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 Knowing some basics of what corrupts concrete, when and how it
can be repaired, can help you maintain value in your home and even
improve safety.
Bill Palmer, a columnist for the concrete network website describes
the basics of concrete repair. Palmer says, "First figure out what
caused the damage, do the necessary preparation of removing any
unsound concrete and contamination, then install a repair designed
to solve the problem."
Palmer also explains, "The worst thing you can do is make a repair
that doesn't last. Someone once told me that over 50% of concrete
repairs fail again within two years. That is not a track record that
inspires confidence."
Reasons concrete repair is needed vary
In an article on the basics of concrete repair, Paul Russell, a
Product Manager of Concrete Repair and Composites, says repairs are
often needed due to corrosion of reinforcement, insufficient
reinforcement, chemical damage, excessive loads, structural damage,
fire damage, seismic damage, or blast damage.
Home
concrete
At homes - sidewalks, driveways, basements, garages, and foundations
are areas where repair is usually needed.
Sidewalk repair is often needed due to sinking or uplift from tree
roots. Sources also show concrete cracks are often caused by
expansion, poor drainage conditions, or settling soil beneath the
concrete. Salt used for deicing can make cracks worse.
Driveway repair is often needed due to settling and cracks. Owen
Reiners, a concrete contractor from Emden, said that on driveways
salt often seeps in and deteriorates the concrete, causing cracks.
In basements and garages, Palmer says cracks in concrete due to
"drying shrinkage" or "thermal movement" may seem minor, but "more
often than not, a foundation crack will widen over time and result
in water seepage or possibly the loss of structural integrity."
These cracks may also lower the value of the home.
Foundation repairs are often needed due to settling. Palmer says,
"It is likely that you will spend around $10,000 dollars to repair
the foundation," but it protects "your biggest investment, your
home."
Types of
repair
At times, people just need to have a small crack in the concrete
repaired. Palmer says, "When faced with a surface repair,
investigation will soon reveal how aggressive the repair needs to
be." There are three basic types of repair depending on what is
needed.
 Full-depth repair is the most aggressive. Palmer explains that it
involves cutting out the damaged concrete, replacing reinforcing
steel, and replacing the concrete.
Partial depth repair is less aggressive. Palmer explains partial
depth repair involves "cutting around the edges of the damaged area
(but not into the reinforcing steel), removing the damaged concrete,
cleaning or replacing the reinforcing steel, then placing a repair
mortar."
The least aggressive method Palmer describes is using overlay, which
is a new layer of thin concrete. Palmer explains overlays are
"effective to cover up surface problems" as "long as good surface
preparation is used."
Palmer says if your driveway is experiencing cracking, it is best to
"resurface it with a concrete overlay." As Palmer explains,
"Resurfacing will not only cover up the existing flaws, it will also
upgrade the look of your driveway by allowing you to choose from a
variety of color and pattern options." Palmer says before
resurfacing, "it’s important to remove any unsound concrete and
repair noticeable cracks so the overlay has a solid base."
Another repair method is done by using forms, which hold the
concrete in place. The technique is often used on walls. Reiners
says he often uses forms and footings to do concrete repairs. The
footings are what help support the foundation.
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Forms are sometimes used in repairing sidewalks, too. Zack Davis,
who does construction, says when repairing a sidewalk, you first
need to use a tool like a jackhammer to break up what needs to be
repaired. Davis says you then set up a wooden form which the
concrete will be poured into. When finished, you use a trowel to
smooth out the concrete.
The American Concrete Institute says, "The form-and-pour technique
offers many advantages: Many different types of repair materials can
be used; repair material can be placed around reinforcing steel; and
formwork protects against early-age drying that promotes cracking. "
Sunken
concrete repairs
When concrete is sunken or uneven, slab jacking is another repair
method. Jack a Slab Services on Keokuk in Lincoln uses this method,
and their website says, "Concrete Slabjacking is an alternative to
replacing sunken or uneven concrete, restoring sunken concrete slabs
to their original grade."
According to the Jack a Slab Service website, slab jacking "is the
process of raising or stabilizing faulty concrete pavement, and is
performed on cracked and sunken concrete slabs such as driveways,
steps and sidewalks, concrete pavement floors and other slab on
grade surfaces."
The people at Jack a Slab Services "specialize in repairing
driveways, sidewalks, steps, porches, patios, garage floors,
warehouse floors, pillars, foundations, machine pads, retaining
walls, and more.
Angela Heady of Jack a Slab Services says most of their repairs are
done on driveways, sidewalks, and porches. She says they also raise
foundations that have settled.
Heady says in slab jacking, you drill holes in concrete, pressure
pump the grout, and fill the void; then it starts to lift up the
slab.
Because it does not have to be torn out to be replaced, slab jacking
is often quicker and less expensive than some methods. The costs per
square foot can vary depending on how much of a void has to be
filled.
Maintaining concrete for more years
When a repair is complete, contractors say sealing is important,
because it protects concrete from moisture, grease, and oil stains.
It also reduces cracking and makes concrete last longer.
Whatever repair method you choose, concrete repair can help enhance
curb appeal and add to your home's value.
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