|
Tips on repairing concrete cracks
Repairing concrete cracks will require very little effort for small cracks, and possibly great effort for larger cracks.
Concrete cracks can be caused by numerous causes, such as settlement, expansion, hydraulic (water) pressure, or geologic movement, in addition to plain old poor installation.
Small cracks not affected by water pressure
Get to the home improvement store and purchase a tube of polyurethane concrete crack sealant. Shoot it directly into the crack, don’t get it on your clothes, clean up immediately, because this is really sticky stuff.
Small cracks affected by water pressure
Use an expanding foam sealant gun, similar to a grease gun. You will need to rent the equipment for this, or you may need to contact a professional foundation sealer company.
Drill small holes six inches apart at a 45 degree angle to the crack, 2-3 inches from the crack, penetrate the crack with the holes. Install zirc fittings into each of the holes, attach the sealant gun to the fittings, pump the gun as you would a grease gun and stand clear, sealant will shoot from the crack for several feet. Once you have the sealant coming from the length of the crack., unhook the gun, and leave the sealant to expand and set up for 24 hours. Return and clean the expanded foam from the surface, and knock the fittings from the wall with a hammer. This will cure almost all small water leaking cracks.
Large cracks not affected by water pressure
Enlarge the crack as much as you can safely do so by using a wet saw, rotary hammer, or hammer and chisel. Drill ½ inch holes into the firm concrete in the crack, this will allow the patch to bind into the holes. Clean out all debris and dust from the crack. Purchase a concrete binding agent such as “Weldcrete” and apply to the surface of the enlarged crack if the material is not firm or is crumbling or flaky. Purchase a quality patching concrete mix from the home improvement store, follow directions, wet the surface to accept the patch, fill the crack, pressing into all of the voids, and scree off the excess, smooth with a small wooden float.
Large cracks affected by water pressure
These are best left to the pros, you may require an active or passive drainage system to divert the hydraulic pressure from the area, in addition to filling the crack. As Andy Griffith told Ant Bee, “Just CALL THE MAN.”
|
