Step By Step Process To Repair Wide & Narrow Concrete Cracks
Cracks in concrete can be wide as well as narrow, both of which need to be fixed as soon as you notice them. Wide concrete cracks can be mended or strengthened with a patch as well as sealed using a concrete patching compound. Smaller cracks, not more than 1/4 inch wide, can be fixed with the help of a concrete caulk or liquid filler. Patching compounds generally are combined & put together with water and then they are spread using a trowel. They have a texture exactly the same as grout that can be smoothed as well as textured in order to blend with the surrounding area. However, the color of the patch will appear like new concrete that will not match the old concrete. Covering up the patch fully needs painting the surface using suitable concrete paint.
Repairing Wide Concrete Cracks
When it comes to repairing wide concrete cracks, you need to weaken or undermine the sides of the crack in order to give it an inverted "V" shape. This, in turn, will help the repair material to "key" into the crack, building a mechanical bond, apart from the chemical bond betwixt the patch material and the concrete.
- First of all, rip off the crack with the help of a hammer as well as a masonry chisel in order to open up or broaden the base of the crack as well as to get rid of any loose material from the old concrete.
- After that, it is important to do away with all the debris from the crack, with the help of a wire brush. If you want, you can also clean the crack with the help of a pressure washer or a garden hose and spray nozzle.
- Take out all water as well as debris from the crack with the help of a wet/dry shop vacuum or a brush. Work with the utmost care when it comes to getting rid of all dust and grit from the crack. Don't worry if the surfaces are wet, however, make sure to avoid pools of water on the surface.
- Combine & put together the concrete patching compound, in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. Chisel the compound into the crack. Run through the chisel into the compound in order to get rid of air pockets and help move the patching material extremely deep into the crack. Fill the crack up to the adjoining concrete surface.
- Smooth the surface of the patch with the help of a trowel, beautifying the compound into the adjoining concrete. Brush the surface of the patching compound with the help of a dry paintbrush in order to texture the surface, if you want.
- Allow the compound cure as directed before painting or sealing the surface of the patch and the adjoining area, if desired.
Repairing Narrow Concrete Cracks
- When it comes to narrow concrete cracks, you can repair them with the help of masonry crack elastomeric filler, applied using a caulking gun. On the other hand, many products come in bottles having an applicator tip.
- Very small cracks, including hairline cracks, can be fixed with the help of a vinyl concrete patching compound, that you can spread over the crack before leveling out using a putty knife or trowel. For hairline cracks, if you are applying repair caulk or crack filler over the cracks, it is generally not successful in producing a desired or intended result, due to the reason that the caulk has a tendency to peel off of the surface over the passage of time.
- Narrow cracks can be great & extensive, usually extending along with the entire thickness of the concrete slab. So, it's a good option to fix by filling the foam backer rod into the crack in order to build a base to take hold of the repair material.
- You will get the backer rod in a huge range of sizes, use a rod diameter that is marginally larger compared to the width of the crack. Fill the backer rod into the crack with the help of a screwdriver to a depth of 1/4 inch. Stuff the crack with the repair material, in accordance with the manufacturer's directions.