If you’re making fit-out decisions for your business, concrete flooring is a hardwearing choice for warehouses, industries, and commercial buildings. However, despite its toughness and strength, there are potential problems if the concrete is not adequately levelled before it cures.
Levelling a concrete floor has plenty of potential benefits, such as improving its durability and lifespan, ensuring workplace safety, and enhancing productivity.
What Happens If Concrete Isn’t Level?
Your concrete floor might look level to the naked eye. But if you suspect it is uneven, you’ll need to check with a spirit or laser level. You can even check if a floor slopes by placing a marble in the centre of the space and seeing if it starts to roll.
Uneven concrete flooring spells trouble on many levels. Besides your warehouse floor looking a little strange, those lumps and bumps are accidents waiting to happen.
Even worse, your floor won’t wear evenly as greater stress and friction are applied to some areas more than others. As a result, the structural integrity of your flooring becomes compromised, increasing the risk of trips and falls and impeding vehicles like forklifts from moving freely.
Can You Level An Existing Concrete Floor?
Inconsistencies in your concrete flooring can have several causes, from poor pouring techniques to improper screeding. But it doesn’t stop there — improperly maintained concrete flooring can be prone to shifting and cracking, resulting in an uneven surface.
Fortunately, you have options when it comes to levelling an existing concrete floor. One quick fix is to grind down any obvious high spots until the floor is level. You can check how even it is as you go with a laser level.
Otherwise, you can use a self-levelling compound to add a new layer to your floor. This technique is a popular option to achieve a flat, level floor with minimal hassle. It involves pouring the compound over the floor, allowing it to spread, settle, and dry. You may require more than one coat for a perfectly smooth and even finish.
How To Lay A Concrete Floor
If you want to avoid issues with concrete flooring for your next project, the answer is to get it right the first time.
Depending on the floor area, the team at Technic Concrete Flooring employs traditional floor-laying techniques or laser screed pouring. Laser screed is ideal for larger pours requiring precision levelness and flatness every time. Armour joints and steel fixing further reinforce your floors for long-lasting results.
Preparation is also the key to success for outdoor floors. Your sub-base should be well rolled and levelled before the concrete is poured, then finished with an acrylic curing membrane to prevent an uneven result.
How To Seal Concrete Floors
Sealing your concrete floors is a necessity. It ensures long-lasting strength and durability and prevents cracking and other damage. Sealing also protects your concrete from stains and moisture.
One of the biggest mistakes when sealing concrete is skipping preparation. Your flooring requires a power float or brush finish to ensure high levels of adherence. Another common error is choosing the right sealer for your space. Ideally, your sealant should be durable enough to withstand high traffic levels.
It’s essential to fill all cracks and holes before applying a protective epoxy, polyurethane, or acrylic sealant. Excellent prep creates a smooth and level surface that is ready for sealing.
How To Fix Cracks In Concrete Floor
Unfortunately, due to the material’s rigidity, cracks in concrete slab flooring are common. Temperature changes, uneven drying, and shrinkage can all create cracks that are a trip hazard. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to concrete cracks, but there are some basic rules to follow for a long-lasting repair.
If cracks have developed due to an uneven floor, levelling the concrete before attempting a repair is critical.
Sealing any cracks that develop is essential to prevent further damage and deterioration. Cracks should be thoroughly cleaned before repair and then filled with concrete caulk. Larger cracks should be packed with sand before filling.
Expert Concrete Levelling Services
Levelling out a concrete floor is a job best left to the professionals if you want to reduce damage and improve the structural integrity of your floors. Plus, an expert repair will save you money in the long run.
At Technic Floors, we specialise in industrial concrete flooring solutions. If you need inspiration for an upcoming project or advice on the condition of an existing floor, contact us, and our expert team will be happy to help.