Can I use my garage while a floor crack is being repaired?

Not for parking or storage. Keep vehicles and stored items off the repaired area until the product has reached its full cure for vehicle traffic, which the manufacturer lists on the label. That period depends on the material and on temperature, so read the specific product rather than going by a general rule. We do not do floor repair, but here is how to plan around it.

Plan the garage around the cure

• Find a spot for the car before you start, since the driveway or street may be its home until the cure is complete.
• Move stored items off the area, including anything that could be bumped onto it.
• Check two different times: many products list a separate time for light foot traffic and a longer time for vehicles.
• Watch the temperature: cold slows curing, and very hot conditions can shorten the working time while you apply it. Follow the product's temperature range.
• Ventilate if the product calls for it, and follow its protective-equipment instructions.

Using the garage door during the repair

You can usually keep opening and closing the garage door for access, but take care if the crack is at the door line. The bottom seal presses on that area when the door closes, so keep the door open or closed as needed to stay off the fresh patch until it can take contact. Do not block the safety sensor beam with tape, cones or buckets, since the door will not close properly. If the floor at the threshold has settled and left a gap under the door, see how to stop water under a garage door.

When to hold off on the repair

If the crack is wide, raised, spreading or keeps reopening, have a concrete professional look at it before filling, since a patch will not fix the cause.

Read more

• Garage floor crack repair

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