With a wire brush, clean the crack. Sweep away any loose debris, then vacuum the crack. If grease, oil, or dirt remains in or near the crack, clean it thoroughly. With a cold chisel and large hammer, undercut the edges of the crack. Filling small cracks in concrete keeps them from turning into big holes. If you know how to fill small cracks in concrete, you’ll restore your concrete to a smooth finish. This technique will work for cracks smaller than 3/8 inch wide in the sidewalk, driveway, garage floor, basement, or steps. For this project you’ll need.
Common Reasons Why Concrete Cracks
- Too much water in the concrete mixture: Concrete does not require much water to be properly installed, but often times contractors use more water than needed to spread out the concrete and make the job easier.
- The concrete has dried too fast: Which is why you see concrete poured in the heat of the summer be more prone to cracking than concrete poured in the cooler months. As concrete dries and cures within the first month of pouring it, the water that was mixed in, is exiting. If the water exits the concrete too quickly then the concrete cracks. Many contractors choose to battle this by applying a curing agent, which is essentially a type of sealer. This prevents the moisture from escaping through the surface and forces it to escape through the bottom and sides, dramatically slowing down the water exit. However, if you intend to stain the concrete, then the curing agent must be completely removed, involving chemical stripping and likely sanding. So, when planning to pour fresh concrete intended for staining, using a curing agent isn't the best of ideas and should be avoided. If you're in the heat of the year and concerned with cracking, then employing the old school method of watering the concrete daily is your best bet. Once the concrete has dried hard enough that applying water won't damage the surface, you can hand water with a hose or set a sprinkler to continually water the concrete and keep it saturated wet. I remember an old photo where a contractor had built temporary walls around a slab of concrete and had immersed it in water, for the first month. Over 100 years later that concrete still had no cracks.
- The improper type of concrete was used for the project: Concrete comes in various strengths and mixes for different projects and implementations. To ensure that the correct strength and mix is used, consult with your contractor on what the project is to ensure the proper concrete is installed. For instance, having air injected into the concrete mix will greatly extend the life and structural integrity of the concrete through cold/hot cycles.
- Control joints were not properly implemented: Control joints allow your concrete to crack where it is supposed to. That's why you see the tooled in joints every 4' or so in sidewalks, as well as saw cuts strategically placed on parking lots, driveways and roads. When, where and how control joints should be used depends on several factors including size, thickness, intended use and type of traffic and the substrate. As these and other factors vary wildly between projects, you'll want to discuss this with your contractor.
- The soil below the concrete was not properly compacted: There are different schools of thought on this one. Some feel the the harder and more solid the ground beneath the better, while others believe that the use of a cushion sand is ideal. The truth is they're both correct. The bottom line is this, if the ground beneath the concrete shifts and moves, the concrete will crack no matter what you do. So you should ensure the ground beneath is as solid and compacted as possible. However, a layer of cushion sand over that also helps to allow a slight amount of movement beneath without negatively impacting the concrete. Since it's cushioned, it allows it to float a bit and helps avoid cracking concrete.
- A final note to make is that concrete cracks. No matter what you or your contractor does to prevent it, if the ground beneath moves enough or if the concrete decides it just wants to crack, then it will. So the best thing to do is ensure that a proper steel grid is properly placed in the center of the concrete, to hold it together and hopefully contain the cracks to hairline and not allow them to open up larger. D.O.T. grade rebar is best, typically placed on 12' to 18' centers.
Your concrete floor offers immense strength, but by nature concrete will crack as it cures and settles over time. This cracking can be controlled initially with control joints that encourage the concrete to crack along straight lines.
However, joint deterioration, un-caulked joints, and unplanned cracks can cause a number of problems in an industrial setting, including:
- Moisture seeping into the cracks
- Leaking oils or chemicals contaminating the floors and/or corroding them
- Increased costs for repairs and maintenance to the floor itself
- Difficulty cleaning as debris gets trapped in cracks
- Wear and tear on vehicles (plus driver fatigue) as wheels jolt across the uneven floor
Vehicle issues are especially costly, since they not only slow down production and increase the need for vehicle repair, but they can quickly accelerate spalling and other damage to the floor.
Protecting Your Concrete Flooring
Keyman desktop 9.0 free download. After your floor has fully settled (which may be up to a year after it’s been poured), you’ll want to extend the life of your floor and of your vehicles by filling in and protecting joints and cracks. Here are some of the most common solutions:
- Sealers – Sealers are made of a soft material that fills in the crack and prevents moisture, debris, and liquids from getting in. It expands and contracts with the concrete and keeps the surface of the floor smooth and even.
- Fillers – For high-traffic areas or places with significant spalling, rigid fillers are used to replace the damaged concrete and restore strength and evenness to the floor.
- Specialized fillers – If your facility handles corrosive chemicals or has problems with recurring cracking, you may need to work with a flooring expert to customize a solution.
Not sure which solution is right for you? Regular show best park in the universe game. The experts at CPC Floor Coatings will be happy to assess your floors, look for existing damage, and recommend the best solution for you.
Learn how CPC Floor Coatings can help you extend the life of your concrete floors.
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