Welcome to my concrete blog. My name is Helen, and I hate stumbling over old and broken concrete. It makes a home, business or even a whole neighborhood look old and unkempt. To make the world a more beautiful place, I have decided to create this blog. In it, I plan to post everything I have learned about concrete over the years. I plan to include everything from maintenance schedules to upkeep tips to simple repairs to financial risks of broken concrete. If you have a patch of concrete anywhere on your property, I hope you enjoy the information in this blog and learn something new from it.
While concrete is a very strong and durable material for patios, walkways, and driveways, it can still get damaged. When you have cracks in the concrete, it is important to repair them so the cracks don't get worse. However, also make sure you don't make these common mistakes.
Filling All Cracks the Same Way
One thing many people do because they don't realise the impact is filling every type of concrete crack the same way. Unfortunately, this might mean your wide cracks get filled like a narrow crack, which can cause the repair to fail and make it necessary to redo the process. Pay close attention to the size and depth of the damage on your concrete to determine how best to repair it. With narrow cracks, you clean it out and fill the crack. With wider cracks, there are a few extra steps involved, including widening it first, then applying a special type of patch.
Not Cleaning Out the Cracks
You also need to make sure the cracks are cleaned out before you start repairing them. If there are weeds or debris inside a concrete crack and you attempt to fill them, they won't look right when the filling compound dries. The best thing to do is get a tool to clean out the cracks, such as a broom or old toothbrush to remove the loose dirt, then use a power washer to make sure it is nice and cleaned out. Wait for any water to dry before patching up the cracks.
Ignoring the Weather Forecast
The weather does make a big difference in the success of your concrete repairs. If rain is expected, the filler might not be completely dry before it rains, which requires you to then redo the filler once the rains tops. If it is too hot out when you are repairing the concrete, that might cause it to dry too quickly, which also does not give you the results you want. Try to choose a cloudy day when the weather is decent, where it isn't too hot or too cold. No rain, snow, or hail should be on the forecast any time soon.
Not Sealing the Concrete
Once all of the repairs are done and the filler compound has dried completely, you should seal the concrete. This helps to prevent future cracks due to heavy weight and vehicles on the concrete surface. If you fail to do this, you are only going to experience more cracks in the future that also need repairs.
For more information, contact local professionals like Abstract Concreting.
Share11 August 2016
