Concrete is an essential building material made of water and cement. It is seen everywhere but tends to develop cracks. The problem with these cracks is that they not only affect the aesthetics but also compromise its structural integrity.
If you understand why these cracks develop in concrete, you can take up preventive measures and do proper repairs.
One of the main reasons that concrete develops cracks is because it does through shrinkage. When you pour concrete, it starts to dry up and lose moisture. As a result, the concrete shrinks, leading to internal stresses, and develops cracks. If you pour too much water into the concrete, it will shrink more when it dries. Mixing the concrete in proper proportions is one way you can minimize shrinkage. Uneven shrinking can happen if the temperature keeps, leading to cracks. Different types of cements also have different shrinking properties. Some shrink more than others while it cures.
If you subject concrete to excessive weight or pressure, one beyond which the concrete is designed to bear, it will crack under stress. This can include vehicles, machinery, or equipment, or inadequate reinforcement or improper structural design that does to distribute stress evenly.
There are some chemical reactions that can cause your concrete to crack. For example, in alkali-aggregate reaction, the reactive metals in aggregate react with alkalis in the cement, causing expansion and cracking over some time.
Sometimes, the soil beneath the concrete can compress or shift. It can cause the concrete above to settle unevenly, increasing its chances to crack.
Concrete in colder climates undergo a freeze-thaw cycle. When ice thaws, there is a possibility of water penetrating through the cracks. And if the water freezes after it penetrates, it will expand, exerting pressure on the concrete. If this keeps repeating, the freezing and thawing cycle can lead to cracks.
Poor Workmanship
Finally, like anything manual, poor handwork can give bad results. In the case of concrete, it can be improper placement, or improper finishing of concrete that can create weak spots or air pockets.
Let’s go through some remedies that are available so that you can diminish the effects of cracks in concrete.
If the cracks are hairline or small fissures, a crack injection is the best method to use. During this process, we inject a specialized polymer into the crack. The polymer fills the void and prevents cracking.
If the cracks are larger, you can use a patch repair which is commonly used in these cases. You need to first clean the crack and then fill it with a concrete patching compound and then smoothen the surface out to match the surface around it.
If the concrete is severely damaged, you can apply an overlay. In this process, you just apply a new layer of concrete over the existing one, to cover the cracks and provide a fresh surface.
An epoxy injection is a good option for you if the crack is leaking water actively. It deals with injecting epoxy resin into the crack formed on the concrete. The epoxy resin hardens and forms a waterproof seal.
Using concrete is not optional. But it has its demerits- mainly cracks. But if you know the causes of cracks in concrete, how to repair and avoid them, you can easily deal with them.
