Different Ways to Apply Concrete Repair
Concrete can definitely be considered as one of man’s greatest inventions. Since the days of the early Egyptians, concrete has been a popular construction material when building homes and other similar infrastructure. But despite the strength and durability of concrete, eventually it still wears down and will therefore require rehabilitation. Depending on the area that has sustained damage, there are many ways in which concrete can be touched up and repaired.
The simplest and probably most underestimated forms of concrete damage are hairline cracks. These are very thin cracks that hardly compromise the overall integrity of the structure, but can lead to more serious problems if left unchecked. To repair hairline cracks, a viscous mixture of cement and water is spread on the affected area, but only after the hairline crack is moistened. Moisture prevents the old cement from absorbing too much water from the cement mixture.
For larger cracks, ironically, it is necessary to widen or enlarge the crack before any repair is done to it. Simply pouring wet concrete over the crack will only result in shoddy repair. Once the crack is widened, a liquid concrete adhesive is applied before pouring in the wet concrete. This allows the fresh concrete to hold better and last longer.
For bigger repair jobs, such as raising a sunken foundation or driveway, it is highly recommended that the task be left to the professionals. Concrete repair contractors will usually resort to slab lifting in order to repair a sinking foundation or drive way.
A building’s foundation or driveway is built on top of concrete slabs, which are laid on top of the compacted soil. If the soil underneath the slab collapses, it brings down the portion of the foundation or driveway that sits on top of it. Slab lifting, which is also often referred to as foundation lifting, fixes this problem by injecting grout or a polyurethane mixture underneath the collapse slab. When the grout or polyurethane mix sets, it expands and pushes the collapsed slab back to position.
The basic principle behind slab lifting is fairly simple, but the required tools for the job don’t usually belong in the household toolbox. This is why the job is best left to the experts, who not only have the required tools, but also have extensive knowledge in concrete fixes.
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