Concrete is a tough material that can stand up to many different elements, but it does have one weakness. It will corrode if left unprotected, and this corrosion process can lead to the destruction of the concrete. Cracks in concrete are caused most off time by the movement of water through it. However there could be a lot of other reason of concrete cracks. These cracks can cause a major damage to your building structure. In this post we will discuss everything about concrete cracks from reasons to repairing.
What are the reasons?
Cracks in concrete are caused by a variety of factors. The most common type is called shrinkage, which occurs when the concrete shrinks and cracks form in response. Other types include temperature fluctuations or side loading from traffic passing over it.
Preventing Cracks?
There are a few ways to prevent cracks in concrete contracting. One way is to seal the surface of the slab with an acrylic, epoxy or urethane coating that provides protection from weathering and acidity; it will also protect against saltwater penetration.
Another option is raising your driveway’s height by adding drainage channels underneath it which can be filled with sand (drainable). The other way would be having a layer of asphalt applied on top for better durability
Pro Tip: Always keep any standing water off slabs, as this expands their porosity while freezing them at night depletes oxygen content within air pockets due to frost heave. These factors lead to steel rebar corrosion which should not happen because it causes
Repairing Concrete Cracks
Here are some simple steps to repair the cracks.
- Apply a concrete patch over the crack.
- Clean and dry surface.
- Mix epoxy or acrylic resin, hardener, and pigment together with water in a bucket for tinting purposes if desired.
- Dip brush into mixture to coat edges of crack; let set up before applying again onto both sides of the cracking area as needed until you have filled out entire surface tightly. Avoid trapping bubbles while coating cracks by brushing across them longwise instead of back and forth (this will also help blend colors). Let this sit overnight at room temperature before driving on it. This is an appropriate repair method but special care should be taken when using any types that contain plasticizers such as polyesters because these materials might migrate and you have to be careful that they do not migrate out of the crack and onto other areas.
- To seal in moisture, you can use a thin coat of petroleum jelly on top before driving on it or using an elastomeric coating such as polyurethane (PUR).
- Protect against weathering by applying any clear coatings with UV protection is recommended to preserve your repair for up to six months if needed. These products will create a protective surface film which helps block harmful Ultra Violet rays from penetrating and breaking down the material even after being exposed long term.
- Dry surfaces are highly susceptible to corrosion so make sure you have prepared them properly first! This entails removing all existing loose materials including chipped paint, rust/.
Concrete repair is it possible to DIY?
Repairing concrete is not a DIY job. However you can find a lot of repairing kits in market but it is not recommended to do it yourself. Because if the job is not done properly you may face a lot of problems in near future. So best way is to hire concrete repairs Fredericton for ideal results.
How much cost to repair concrete?
The cost of concrete repair depends on the severity and location of the damage. For small jobs, it can start at $400 with an average between $800-$1200 for larger repairs such as slab replacement or patching/cracking on a driveway.
