Watco explains how to repair holes in a concrete floor in three easy steps
Concrete floors are tough, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t get damaged, especially as they get older. As well as looking unsightly, damage such as holes in a garage floor, on pathways and patios or even on concrete flooring inside a property can cause a serious trip hazard if left untreated. Tackling problems such as holes and cracks quickly can prevent the damage from getting worse, overcome tricky repairs and prolong the life of the floor.
When it comes to a quick, long-lasting repair, reinforced cement based powders that can be easily mixed and then poured into the damaged areas are an ideal solution. Conventional cement and water-based repair materials can be applied; however, these shrink slightly as the repair dries and the water evaporates, causing them to pull away slightly from the substrate. This weakens the bond of the repair and over time this can lead to your customer’s concrete floor requiring additional repair work.
In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how you can carry out concrete floor repairs quickly and easily by using a pourable mortar filler such as Watco Flowpatch.
Step 1 – Preparation
Thorough preparation is essential if you want to provide your customer with a professional, long-lasting repair, so start by sweeping out any debris and loose material from the damaged area. Use a wire brush to remove loose pieces of concrete and to make sure the hole and its edges are free from oil or other heavy stains.
If the concrete floor is dirty or oily, use an industrial degreaser to remove the contaminant. These can be applied either diluted or undiluted, depending on the level of contamination, brushed in with a stiff broom and then left for around 15 minutes so that it can penetrate and then lift the stain out of the surface. Next, scrub the floor again with a stiff brush to loosen the dirt or oil and then rinse with clean, cold water.
Step 2 – Mixing
Once you’ve fully prepared the area, it’s time to tackle the damage. You will need a mixing blade, or a mixer fitted into a low speed drill for large repair areas, gloves, goggles, a steel float and clean water. Portable mortar fillers can have a short working life so it’s advisable to mix the product near the area you’re going to repair, rather than near the water source.
Mix the Flowpatch repair mortar with water in the bucket. Be careful when adding the water as too much will extend the drying time and weaken the repair. To achieve the right consistency, keep to the ratio of 3 parts Flowpatch to 1 part water. Gradually add the powder, stirring constantly as you do so until you have a smooth, pourable slurry. You can store any remaining powder for future use.
Step 3 – Application
Once you’ve achieved a smooth consistency, simply pour the mixture into the damaged area. Flowpatch is self-levelling so it needs minimal trowelling. It really is just a case of mix, pour and then trowel for a professional finish.
Once applied, the area will be ready for foot traffic in just 30 minutes and heavier traffic such as cars in around 2 hours.
For further information on Flowpatch or other Watco repair and coating products visit https://www.watco.co.uk/products/watco-flowpatch
