What is the cost to patch and fill divots in concrete before Ottawa garage epoxy

Cost of Patching and Filling Concrete Divots Before Garage Epoxy in Ottawa

Patching and filling divots in concrete before epoxy application in an Ottawa garage typically costs between $200 and $1,200, depending on the number and depth of the defects. As a per-square-foot add-on to the total project, concrete patching and divot repair generally falls in the $1 to $3 per square foot range for moderate damage. Minor divot filling on an otherwise sound floor might add only $150 to $300, while extensive spall and divot repair across a badly deteriorated slab can push costs to $1,500 or more before any epoxy is applied.

Divots, pitting, and small spalls are extremely common in Ottawa garage floors. Years of road salt tracked in by vehicles, combined with over 50 freeze-thaw cycles per winter, cause the concrete surface to pop and flake. The salt draws moisture into the concrete pores, which then freezes and expands, blasting out small craters in the surface. Garages in older Ottawa neighbourhoods like Alta Vista, Nepean, and Gloucester often show this damage most severely near the garage door threshold where salt exposure is heaviest.

Professional contractors use several products to fill divots before epoxy, and the choice depends on the depth and extent of the damage. For shallow divots and surface pitting (under 1/4 inch deep), an epoxy patching compound is the standard choice. These two-part epoxy fillers are mixed on-site, trowelled into the divots, and scraped flush with the surrounding surface. They cure hard, bond well to concrete, and accept epoxy coating over them beautifully. Material cost is modest — typically $30 to $60 per quart — and a quart covers a surprising number of small repairs.

For deeper divots and spalls (1/4 inch to 1 inch deep), contractors use a polymer-modified cement patch or a thickened epoxy mortar. These products have more body and can fill larger voids without shrinking or cracking during cure. Deeper repairs need more cure time — typically 12 to 24 hours before diamond grinding flush and applying the epoxy system. Material costs run $40 to $80 per container, and labour for extensive patching work is where the cost adds up.

The labour component is the real cost driver. Each divot needs to be cleaned out, loose material removed, and the patch applied carefully to ensure adhesion. A floor with 20 to 30 scattered divots might take a skilled worker 2 to 3 hours to patch. A floor that looks like the surface of the moon — common in garages that were never sealed and have endured 25-plus Ottawa winters — might need a full day of patch work or even a thin resurfacing overlay if the damage is too widespread for individual patching.

Most professional Ottawa epoxy contractors include minor patching in their standard preparation price — typically filling up to 10 to 15 small divots is considered part of normal prep at no additional charge. It is when the damage goes beyond that threshold that a separate line item for concrete repair appears on the quote. When getting estimates, ask contractors to specify what level of concrete repair is included in their base price versus what triggers an additional charge. You can compare quotes from flooring contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:

• 613Bins
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Denys Builds Designs Renovations
• Duarte Tile
• Dump n Dash Hauling