In the beginning, when a concrete floor is poured and floated, each project turns out a bit different. The floor is hardly ever perfect right away.
So many factors can make a big difference in the outcome of a concrete floor, such as temperature, humidity, or the quality of the cement mix used. Therefore, no concrete floor is totally perfect, and each surface can have a problem or two that needs correcting before floor polishing can take place.
In this guide, our concrete floor restoration experts explain how we achieve professional solutions for uneven surfaces. Let’s dive in!
The Problem With an Uneven Concrete Floor
One major problem with many concrete floors is whether they are level or not. Some floors slope noticeably from one side to the other, while others can slope from the middle outward or vice versa. Either way, this sloping can cause various problems for the occupants in residential homes or commercial buildings, such as desks and tables that wobble.
Uneven floors can also cause other, more dangerous problems as well, like tripping hazards, structural instabilities, damaged property, and more.
Tripping Hazard
An uneven concrete floor is dangerous because it can become a trip hazard. The OSHA definition of a trip hazard is any change in floor level that is a quarter inch or more.
Cracks, elevation differences, and sunken sections can catch people’s feet, which causes the trip hazard. Trip hazards can include uneven floors and other obstacles.
Structural Instability
If an uneven concrete floor is very bad, it could indicate underlying structural problems or cause future problems. Sometimes, unevenness is caused by settlement, soil erosion, or inadequate subgrade preparation.
Damage to Property
Uneven concrete floors can cause damage to property. In a home, it can cause furniture damage, while in businesses, it can damage equipment and machinery.
Accessibility Issue
If your floors are uneven, they could present a problem for those with mobility impairments or disabilities, such as wheelchair users, causing barriers and reduced independence.
Poor Aesthetic Appearance
An uneven concrete floor just doesn’t look good. They can distract from the visual appeal of indoor and outdoor spaces and make the floor look worn, neglected, or unattractive.
Increased Maintenance Costs
In addition to property damage, uneven concrete floors can cost you money. They may require more frequent maintenance and repairs to address safety hazards and structural issues. If you are a business with an uneven concrete floor, this can cause work stoppage and downtime.
Fortunately, the issue of a sloping or uneven surface can be remedied on most floors.
Don’t Attempt to Level a Concrete Floor Yourself
An uneven concrete floor is a problem that a do-it-yourself person should not try to fix. Without sufficient knowledge and experience, you could unintentionally create an even bigger problem with your floor that can cost much more money to repair.
Call a floor specialist if you want professional results!
Don’t Try to Solve a Concrete Problem With a Patch
To solve an uneven concrete problem, you must do things the right way. Some may believe that they can use a concrete patch to solve their problem, but that is not the right way to do it.
There are several reasons why concrete patches are a bad idea. They can end up causing another, bigger trip hazard. Depending on the weather, freeze-thaw cycles can cause patches to simply pop off, requiring additional effort to repair.
Plus, patches don’t solve the issue – they only hide it temporarily.
Topping Uneven Concrete Floors
With uneven concrete floors, the quickest and most effective remedy for the situation is to use a self-leveling compound that fills in the low spots and makes the floor completely level. Floor topping can fix a great many problems with floors to create an aesthetically pleasing surface for floor polishing.
When a concrete floor is topped with a self-leveling compound, this procedure automatically corrects many other floor defects besides an uneven surface, such as minor cracks, scratches or gouges, small holes, and rough spots.
The result is a flat, level surface free of all blemishes and perfect for floor polishing or staining.
Concrete Grinding for Uneven Floors
Another method to level an uneven concrete floor is the wet-grind method. Using water and abrasives, a professional flooring restoration company can level and smooth out an uneven surface. It’s a very thorough process and can also repair chips, cracks, and other imperfections.
The wet-grind method is also cleaner and safer because the water captures all the dust created during the grinding process, which makes clean-up much easier.
After the grinding process is complete, you can have your concrete floors sealed to protect them against future staining and other damage.
ACT Restores Concrete Floors in the Twin Cities Area!
At ACT Restoration, we specialize in helping residential and business owners in the Twin Cities area improve the condition of their concrete floors with concrete floor resurfacing, floor polishing, floor staining, and dying. When it comes to floor restoration, we not only polish concrete floors, we also restore terrazzo and natural stone flooring.
Since 2012, ACT Restoration has reached a new level of excellence in our community with superior customer service and high-quality craftsmanship. We’ve dedicated ourselves to producing the best quality flooring restoration at affordable prices.
Contact us today at 612-750-5360 and speak with one of our knowledgeable floor specialists or visit our website and fill out our convenient Contact Form. We offer a free consultation and estimate of your project.