Expert Tips You Can Use to Repair Concrete

Concrete is one of the most popular construction materials used. It is both versatile and durable, lasting for years on end. But that doesn't make it indestructible. Concrete sometimes cracks, and a number of factors can lead to this, ranging from excess water in the mix to tension forces that tear it apart. However, concrete is also easy to repair, and you can do it yourself right from your home. So if you've got a cracked concrete surface, whether it's your driveway or basement, here are a few repair ideas you can use to get the surface back to new.

Inject with Epoxy

Epoxy injection has proven to be an extremely effective method of fixing cracks in concrete. It normally involves placing injection ports across the crack and then injecting the epoxy paste. Multiple tape-like ports are installed across the entire length of the crack, and they also serve to contain the epoxy within the crack. Finally, simply wait for a couple of hours and, voila, the crack is fixed.

What makes this technique preferable is the fact that you don't have to hold a drill or do any hard labour. Additionally, the epoxy takes long to cure, so that gives it enough time to penetrate the deepest of crevices. It's also a lot harder than the concrete and ensures that cracking doesn't occur again on that area.

Patch with Caulk

Another simple way of repairing a crack in concrete is by using caulk. The best products contain acrylic latex and sand, which make them extremely effective. Additionally, also ensure that the product you use blends in with the concrete colour. If the cracks are larger than ¼ of an inch, use a foam backer rod to support the caulk. A foam backer rod assists in filling cracks.

Use Concrete Patch Mix

You could also simply create a concrete mix to fill up the crack, but this method is a lot more efficient if the crack is significantly large. You could create a concrete mix, fill the cracks and then spread out the rest of the concrete across the entire surface for an even look. Remember, the concrete mix needs to be of a consistency close to peanut butter. Add too much water, and you'll be fixing a crack again in the near future.

After adding the first layer, you could also add another for a better 'finished' look. This time, use more water and then spread it out. You can check the wetness consistency by running a finishing broom over the concrete surface. If it forms tiny balls, you can spray more water to dampen it.

If you'd rather not handle this job on your own, look for professional concrete crack injection in your area.


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