How To Fix A Concrete Damage: A Complete Guide to Repairing Damages

As the country's leading provider of concrete services, you can imagine that a cracked sidewalk or broken patio doesn't take us by surprise. Instead, it affects our bottom line and reputation. That's why we spend as much time as necessary to repair any damage caused. There are two types of cracks in concrete: internal and external. External cracks appear on the surface of your concrete and look like lines or veins. Internal cracks affect the inside of your concrete and cause it to become weak and brittle.

The sooner you catch a crack before it grows any more significant, the easier it will be to fix. The longer you wait before repairing a crack, the harder it will be to repair again in the future because other cracks will form in the same area from doing so many repairs over time. For this reason, an immediate repair is always recommended when your crack is small enough for you to do so with little cost. Read on for more information about what causes cracks in concrete sidewalks, how to prevent them from growing larger, and how to repair them when they do grow larger than they should be.

What causes cracks in concrete sidewalks?

Internal and external cracks in concrete happen because of a change in the water content of your concrete. The cement used to make concrete is made with a mix of sand, limestone, gravel, and water. As the water evaporates from the cement, it leaves behind a residue that causes the concrete to become weaker.

There are several reasons why you might have cracks in your sidewalk or patio. If you have sprinklers going off on top of your concrete, the mist will create areas where there isn't enough moisture for your concrete to be able to properly bond. This can lead to cracks forming on the surface after just a couple of hours. Another cause for internal cracks could be excessive traffic or construction on top of your sidewalk or patio.

The constant weight from these events can cause poor drainage and cause moisture levels to rise, which leads to weak spots in your concrete. The most common reason for external cracks is improperly curing your concrete which causes bubbles and voids, which leads to cracking once they get larger than an inch wide over time. If you try to pour too much liquid cement into the bucket at one time, this causes excess air bubbles that expand as they dry out over time and before they're cured completely, leading them to break down on their own.

Be sure to use the right materials for your sidewalk repairs.

The type of materials you use for your sidewalk will depend on the size and location of the crack. If you have a crack in your concrete that is too large, it can weaken the structure of your sidewalk. Start by using a mixture of one part cement and three parts aggregate to fill in small cracks. For larger areas, you'll need to use more cement, aggregate, and sand. For example, if you have an area that is ten feet long and five feet wide with a crack that's four inches long, you'll need about half a cubic yard (26 cubic feet) of sand mixed with two bags of cement mix. This also depends on the width of the crack; if it's wider than six inches, go ahead and buy cement mix instead of sand.

Weathering concrete and asphalt is a natural process that can cause cracks.

A crack in concrete or asphalt that starts small will grow larger if the weathering process continues. Weathering is a natural process where water, frost, and sun play a role. When we get cold and wet weather during the winter, we can expect cracks to form on our sidewalks, patios, and driveways because of this natural process. There are two types of cracks in concrete: external and internal. External cracks appear on the surface of your concrete and look like lines or veins. Internal cracks affect the inside of your concrete and cause it to become weak and brittle. The sooner you catch a crack before it grows any larger, the easier it will be to fix. The longer you wait before repairing a crack, the harder it will be to repair again in the future because other cracks will form in the same area from doing so many repairs over time. For this reason, an immediate repair is always recommended when your crack is small enough for you to do so with little cost.

Repairs made of inferior quality products are more likely to cause further damage.

Whether you're a homeowner or business owner, you know the importance of repairing damaged concrete. Unfortunately, it's easy to fall in love with the idea of doing it yourself and find yourself relying on an inferior product that will only cause further damage. The best way to avoid such an issue is by hiring a professional with experience rather than trying to do it yourself. Professional contractors can help prevent any future damages by using quality products to repair your concrete. That means that if you let someone else repair your crack, there's no risk of them using the wrong type of product for your concrete and causing further damage. If you have cracks that are already large enough or have been ignored for too long, those repairs will be more difficult and costly than if they had been done by professionals at the beginning.

How to repair a concrete sidewalk crack

There are a few ways to repair a sidewalk crack. One of the most popular is putting liquid concrete on top of the crack and then using a trowel to get it out into the crack. You can also use an epoxy putty or mortar mix for this same purpose. However, if you don't want these visible repairs, you can fill the area with a more permanent material. Some options include sand, cement, and stone chips mixed with water. This makes it easier to disguise any evidence of damage and make it appear like everything is okay when it really isn't. 

Conclusion

Damages on concrete surfaces can be very difficult to fix. However, with a few simple steps and a few materials, you'll be able to repair any damage quickly and easily.