Causes
Impacts at joints, freeze-thaw (rare in Florida), reactive aggregate, rusting steel and poor finishing.
Repair options
Remove loose material, clean and bond a repair mortar. Match depth with the right product.
Preventing it
Fill joints in traffic areas. Keep the slab dry. Repair small damage early.
Polishing repaired areas
Patches can be ground flush and polished.
Early signs
Small flakes, rough patches or a crumbly edge at a joint are warning signs. Fixing them early is easier than waiting until the damage spreads.
Repair then polish
Spalled areas are cleaned out, filled with a compatible repair material, and ground flush. The final color may differ slightly from the surrounding slab.
Watch the cause
Salt, impact, freeze cycles in other regions, and water movement can all cause spalling. In Florida, salt and moisture are the usual concerns.
Quick answers
Can spalls spread?
Yes, if left.
Will repairs show?
Sometimes slightly.
