What Is Used to Fill in Holes for a Concrete Floor?

Concrete Patches

• Homeowners can use concrete patches to repair holes and cracks that are smaller than 3/8 inch in diameter or width on concrete structures such as steps, ramps, sidewalks, driveways and garage or basement floors. Concrete patches made from epoxy, vinyl or latex are sold in small tubes. Use a caulking gun to fill the holes or cracks, wipe away the excess with a damp cloth and let the patch cure according to the manufacturer's instructions on the concrete patch packaging. If you are planning to paint the concrete, the curing time may be as long as one month.

Epoxy Mortar

• Larger holes and cracks are best repaired with epoxy mortar. Epoxy mortar is available in rapid-drying formulas that set up in one hour and formulas that take 24 hours to harden. If you are paying a contractor by the hour to repair and refinish concrete, a faster-drying formula will save you money, even though it's more expensive than slow-drying formulas, by letting the project proceed without the waiting period between repair and refinishing.

Epoxy Urethane

• Holes and cracks in the joints and seams of concrete surfaces are fixed with epoxy urethane mixtures. Epoxy urethane efficiently fills the holes but, unlike epoxy mortar, is composed of materials that expand and contract without cracking or breaking. This feature is essential for filled holes in concrete control and expansion joints that are exposed to hot and cold temperatures. Soft joint fillers not specifically formulated for concrete will deteriorate and create tears in the seams and joints of concrete structures and surfaces.

Hints and Tips

• Concrete fillers will not perform if any dust or dirt gets mixed in with the filler. Before starting a concrete repair project, clean the surface with a wire brush to remove dirt and loose concrete particles, and then vacuum the surface thoroughly or clean it with a soft brush. Once the repair has dried, sand the filled holes and cracks flush with the surface and remove the resulting dust before painting or sealing the concrete; this ensures that the filler stays in place.