ClevelandQ Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Hello TIA crew! I am currently turning my basement into a workshop and in need of a little advice. My basement used to have a wall separating two rooms (the wall was not structural and was installed by the last homeowner) I removed the wall to make more space for a workshop I am building. Half of the floor was covered in nature stone and half in an epoxy similar to those found in a garage. I am in the process of grinding off the old epoxy so i can paint over floor with a floor paint. when removed the nature stone (pain in the **s) I found some cracks in the concrete floor. I was wondering what would be the best way to address these cracks? I was going to grind out the cracks and use some DAP pre-mixed concrete patch I got from home depot however after doing a little research I have read that it takes a very long time to dry and may not be the best choice. I also have some holes on the cinder block walls of the basement from when i tore down some shelves that were anchored in. What is the best way to patch these holes? (none of them are more than an inch deep, most being much smaller) Thanks in advance for any input or advice! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Theres is a filler in a tube you can use, I've used it for foundation cracks, holds up fairly well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg1127 Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Get a v grove diamond blade for a 4" grinder chase the cracks and fill then in with an epoxy crack filler depending on the width of the crack you can use a product called cement all its a heavy duty non shrink grout Home Depots stock it . You can use mortar for the small holes in walls Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg1127 Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 http://m.homedepot.com/p/PC-Products-PC-Concrete-9-oz-Epoxy-072561/100653148 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 yea thats similar to what i used Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Good info, @dg1127 This is a great thread I've been following along for the ride, another basement shop you can probably get some ideas from.... have fun man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poisonfangs85 Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 I agree with the guys above, Mortar for the CMU and crack repair on the floor. I am a fan of the epoxy for crack repair. It is not very toolable by nature. I would go over it with a feather finish such as an Ardex CD fine. That way it will be smooth and ready for your floor paint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandQ Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 wow thanks for all the great info everyone! I will try to get some work done on the floor soon and post some pictures 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandQ Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Progress so far. I don't have a true before picture but the half of the basement where there was naturestone was a separate room that was drywalled and had a drop ceiling. I tore all of that out and got rid of the nature stone. I'm almost finished grinding the epoxy that was in the old workshop area. After that I will grind the other half and start addressing these cracks! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Big crack! Nothing epoxy filler can't fix. Looking good I love demo work. Jimbo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmikez Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Yup like Jimbo said some epoxy filler will fix that, shop looks good so far man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandQ Posted March 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 1 hour ago, Bigmikez said: Yup like Jimbo said some epoxy filler will fix that, shop looks good so far man! Is there a certain type or brand you guys would recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Nah just go to HD or Menards they have it by the concrete Jimbo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Or lowes Jimbo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poisonfangs85 Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Looking awesome buddy, looks like fun! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fazzman Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Lack of or improper rebar placement can also cause cracking. The epoxy based stuff works awesome,every home owner should have some around. My house sits on a slab so always on the lookout for cracks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poisonfangs85 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 There are so many reasons concrete cracks, wrong mix, rebar placement, mesh placement or lack of mesh, ground movement, control joints not cut/finished in to name a few. From the pictures it looks like your slab does not have any control joints. They don't stop the concrete from cracking but give it a prestressed line to form the crack instead of a random set of cracks like you have. Do you ever have water seeping through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 There are so many reasons concrete cracks, wrong mix, rebar placement, mesh placement or lack of mesh, ground movement, control joints not cut/finished in to name a few. From the pictures it looks like your slab does not have any control joints. They don't stop the concrete from cracking but give it a prestressed line to form the crack instead of a random set of cracks like you have. Do you ever have water seeping through? Coming from a bridge guy you can generally count on concrete to do two things...get hard and crack. Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandQ Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 No there has never been any water. In fact the whole basement is pretty dry. I've also heard that these types of cracks can be caused by frost forming underneath during the winter. Not sure but I'm in the process of preparing them For epoxy filler right now. I will try to get some more pics up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overanalyze Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 You are guaranteed 3 things in life....death, taxes, and concrete cracks...usually where you don't want it to...lol! Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandQ Posted April 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Update - Crack Grindin. I finished grinding out the cracks on the basement floor as well as filled in the holes in the walls. The epoxy for the cracks should be arriving in the next few days. I have a question though. Once I have filled in the cracks with the epoxy and it has fully cured, what is the best way to sand it down to get a smooth finish? Is it best to just use regular sand paper with an orbital sander, get a flap wheel sander for the grinder, belt sander, or some other way thats better? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano123 Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Looks like a lot of work. I have never sanded epoxy so I don't have any advice, but I wish you luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordraw Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Only two types of cement that I have seen or had, the kind with cracks and the kind that hasn't cracked yet. They all crack at some point. Those are some serious cracks you have there. At least they're not unlevel or raised . Nice job, looks like you will be a busy guy for a while. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 I would get a diamond cup for surface grinding. Not sure how the epoxy will react though Jimbo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 cover the whole floor with self leveling cement 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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