was a dramatic transformation.