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Technical flooring, delivered directly
- ESD flooring, urethane cement, terrazzo, and polished concrete
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- National service coverage with project-specific staffing plans
- Testing, documentation, and defined project closeout
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Phone: +1 (844) 687-1961
Repairs & Joint Filling
At Craftsman Concrete Floors, we plan concrete repairs and joint filling as part of the finished polished floor. We assess surface defects, select materials suited to the repair, and coordinate installation with grinding and polishing. The goal is a durable repair that blends with the surrounding floor as closely as the concrete allows.
Before proceeding with appearance-sensitive repairs, we install an on-site sample for the project team to review. That sample establishes the expected color and finish without promising that every repair will disappear.
Repair planning is part of our polished concrete installation process.
Assess the floor and establish the repair scope
We identify visible repair needs before work begins and address additional defects exposed during grinding before proceeding with that repair work.
The assessment distinguishes small surface imperfections from cracks, spalls, and joints. It also establishes which repairs are included in the agreed scope and how additional work will be handled.
Our existing-slab assessment guide explains the broader evaluation before polishing.
Choose materials for the job they need to perform
We select pore fillers, crack-repair materials, and joint fillers for their different functions. A material that works well in a surface defect may be unsuitable for a joint that needs to accommodate movement.
| Work | What the treatment needs to accomplish |
|---|---|
| Pore filling and grouting | Fill small surface imperfections and reduce micro-pitting in the finished floor. |
| Crack and spall repair | Repair the defect with a material that bonds to the concrete and can be processed with the surrounding floor. |
| Joint filling | Support contraction and construction joint edges against damage from wheeled traffic. |
Repair materials must remain suitable after polishing. The Concrete Polishing Council’s guide specification requires sufficient bonding capability to remain adhered after polishing and abrasion resistance equal to or greater than the surrounding concrete.
Our joint filler versus crack repair guide explains why the materials are not interchangeable.
Confirm repair appearance and joint preparation
We review repair appearance on a representative sample, because color, texture, aggregate appearance and reflected light can make a sound patch visible, and the sample lets us evaluate the material and technique before repeating them across the floor. Joint preparation is coordinated with the joint type and the selected filler, following that system’s cleaning, filling depth and backing requirements.
Approve repair appearance on the actual slab
We use representative samples to review how the repair looks against the surrounding concrete. Color, texture, aggregate appearance, and reflected light can make a patch visible even when the repair is sound.
The sample gives the project team a realistic basis for approval. It also lets us evaluate the selected material and technique before repeating them across the floor.
Where ACI SPEC-310.1-20 applies, its default spall-repair provisions call for a polishable, two-component polyurea or epoxy that approximates the specified color. Aggregate is added when required to approximate the slab’s appearance, and the repair is ground flush.
When incorporated into the project documents, ACI SPEC-310.1-20 also requires repair-product literature, surface-defect location plans, joint locations in the polishing schedule, and a mockup demonstrating completed joint filling and polishing across floor joints. A crack-location plan is required unless otherwise specified. Project-specific contract documents govern conflicts with the specification.
Our repair color and approval guide explains how we establish the appearance reference.
Prepare joints for the selected filler
We coordinate joint preparation with the joint type and the selected filling material. Cleaning, filling depth, and backing requirements must follow the applicable system rather than a detail borrowed from another product.
The purpose of semirigid joint filler is to support joint edges against wheel impact. It should not rigidly join slab panels that need to move independently.
Our joint preparation, depth, and backing guide covers the preparation details.
Fit repairs into the grinding sequence
We coordinate repairs with grinding and polishing so aggressive tooling does not damage newly installed material and late repairs do not unnecessarily disturb the finished floor.
We schedule repairs and joint filling early enough to integrate them into polishing, while accounting for the selected material and the aggressiveness of the tooling. Waiting until the final polishing steps can create shadowing, differences in gloss, or damage to stain protection.
The sequence depends on the selected materials and tooling. Our joint-filling timing and shrinkage guide explains those decisions.
Check readiness before shaving or grinding
We check the material’s processing requirements before shaving filler, grinding repair overfill, or honing across the repaired area.
Those operations can have different waiting periods. A filler that is ready to shave is not necessarily ready for dry honing, and published times depend on the stated temperature and conditions.
Our shaving and repair-grinding readiness guide covers the separate checks.
Evaluate joint-filler separation in context
Concrete shrinkage can widen joints after filling. Semirigid filler may then separate from the joint wall or tear within itself.
When evaluating separation, we consider the condition of the joint alongside preparation, installation timing, slab design, and building conditions. A gap alone does not establish its cause or mean that the filler was installed incorrectly.
Our joint separation and maintenance guide explains what to evaluate.
Project Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
We select materials and techniques to help repairs blend, then use an on-site sample to establish the expected appearance. Repairs may remain visible. The approved sample provides a realistic reference rather than a promise of an invisible patch.
No. Crack repair addresses a defect; semirigid joint filling supports joint edges against wheel impact. A rigid repair material may restrain movement and should not be substituted for joint filler without confirming its suitability.
Not necessarily. We coordinate repairs with the selected materials and grinding sequence. Aggressive tooling can damage some installed fillers, while repairs made too late can alter the finished appearance.
Not necessarily. Concrete shrinkage can open joints and cause filler to tear or lose adhesion. Preparation, timing, slab design, and building conditions must also be considered.
Polished Concrete Knowledge Center
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