We Fix Cracks

Crack inspection and repair are important processes in maintaining the integrity and longevity of concrete structures. Concrete cracks can occur due to various reasons such as shrinkage, settling, temperature changes, or structural overloading. Prompt inspection and repair of cracks can prevent further damage and potential structural issues. 

Why crack inspection and repair is necessary?

Crack inspection and repair are necessary to ensure the structural integrity, safety, and longevity of concrete structures while minimizing costs and complying with regulations. Regular maintenance and repair efforts help preserve the value and functionality of the concrete infrastructure. Crack inspection and repair are necessary for several reasons:

1. Structural Integrity: 

Cracks in concrete structures can compromise their structural integrity. Over time, cracks can widen, propagate, or connect with other cracks, leading to reduced load-bearing capacity and potential collapse. Regular inspection and timely repair of cracks help maintain the structural stability of the concrete.

2. Safety: 

Cracked concrete poses safety risks, especially in high-traffic areas or buildings. Cracks can create tripping hazards for pedestrians or lead to accidents if they occur in structural components like beams or columns. Inspecting and repairing cracks minimizes the risk of accidents and ensures the safety of occupants and users of the structure.

3. Prevent Further Damage: 

Cracks allow moisture, chemicals, and other harmful substances to penetrate the concrete. This can lead to corrosion of reinforcement steel, which further weakens the structure. By promptly repairing cracks, the ingress of damaging agents is minimized, preventing additional deterioration and extending the lifespan of the structure.

4. Aesthetics: 

Cracked concrete is visually unappealing and can negatively impact the appearance of a structure. Repairing cracks helps restore the aesthetics of the concrete surface, making it more visually pleasing.

5. Cost Savings: 

Early detection and repair of cracks are generally more cost-effective compared to allowing the damage to progress. Timely repairs can prevent the need for more extensive and expensive repairs or even complete replacement of the structure. By investing in regular crack inspection and repair, long-term costs can be significantly reduced.

6. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: 

Building codes and regulations often require regular inspection and maintenance of concrete structures. By adhering to these requirements and addressing cracks promptly, property owners and managers can ensure compliance and avoid legal issues or penalties.

Step-by-Step Guide for Crack Inspection and Repair Works

Here are some steps involved in crack inspection and repair:

1. Inspection:

Visual Examination: A visual inspection is conducted to identify visible cracks on the concrete surface. Cracks may appear as hairline cracks or larger fissures.

Crack Mapping: Cracks are mapped and categorized based on their size, location, and orientation. This helps in determining the appropriate repair technique.

Structural Assessment: The structural integrity of the concrete is evaluated to determine the extent of the damage and whether it poses any safety risks.

2. Crack Repair:

Surface Preparation: The area around the crack is cleaned using a wire brush or other suitable tools to remove loose debris, dirt, and contaminants. This ensures proper adhesion of the repair material.

Crack Filling: Small, hairline cracks can be filled with epoxy or polymer-based crack fillers. These materials are injected into the cracks using specialized tools, effectively sealing them.

Crack Stitching: For larger cracks, crack stitching is employed. It involves drilling holes on both sides of the crack and installing metal or carbon fiber stitching bars with epoxy resin. This technique provides additional reinforcement and prevents crack propagation.

Structural Repair: In cases where the crack has significantly compromised the structural integrity, more extensive repair techniques such as carbon fiber wrapping, steel plate bonding, or concrete overlay may be necessary. These methods help restore the strength and load-bearing capacity of the structure.

3. Monitoring and Maintenance:

After the repair, it is important to monitor the repaired area to ensure the effectiveness of the repair and to detect any signs of further cracking or deterioration.

Regular maintenance practices such as keeping the concrete clean, addressing any drainage issues, and applying protective coatings can help prolong the lifespan of the repaired structure.

Concrete has been used as a magnificent building material for ages in the world. It is employed in the construction of foundations, highways, bridges, dams, countertops, and even finish work. Concrete is incredibly strong, long-lasting, resistant, simple to construct, and reasonably priced. 

Also, it is incredibly adaptable and simple to use. It will permanently solidify into that shape when you simply pour it into any container. But why does concrete crack, despite its many advantages? There are many causes for concrete cracking. 

The most frequent causes of expansion and contraction within the concrete are temperature changes, the components and mixture used, the surface it is put on, weather and sunlight, erosion, and chemical reactions that take place within or on top of the concrete.

While some cracks are merely decorative, others may cause structural damage. While being a fantastic building material, concrete is prone to cracking. No matter where you utilize concrete, this is a fact. The good news is that cracks can be avoided if the concrete is mixed properly.

Also, you may strengthen concrete and significantly lower the risk of cracking by adding reinforcement materials such as fiber, wire mesh, chemical additives, and rebar inside the concrete. And if a crack does form, it can usually be repaired.

Why Does A Concrete Slab Crack? 

Concrete is a fairly sturdy, long-lasting substance that is vulnerable to cracks mostly due to the way it is constructed. Concrete's primary constituent is cement. Concrete is given qualities like strength and durability by sand, aggregate stone, and additives. 

A chemical process known as curing takes place when water and cement are combined. It takes 28 days to complete this process. As the concrete hardens and air bubbles are expelled during curing, tiny pores and microscopic tubes are formed all over the concrete. 

Reinforced concrete slabs are necessary for the construction industry, especially in building constructions such as floors, roofs, and pavements. Concrete is a sturdy, long-lasting material that can endure the weather and high loads. Concrete may crack over time despite its strength, causing structural problems if handled slowly.

The most prevalent causes of cracks in reinforced concrete slabs are as follows:

1. Shrinkage

Concrete shrinks as it cures and hardens, causing the slab to crack. Shrinkage cracks may arise due to various causes, including insufficient curing, poor mix design, or quick drying. Shrinkage cracks are often seen in the middle of the slab and may be distinguished by their breadth and pattern. The bigger the width of the crack, the greater the shrinking.

To avoid shrinkage cracks, use a suitable mix design that contains the proper proportions of cement, water, and aggregates. Furthermore, the slab must be properly cured to ensure the concrete dries and hardens evenly.

2. Thermal Changes

Thermal environmental variations may cause concrete to expand or contract, resulting in cracking. When the temperature changes, the slab may expand or contract quicker than the reinforcement can tolerate, resulting in cracking. Outdoor slabs exposed to direct sunshine or harsh weather conditions are more prone to thermal cracking.

Builders should apply suitable reinforcement and account for projected temperature variations in the region to avoid thermal cracking. Additionally, using expansion joints may assist in alleviating tension produced by heat fluctuations and avoiding cracking.

3. Overloading

Overloading may cause a slab to crack, especially if the load is more than it was meant to handle. Overloading may occur due to faulty design, inadequate reinforcement, or excessive usage.

To avoid overloading, builders should design the slab to accommodate the anticipated loads and guarantee proper reinforcing. Sensors or load monitoring systems may also assist in detecting when the slab is exposed to excessive loads and taking suitable action.

4. Poor Construction Practices

Building procedures, such as poor compaction, faulty curing, or insufficient reinforcing, may prevent concrete deterioration and crack under typical loads. Inadequate compaction may cause cavities or air pockets in the concrete, leading to cracking. 

Improper curing may cause shrinkage or crack, causing the concrete to dry too rapidly or unevenly. Inadequate reinforcing might make the slab weak and unable to withstand the anticipated loads.

Suitable building methods and quality control systems are critical to avoid cracking caused by improper construction practices. The concrete must be correctly mixed, put, and cured, and the reinforcing must be appropriately positioned and spaced to give enough support.

5. Settlement

When the ground under the slab settles or moves, it may cause the slab to sink or become uneven. Settlement may result in cracks in the slab, particularly around the edges. Settlement may occur for several causes, including poor soil compaction, insufficient foundation design, or water penetration.

Builders should ensure that the soil is appropriately compacted and that the foundation is constructed to carry the predicted loads to avoid cracks due to settling. Water infiltration and settling may also be avoided by installing suitable drainage systems.

6. Corrosion of Reinforcement

Another typical source of cracks in reinforced concrete slabs is reinforcement corrosion. When the reinforcement corrodes, it expands and cracks the concrete. This cracking is more prevalent in slabs exposed to extreme weather conditions, such as those along the shore or in humid places.

To avoid reinforcement corrosion, builders should utilize corrosion-resistant materials and take precautions to keep water and moisture out of the slab. This may involve using waterproofing materials, ensuring correct drainage, and applying protective coatings or sealants.

7. Chemical Reactions

In reinforced concrete slabs, some chemical interactions may produce cracking. ASR, for example, happens when alkaline cement interacts with silica particles in specific aggregates, causing the concrete to expand and crack. A sulfate attack, for example, happens when sulfates in the soil or water react with the cement in the concrete, causing it to weaken and crack.

To avoid cracking caused by chemical reactions, select materials and mix designs resistant to the particular chemical reactions expected to occur in the region. Regular testing and monitoring also aid in identifying possible problems and enabling fast remedial action.

Conclusion

Shrinkage, heat fluctuations, overloading, poor building techniques, settlement, reinforcement corrosion, and chemical reactions may produce fractures in reinforced concrete slabs. 

Preventive methods, including as correct mix design, enough reinforcing, proper curing, sound building procedures, and quality control, may aid in preventing these fractures in the first place. 

Sometimes, cracks in the foundation can be severe. Depending on the age of the house, the type of foundation, and whether it appears to be expanding, this crack could be mostly harmless or indicate a catastrophic problem. To determine if and how much you should be concerned, it helps to understand a little about why cracks occur and what to do about them.

Cracks in the foundation can be a serious problem and can lead to significant structural damage to your home or building. It's important to take preventive measures to avoid such damage. So let's dive into our main concern: how serious is a crack in the foundation? Let's get started.

How critical and serious are cracks in the foundation? What types of foundation cracks can be severe?

Cracks like hairlines in the foundation, or even more stable cracks that usually appear stable, don't cause immediate alarm, but steps should still be taken to patch them. However, the rift that seems to be growing shows that ongoing unresolved issues can evolve into something more serious.

Most importantly, the point at which you should seek professional advice immediately is when you notice that part of the wall is not aligned with the rest of the foundation. A wall will warp or bend in the middle if it does not protrude from, if the stone or layers of stone are laterally displaced, or if the plumb falls off the top of the wall. 

These are all signs that the wall is slowly collapsing and heading toward complete collapse. Contact We Fix Cracks for Specialist, we can assess problems, and their causes, and suggests solutions.

Some of the preventive measures we must follow against cracks in the foundation:

If your foundation is cracking due to concrete loss or subsidence, there's little you can do about it. However, if the foundation is cracking because the soil on that side of the house is overly saturated, it's often because the water that's running off the roof isn't being diverted away from the foundation enough can take it away. 

Repair foundation cracks

How you repair cracks and tears depends on the size of the crack. Repair hairline cracks with a vinyl concrete patch using a spatula or trowel. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for optimal binding. Firmly press the patch into the crack. 

Masonry Crack Sealer is an effective and flexible crack sealer for cracks wide enough to fit a hose tip. Repair both external and internal cracks whenever possible. If the crack is 1/2 inch or larger, fill the crack with foam support rods before caulking or patching.

The Final Wrap up

As concrete foundations are rigid, foundations eventually start to crumble. Small cracks, while ugly, typically don't raise any red flags. On the other hand, substantial movement is indicated by major cracks, which can jeopardize the stability of the house. As a result, you can't just ignore foundation or concrete slab cracks. It's crucial to seal these gaps and stop them from expanding if you want to save your home's structure from suffering major problems.

How to fix cracks in the concrete foundation?

Even under ideal circumstances, concrete can move a tiny bit of an inch here or there without necessarily leading to a crack. Believe it or not, concrete also expands on hot days and contracts on cold ones! Consequently, choose a substance that gives slight when filling concrete cracks. 

The less likely a crack would emerge, the more elastic the product is. For cracks thicker than 1/8 inch, a vinyl concrete repair, which often comes packaged dry in a box, is an excellent option.

These methods should be followed to fix a small or hairline crack:

Eliminate any loose chips and clean the area.

Use a small sledgehammer and a cold chisel to chip away loose material from fissures wider than 1/8 inch.

The concrete patch should be combined to resemble a thin paste.

Instead of using water, combine the dry patch powder with latex to increase the product's flexibility and stickiness. Also, because most materials have a tendency to dry up very rapidly, just combine a little amount of paste at a time.

Spray some water into the crack before applying the patching paste using a trowel.

Before applying a patching product, wetting the fracture with water will stop dry concrete from drawing moisture from the patch material, preventing the patch material from cracking and failing to make a stable bond.

Scrape off any extra paste with a trowel to get a smooth and even finish.

If the surrounding concrete is already rough, you can use a broom to smooth it out to match the finish.

To prevent the patching compound from drying in and on your tools and buckets, clean them up right away.

Another Alternative Method to fix small hairline cracks in the concrete foundation

If you can't find vinyl concrete patch material, make your own by mixing Portland cement with sand and concrete bonding agent until the mixture is stiff and resembles mashed potatoes. 

More bonding agents can be added to a tiny portion of the mixture to give it consistency. An old paintbrush should be used to brush the soupy mixture into the crack before using a metal trowel to push the hard material into the crack. To obtain a smooth finish, use the trowel.

Use a polyurethane or a latex caulk that contains silicone to fill large (1/4 inch or larger) gaps in concrete that are not structural and can be fixed without consulting an engineer. 

With a caulking gun, you inject these materials into the joint; the caulking materials stay flexible to accommodate continuing expansion and contraction. (Troweling is not necessary because the majority of these caulking products are self-leveling.) 

For a week, lightly mist the patch twice daily with water to aid in curing and prevent cracking.

Final Wrap up