Concrete cracks are common in areas all across the United States. In some regions, cracked concrete is common because of soil erosion. Other areas suffer from a dry and hot climate which causes soils under the concrete to dry and shrink. Whatever the case may be, cracked concrete is not something that most homeowners want to leave untouched.
Your Guide to Concrete Crack Repair
Whether you’re looking to fix a concrete crack yourself, or simply looking for options in repairing it, we’ve got the guide you need with three ways to tackle concrete crack repair yourself.
Seal It Yourself
If the concrete around your home has cracked but not settled, an easy fix is using a concrete patch material to seal the crack from becoming any bigger. Concrete patch material can be found at any home improvement warehouse or gardening center. Before sealing the crack, it’s imperative that you clear the area of any loose gravel or cement objects that have become displaced from the surface. Concrete patch material is used in a caulk-like fashion to inject the rubbery substance into the floor. Once filled, the crack will be sealed.
Rip and Repour
Depending on the severity of your concrete crack, the best method may be to rip out the old slab and repour concrete to form a new slab. This process is not recommended for DIY, as it requires a variety of specific equipment, as well as concrete expertise that will ensure the new slab does not crack or settle easily. Rip and repour will ensure the crack is gone and your concrete looks good as new.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking or slabjacking is a process that has more recently replaced the efforts of rip and repour. Traditionally used for highways and large roads, mudjacking has become more widely used in domestic conditions to fix a concrete crack and settlement around your home. You’ll need a professional to raise the concrete, but the process of mudjacking can be easily done by an expert in your area. The technique begins with strategically drilling small holes in the desired concrete slab. A mixture of cement and ground soils are pressure pumped into the holes, and once the voided space below a cracked surface is filled, the concrete is raised by pressure to meet back where the crack had originally formed. Once leveled and sealed, the holes are filled and the concrete is restored.
Knowing how to fix a concrete crack could save you time and money while protecting the value and appearance of your home and the space around it.