Concrete Delamination (Why your floor is peeling)

The Hollow Sound

Tap your garage floor with a hammer. Does it sound solid? Good. Does it sound hollow? (Like a drum?) That’s “delamination”. Basically, the top 2mm of your concrete has separated from the rest of the slab. It’s going to flake off. It’s going to look ugly.

Why it happens (The “Blister” Effect)

Concrete bleeds water when it dries. If you (or your mason) trowel it too early… you trap that water under the surface. The water pushes up. The surface pushes down. Result: A blister. When it dries, that blister becomes a hollow spot.

How to stop it

1. Don’t rush. Wait for the bleed water to evaporate. If the concrete looks shiny/wet… DO NOT TOUCH IT.

2. Don’t add water. Lazy masons sprinkle water on the surface to make it easier to smooth out. This weakens the top layer immediately. Fire any mason who does this.

How to fix it

If it’s already peeling? You can’t “glue” it back. You have to grind it off. Rent a concrete grinder. Take off the top 3-5mm until you hit solid rock. Then either leave it (exposed aggregate look) or put an epoxy topping. But don’t try to patch it with cement. It will just peel again.