Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™
Freezer Threshold Repair
Freezer, chiller, and cooler thresholds have posed a persistent challenge for floor repair contractors and the USDA since the 1950s. To ensure that refrigerated and frozen food storage areas remain clean and sealed—preventing the growth of lichen, fungus, and pests—the USDA has implemented strict zero-tolerance guidelines regarding floor cracks and spalls in all food processing and refrigerated storage facilities. Unsealed or open joints are also closely monitored by those responsible for safeguarding America’s food supply.
The conditions at these thresholds create a unique challenge: one side is freezing cold while the other is at room temperature, causing constant and severe thermal stress on the concrete. When combined with the heavy traffic from forklifts and wheeled carts, this situation creates an environment that is highly susceptible to damage.
Fortunately, 10 Minute Concrete Mender has emerged as the preferred repair material for extremely harsh conditions. While the agency cannot officially endorse one product over another, many active USDA inspectors personally favor Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender. Its thin consistency allows it to penetrate effectively without popping out.
When working in cold conditions, some minimal preparation is necessary. First, ensure that any cracks and spalls are clean and dry. While this may be challenging, it is an essential step that professionals are well aware of.
Next, apply Mender to the base and sidewalls to prevent any moisture from moving into the repair area. After that, fill the spalled area or crack nearly to the top with manufactured sand or an approved oxide. Flood the sand until it is saturated, ensuring that Mender penetrates each grain.
For larger areas, using a bulk mixed mortar of Mender and sand can be easier to handle and install. Keep all materials at room temperature or warmer to speed up the curing process. Even with these precautions, expect a curing time of an hour or more if temperatures are extremely low. Since conditions can vary widely, on-site testing is the best way to determine when freezer floors and thresholds will be ready for traffic.
Contractor field reports consistently indicate that 10 Minute Concrete Mender is the most effective solution for these challenging repair situations. For detailed instructions on bulk application, please click here.
1. Remove existing concrete to wood base.
2. Saw keyway at a 45° downward angle on the cold side of the
threshold toward the freezer.
3. Using a diamond shaped pattern, drive sheet rock screws into
the base leaving 3/8″ of the screw sticking up, to act as a
dowel pin for the finishing lift of 10 Minute Concrete
Mender and sand aggregate.
4. Place 10 Minute Concrete Mender to grade. When fully cured
(minimum 10 Minutes) sawcut the warm side joint and fill
with Roadware Flexible Cement II™.
5. Reopen to traffic when Flexible Cement II™ is fully cured.
