When you are thinking about a new floor for your garage, your first question may be what is the best cement for garage floors, and why? So, let’s look at some of the most commonly used cement for garage floors and understand which one would be most suitable in your case.
Lightweight Cement
Lightweight concrete (LC) comprises a lower amount of cement and a higher amount of other ingredients. LC is often used for non-structural applications, such as retaining walls, sidewalks, or patios, but is also a great option as concrete for garage floors. Compared to ordinary concrete, LC is easier to work with and more porous, and pouring is possible at higher temperatures, making it more suitable for warm climates.
LC doesn’t last as long as ordinary concrete, but it’s a good choice if you don’t need the extra strength.
Reinforced Cement
Reinforced cement (RC) uses steel fibers to increase the strength of the concrete. RC is often used for structural purposes and bridge decks but can also be a viable option as cement for garage floors. With an RC garage floor, the key is to use the right amount of steel fibers so that the floor is strong enough for your vehicle but not so strong that it’s difficult to break the pavement if needed in an emergency.
RC is more expensive than ordinary concrete but has higher strength and a longer lifespan.
Specialty Cement for Garage Floors
Specialty cement combines two or more of the above cement types to produce a unique set of characteristics. These types of cement often produce low-odor, low-heat, and highly water-resistant concrete. These specialty blends are available in premixes and custom blends, with the cost increasing for custom blends.
Fly Ash and Silica Fume Blended Cement
Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal, and silica fume is a byproduct of burning silicon-rich rocks such as sand. Combining these two materials with cement produces concrete that has the strength of RC with the low permeability of LC. The common application for fly ash and silica fume is on roads, but the blend is also an option for garage floors.
Choosing fly ash and silica fume blended cement garage floors is a good choice when you have a high water table or want your garage floor to be resistant to chemicals. This cement also has excellent soundproofing properties, and is considered a green building material.
The main disadvantage of fly ash and silica fume blended cement is that it is more expensive than ordinary concrete.
Concrete with Stone Powder
As the name implies, stone powder is a finely ground crushed stone. Concrete with stone powder often has a high water-to-cementitious material (W/C) ratio, which makes it more water-resistant without the fumes that fly ash and silica fume concrete produces.
The disadvantage of using concrete with stone powder is that it is more expensive than ordinary concrete.
Conclusions
When choosing cement for garage floors, one of the most important factors to consider is the end goal of your garage floor. For instance, if you park large vehicles in your garage, you will want to use a cement type that is strong enough to support the weight of these vehicles. On the other hand, if you park smaller vehicles in your garage, your garage floor may not need to be as strong.
Either way, you want to choose a cement type that is durable enough to last for many years. The good news is that you do not have to figure out concrete mixes, strength requirements or pouring on your own.
Arnold Ready-Mix has been Jefferson County’s go-to source for ready-mix concrete for nearly 60 years. Give us a call today for expert advice and to get a free quote for cement for garage floors.