Walk-in coolers, freezers, and cold storage areas are essential to your facility’s productivity. Just like processing areas, these low-temperature environments are prone to floor damage over time. Cracks, spalls, and chipped joints can develop from heavy traffic, thermal cycling, and general wear. If left unaddressed, these issues can slow down operations or create safety hazards such as trip points.
Why Cold Storage Repairs Are More Complicated
Repairing floors in cold storage isn’t as straightforward as it is in ambient conditions. Unlike standard repair environments, most joint fillers and crack repair products don’t cure properly at sub-freezing temperatures. As a result, materials may lose their shore hardness or become brittle, leading to short-term fixes that don’t hold up.
Therefore, selecting the right cold storage floor repair product is just as important as performing the repair itself. In fact, the wrong product can create more problems than it solves.
You Don’t Have to Shut Down Operations
Fortunately, there’s a solution. You don’t need to take your freezer or cold storage area out of service to make a repair. With the right materials, you can fix floor joints and cracks quickly — even in temperatures well below freezing — and have the area back in use within the same shift.
This approach not only keeps production running but also helps avoid unnecessary costs and delays. Moreover, some products allow for permanent repairs that cure in less than three hours.
4 Things to Consider When Selecting Cold Storage Repair Materials
To make sure your repair lasts, keep these four factors in mind:
01. Low-Temperature Application
First, choose repair materials made for freezer floor crack repair or cold storage joint filler. Materials not designed for sub-zero use may become brittle or fail to cure at all.
02. Fast Return to Service
Second, look for products that offer a rapid cure time. Downtime is expensive. Some formulations allow for traffic — including forklifts and carts — in as little as three hours, even at -20°F.
03. USDA Approved and Low VOC
Third, verify that the material is USDA compliant and safe for food-grade environments. Using low or no VOC repair products also improves air quality and reduces odor.
04. Deep Penetration and Permanent Bond
Finally, select a low-viscosity material that penetrates deep into the concrete. This ensures a strong, long-lasting bond and reduces the chance of future cracking.
Repair on Your Terms
With the right materials, these repairs can be done using tools you already have or with minimal investment. As a result, you can schedule repairs around your production, rather than shutting everything down to accommodate maintenance.
Save Time and Eliminate Downtime
Did you know some cold room joint repair materials can fully cure in less than three hours, even in below-zero temperatures? That means a permanent fix with zero downtime. What could your team accomplish with that time saved?
| Material | Ease of Application | Application Temperature | Time to Traffic Ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid setting, polyurea polymer to fill and protect joints subject to hard wheels and heavy loads from (-30) degrees (RSF) |
Dual cartridge gun | -30°F – 120°F | 3-5 hrs. @0°F |
| 2-part hybrid urethane that forms with sand to form tough instant polymer concrete (10 min mender) |
Cartridge combined with sand | -30°F – 120°F | 10 mins @72 |
| VersaFlex SL 75/90 | n/a | -40°F – 130°F | 60 mins |
Give us a call at 888-809-2365 if you have any questions about cold storage repair or any other maintenance needs. And don’t forget to check out our line sheet to see all we have to offer!
