Recommendation points
- Preparing a pillow under the floor
- Preparing for pouring
- Do I need to reinforce
- What concrete composition to choose
- Filling the floor in detail
- Mosaic floor โ is it worth it
- Further work with the floor
The floors in garages and office premises experience impressive operational loads: heavy objects, mechanical stress, spilled technical fluids. We offer instructions for installing a concrete floor that will retain its strength and good appearance even after decades..
Preparing a pillow under the floor
The main disadvantage of concrete is that it pulls moisture from the soil. The lower the quality of the mixture, the more damp the garage will be, which will not have a beneficial effect on the car. Therefore, the old wooden floor in the garage is removed almost to the lower edge of the foundation and covered with ordinary clay to a level of -30 cm from the zero mark.
The clay is rammed and lightly spilled with water. After drying, the foundation and walls are covered with a coating waterproofing. Next comes the filling of a 10 cm cushion of sand or granite screening. Above โ 10 cm layer of crushed stone fraction 20-25 mm.
Each layer is alternately rammed as tightly as possible. If the bedding is prepared long before the floor is poured, it will not be superfluous to spill crushed stone and sand with water..
Preparing for pouring
Usually garages have a small area, so they are not divided into maps. However, combined garages and covered parking lots cannot be filled in one day, so if the current lighthouse layout is not enough for you, install temporary formwork.
The observation pit is framed by an angle steel frame, turned upward and inward with shelves. It is installed on the headband of the masonry so that the edges of the upper shelves are exactly in the plane of the floor. For this:
- we stretch two cords in parallel from the edges of the threshold of the gate to the opposite wall;
- we align them first strictly horizontally, then raise them along the wall by 1.5 cm, setting the overall slope of the floor;
- we spread the frame along the beacons, focusing on the cords;
- we cut the gap with broken brick and cement mortar.
At a distance of half the wheel track to the left and right of the axis of the longitudinal inspection pit, a 200ร76 mm channel is installed. Orient it with the shelves up and pave it on the beacons reinforced with mortar every 150 cm. The edges of the upper shelves should be at the level of -5 mm from the zero mark. The length of the channel โ to the depth of the carโs arrival, plus about another 0.5-1 meter.
Having measured the distance between the pit frame and the channel, move it further and install the first pair of beacons. Use a 3/4 โor 1โ diameter round pipe coated with machine oil. It is convenient to set up beacons according to a long rule, laid on opposite corners of the pit or on two previous beacons. Two more pairs of pipes must be installed before and after the inspection pit as an extension of its long sides.
Important: before the start of concrete work, weld horizontal lintels of 14 mm reinforcement every 60โ80 cm along the entire length of the channels. Subsequently, the reinforcing grill will rest on them, this will save you from constantly wetting the floor due to melted snow.
Channels can be blind, or continue along the general slope of the floor to the gate, where water can escape through the drainage holes in the threshold.
Do I need to reinforce
The concrete screed rests on a relatively homogeneous base, so the array does not experience high stresses. But without reinforcement, the risk of cracking is high, therefore, for reinsurance, at least a plastic reinforcing mesh is embedded in a thin screed.
With a concrete thickness of 10โ15 cm, the screed should be reinforced with at least one row of 6 mm steel mesh with a mesh of 80โ100 mm. A thicker layer is reinforced in two rows under the upper and above the lower plane, or with a mesh reinforcement cage.
Donโt forget about protective layers. Rigid reinforcement should be installed on distance plugs, and soft reinforcement should be pulled on driven steel pegs.
What concrete composition to choose
If you order a ready-made mixture at a concrete unit, take the B150 or B200 brand, you wonโt be mistaken. For self-preparation of the mixture in sufficient volume, you will need: concrete mixer 0.4 m3 minimum and exact correspondence to proportions.
The main filler for concrete is selected granite or quartz crushed stone of a mixed fraction โ from 20 to 50 mm. It is very good if the crushed stone is freshly chopped and has no plaque, otherwise it will not be superfluous to spill it with water.
For bonding use Portland cement grade 400 in a ratio by volume of 1 to 4 parts of the main filler. Do not use cement on the screed that has been stored for more than one year, or increase the concentration by 30%.
A third of the volume of crushed stone is added to concrete. It is advisable to use quarry sand, river sand is suitable only after two years of open storage.
Filling the floor in detail
Pouring the floor in the garage is carried out in strips. First, the area behind the inspection pit is poured: a small amount of concrete is poured under the wall, compacted well, then stretched along the guides as a rule. Further, the entire floor is poured behind the inspection pit, there are no differences here except for the general slope.
It is more difficult to fill in areas near the drain. Their width is small, it will be more convenient to level the mixture with a long slicker or spatula. After pouring gutters to the length of the pit, go to the highest point of the filled area and smooth the transition between levels at the end. Smoothing is best done in an area 40-50 cm wide.
The next step will be to fill the areas to the left and right of the observation pit up to the gate. The final stage is the pouring of a small patch of concrete in front of the inspection pit. If the channels do not have a drain, you will have to once again negate the transition between different levels.
Important: tamp the concrete well with stabbing shovel movements. If you seat by vibration, immerse the vibrator in each area of โโ1.2 m2.
Mosaic floor โ is it worth it
Imitation granite for a garage is a very suitable option. The coating is hard, does not crack, washes well and does not generate dust. However, the construction of such a floor is a very difficult construction task that requires preliminary practice..
The mosaic floor can also be arranged along the main preparatory screed, its thickness can be very small โ 30-50 mm. Pseudo-granite of normal thickness can be poured even over slabs of incompressible insulation, for example, extruded EPS.
Further work with the floor
The next day after pouring, you need to go to the concrete in soft shoes and carefully undermine the beacons. The formed depressions are left until the third day, during this time, the concrete must be periodically sprayed with water.
The traces of the lighthouses are filled with cement mortar of grade 400 with the addition of dropout crumbs. The work is carried out with an ordinary spatula, first you need to walk along the grooves with a metal brush, sweep out the dust and moisten the surface.
A week after pouring the floor, you can start processing it. The layer of cement milk that has surfaced during the setting is removed by hand grinding. You will need an emery wheel with a diameter of 35 cm and a pipe cross with a long inclined handle. Under the cross-piece, the circle is attached with limiters on four sides, a small bending about 10-15 kg is installed on top. Such a round โmopโ must be carefully peeled off the floor, otherwise no subsequent coating will fall on it, and without coating the concrete will begin to dust even more.
After sanding, the floor can be well saturated with deeply penetrating soil and left so ready for use. However, to facilitate cleaning and a pleasant appearance, concrete is also painted with epoxy and polyurethane enamels with special additives that make the coating resistant to aggressive automotive chemicals.
What are the important steps to consider when pouring and painting a concrete floor in a garage? Any tips or recommendations to ensure a durable and long-lasting finish?
What are the steps involved in pouring and painting a concrete floor in a garage? Are there any specific materials or techniques that should be used?
What are the advantages of pouring concrete for a garage floor rather than using other materials? Additionally, what factors should be taken into consideration before painting a concrete garage floor?
Pouring concrete for a garage floor has several advantages over using other materials. Concrete is durable, long-lasting, and can withstand heavy vehicles and equipment. It also provides a smooth, even surface that is easy to clean and maintain. Additionally, concrete is a cost-effective option for garage flooring.
Before painting a concrete garage floor, several factors should be taken into consideration. First, the concrete surface should be properly cleaned and prepared to ensure that the paint adheres well. Any cracks or imperfections should be filled and repaired before painting. It is also important to choose a high-quality concrete paint that is specifically designed for garage floors, as regular house paint will not withstand the wear and tear of a garage. Finally, proper ventilation and safety precautions should be taken when painting to ensure a successful and long-lasting finish.