Cracking your concrete driveway is only a natural part of the life cycle. They'd start cracking too if faced with constant cycles of freezing and thawing, heavy loads, tree roots, and even tectonic shifts in the earth's crust! Learning to make repairs to concrete will unlock such a profound life hack that you won't know what to do with yourself. Repairing these small concrete cracks early on can prevent them from leading to even bigger cracks. The bigger the crack, the more damage will be done to your concrete slab. The more damage is done, the more money it will cost you later.
Don't fret – it's not as difficult as it sounds! It's a simple, relatively inexpensive home improvement project that you can use to impress your family and neighbors and have something to talk about at dinner parties. While it is indeed a multi-step process that involves many small, different subtleties, the amount of work you do to fix a smaller crack outweighs the headaches of fixing a bigger problem in the future . You're welcome! When you repair your concrete, you instantly improve your curb appeal. This comes in handy when you want to sell. If your driveway is completely broken, it can put off potential buyers. Who likes to look at an unsightly driveway?
Prepare your tools
Of course, whenever you work with concrete fillers, mixers, and resurfacers, you should wear rubber gloves and goggles to protect your eyes and choose an outfit that completely covers your skin! Take care – it's the only body you currently have!
To do a job of this caliber, you will need the following tools:
- Shopping for vacuum cleaners
- leaf blower
- high pressure cleaner
- Brick trowels
- Garden hoses
- Cartridges or cartridge guns
- trowel
- Long handled squeegee
- Concrete support
- Chisel or hammer
- screwdriver
Now the materials:
- Concrete sealers and repair kits
- Precast concrete
- Cement and concrete aggregates
- Concrete sealing solution
- Concrete cleaning solution
If you don't have the time or supplies to properly repair your driveway, consider hiring a repair company instead to save yourself time, money, and effort in the long run.
Terms to remember
Before you begin, you should familiarize yourself with some specific keywords that appear later in this guide.
Concrete connections
Concrete joints are installed in such a way that a concrete element can move separately from other parts of the concrete structure. When joints are integrated, the elements of the concrete can move independently of the building / structure. These joints cause the concrete to shrink as it dries and thus prevent internal restraint.
Concrete contraction joints
A contraction joint is a delegated groove in a concrete slab that is usually either sawn, machined, or shaped there. It is designed to regulate the location of cracking, which is normally caused by significant dimensional displacements in the concrete slab. The purpose is to specifically create a weaker area in the slab which will then help regulate where cracks in the concrete appear evenly, as they usually do in a somewhat straight line.
Concrete expansion joint
These are used to separate slabs and concrete from different parts of a structure. Each expansion joint therefore allows independent movement between the components, which minimizes cracks if this restricts those movements. These joints allow both thermal expansion and thermal contraction without putting additional stress on the concrete.
Carry out driveway repairs
Okay, now that that's out of the way, repairs can begin! The following cracks have been divided into three categories: Simple interface, 1/4 and below, and Big cracks. You will learn how to delegate each job depending on the size, severity and location of your concrete crack.
Simple surface cracks
If your driveway dried too quickly when the driveway was first built, surface cracks may appear. These cracks, also known as hairline cracks, can appear immediately after the concrete is poured or occur over time. Usually, these cracks don't necessarily mean structural damage, so don't fret! They can just be cosmetic. However, if they get bigger over time, you'll want to take direct action. More on that later. If the cracks are relatively small and the rest of the concrete looks fine, all you need to do is repair the surface cracks. You can do this by applying a simple resurfacing product available at any depot, hardware, or large store. The resurfacing product repairs the crack damage by applying a thin layer of resurfacer.
Refer to the label for specific directions for use. While most products may offer the same application, this is not always the case. Be sure to wash your driveway with a pressure washer before applying. Making sure the surface is clean will remove any remaining debris from the driveway, but also the integrity of the concrete after the surface crack is sealed. Apply the resurfacer to the squeegee and spread it over the crack. When spreading, be sure to work only a small area at a time, as the product usually dries quickly. Allow the product to dry completely, paying special attention to the instructions, before using your driveway.
Cracks at or under 1/4-inch wide
Once your local forecast calls for cool, dry weather and the surface of your driveway is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you're ready to begin your concrete repairs. Most concrete fillers, also known as masonry fillers, are specially designed for cracks up to 1/4 inch wide. You want to choose a product that positions itself with the old concrete so it doesn't come loose in winter or spring when the concrete freezes and thaws. A concrete support is usually recommended for cracks that are wider than 1/4-inch because these cracks are quite deep. The rod is inserted into the crack, which minimizes the amount of filler you need, which makes the repair more even.
Before applying, you should chisel off old concrete stains with a hammer or chisel. With a flat-bladed screwdriver you can remove broken concrete residues, parts or old sealing work. Take the time to remove any weeds or grass that may be growing in the cracks. You'll also want to remove any residue from the driveway itself. Then start pressure washing with a concrete cleaning solution of your choice. Avoid high pressure around stains, dirt or mold that may have formed in the crack. Once you've removed that, switch to the high pressure jet and finish the rest of the driveway. Let the concrete dry completely before you start.
For larger cracks
Cement cracks less than 1/4 inch wide may not mean serious damage. However, normal wear and tear on the driveway can affect it much later. If you live in an area with particularly harsh winters, constant freezing / thawing will greatly enlarge the cracks. These cracks, which extend beyond 1/4 inch width, signal more serious structural problems. They can be filled, but usually it's a temporary fix that won't hold up over time. Look for cracks that are an inch wide and particularly uneven. This means that one side of the crack is higher than the other. These cracks are not in the control joint, but in the concrete level of the driveway. This means a structural problem.
Uneven cement cracks more than an inch wide usually occur in much older driveways. If you are dealing with large structural damage, you should seek help from a professional, especially if there are a lot of deep breaks, jagged ends, or you can see loose gravel. This professional will likely recommend removing and replacing the driveway entirely. If you want to brave the project, replacing some of the concrete slab yourself is a achievable task, especially if the damage is limited to just a small section of the driveway. Of course, pouring a concrete slab itself requires a lot of manual labor. In addition to destroying the damaged concrete, you need to construct new shapes for the slab and add compacted gravel before installing the slab. You might want to put together a crew with a promise of pizza and beer.
Frequently asked question about cracking cement
If large slabs of concrete are initially poured, the contractor will cut or cut the joints every 8 to 10 feet. This is to prevent the movement of the panel from shrinking as it ages or from cracking related to the curing process. The cracks here are hidden deep in the joints, which helps maintain the surface of your driveway. Don't worry about cracks along the control joint as it just does the job. Be careful though. A control joint can separate and expand over time, creating a large gap that affects the appearance of your driveway. If left untreated, it can fill up with debris and various vegetations can grow. Here you can reduce the gap created by the separate control joints by filling in the expansion joints and thus keeping all this residue away.
Types of concrete fillers and mixes
- Most concrete fillers come in pourable bottles that can be used in conjunction with a concrete cartridge gun. Some fillers have nozzles that you can use to push the filler right into the crack! Dead easy.
- If you have more than a few cracks, it will be wiser to use a dry concrete mix or concrete plaster. If you have significantly deeper cracks, consider either using a concrete mix that contains gravel.
- Stir the mixture in a large bucket of water or as directed on the label. No need, but attaching a paddle to your drill will make your life a lot easier.
- Pour the damp mixture into the cracks and level with the trowel. Use the flat part to mix the new concrete with the old one. Use the flat end to scrape off any excess.
- Pour the damp mixture into the cracks and use the pointed end of a trowel to line it up with the rest of the driveway. Use the flat part of the trowel to mix the new and existing materials together. To prevent the patch from being seen, remove any excess material.
- Before driving or walking on the driveway, allow the new concrete to dry as directed on the label.
Various tips and tricks
- You will definitely want to wear some knee pads to give yourself a pillow. Days of concreting can get long and you want to take care of the knees you have. You are just you!
- If you're a speed demon, choose either a quick-set or a quick-set crack filler. This will save you time in the long run!
- Although some patching compounds can cure in just a few hours, it takes a few days or even a week to fully cure. It all depends on the temperature and humidity of the area in which you live.
- Most of the crack fillers you can find are self-leveling. You want to check the label to determine whether the product intends this problem. If you didn't get a self-leveling filler, use your putty knife to smooth the crack and clean up the excess. Easy.
- All textured and / or concrete colored products are available if you want to blend in seamlessly with the existing slab color or texture.
- Consult a professional again to repair inch-wide jagged cracks, especially if there has been a drop or lift and one side is higher than the other. A single section or sections of the driveway may need to be broken up, removed, and re-poured.
Conclusion
You see, that wasn't that bad, was it? The work you will end up doing depends only on the size and severity of the crack in your sidewalk. Once you have an idea how to fix the cracks, it should really only be a weekend or so, nothing more. Ultimately, knowing how concrete is poured, delegated and built can help you better understand how to maintain the integrity of the concrete structure longer and prevent further cracking in the future.
