Getting a new garage floor is a large-scale home upgrade that affects your daily household schedule. The best way to navigate this process is to adjust some of your daily routines so everything runs smoothly during the installation of a cement floor in your garage.
What are some ways homeowners can prepare for a concrete contractor to pour a new garage floor?
Proactive planning goes a long way toward minimizing the disruption so your concrete crew works more efficiently. Here are ways to help prepare your household for a flawless pour:
- Clear a 20-Foot Workspace Around the Garage: Empty the structure of lawnmowers, trash bins, and patio furniture so the crew has a clear space to tear out the old slab.
- Coordinate Neighborhood Street Parking: Your driveway will be inaccessible for about a week, so you’ll need to find other places to park. Check Canton Township’s street parking rules for your subdivision, and make sure your parked cars don’t block neighbors’ driveways or mailboxes.
- Locate and Clear the Water Spigot: Concrete installation requires an on-site water source for clean-up and mix adjustments. Make sure your outdoor garden spigot is uncovered, accessible, and operational before the crew arrives.
- Secure Pets and Locate Outdoor Power Outlets: Since demolition is noisy, it’s best to keep your pets safely inside or at a kennel. Also, be sure to point out all exterior electrical outlets for the crew to use.
At Rea & Son Cement, we isntall your concrete garage floor more efficiently when our clients prepare for our arrival. We’re happy to answer all your questions when you call (734) 425-7966 or contact us online!
The Curing Timeline for Your New Concrete Garage Floor
After homeowners get a brand-new concrete floor, they want to know when they can start using their garage. Walking or driving on the surface too early can stress the un-cured slab, which can cause micro-fractures, structural cracking, and even broken joints.
How soon can you start using the new concrete slab in your garage?
Here’s an accurate timeline for using your professionally poured, maximum load strength concrete garage floor:
1. The First 24 to 48 Hours: Light Foot Traffic Only
During the first two days after the final finish, the surface of your slab might look dry, but it’s not. Too much weight on this area too soon could cause indentation.
At this time, it’s best to limit the floor strictly to necessary light foot traffic. Keep kids, heavy work boots, wheeled toys, and pets with sharp claws off the fresh pour to avoid leaving deep marks in the setting cement.
2. Days 3 to 6: Moving Items Back Into the Garage
By the third or fourth day, freshly poured concrete floors typically reach 50% to 60% of their overall structural capacity. At this stage, you can start moving your things back into the garage.
You can safely roll back your lawnmower, restock your shelving units, or place heavy workbenches back into position, provided you aren’t dragging heavy metal edges directly across the fresh concrete.
3. Day 7: Safely Parking Cars & SUVs
By this time, your professional concrete slab with maximum load strength has reached about 70% of its load-bearing strength. Now, you can finally drive your family car, sedan, or compact SUV off the street and park it inside your garage.
The expert contractors at Rea & Son Cement recommend avoiding sharp, stationary tire-twisting on your new garage floor. They also say you should avoid parking along the edges of the new slab where it’s still slightly vulnerable.
4. Days 8 to 28: Total Cure
This is the time you can safely park full-sized trucks, vans, or heavy trailers inside your garage or pole barn. Your floor’s center has been bound together at a molecular level, which guarantees your new foundation can support maximum weight without shifting or premature cracking.
Navigating the Construction Phase at Your Home
Managing your daily routine while a concrete contractor replaces your garage floor requires dealing with noise, dust, and property access limits. Because a tear-out and replacement requires heavy machinery, knowing what to expect helps you nryyrt plan your days.
What should you expect while your new concrete garage slab is actively being installed?
Here are some things you’ll need to get used to while the project is underway at your home:
- High Noise Levels: During demolition, the crew uses jackhammers and concrete saws to break up your old slab on the first day.
- Heavy Driveway Traffic: Large dump trucks and concrete mixers access your driveway to haul out debris and pour fresh cement.
- Lock Your Garage Door: Since the main garage doors remain open to the neighborhood throughout the process, be sure the entry door leading into your home stays locked.
- Prepare for Construction Dust: Breaking up old concrete creates airborne dust. Make sure your windows facing the driveway are closed, and keep patio cushions away from the work area.
While there are some small sacrifices to make during the process, you’ll love the results you get from Canton’s best concrete contractor.
Rea & Son Cement: The Name Canton Homeowners Trust
Don’t hesitate when it;s time to fix that failing, crumbling garage floor and improve your home’s value. Rea & Son Cement Co. is here to pour a heavy-duty floor that’s built to stand the test of time.
Call (734) 425-7966 or contact us online to lock in an estimate before our seasonal calendar fills up!