When you see a crack in the concrete slab or wall, the first assumption is that something has been done wrong, but that's not always the case. In reality, cracks in concrete are very common, some are even unavoidable. If you're a decorative concrete contractor, always remember that you didn't do anything to cause the cracks. They are a natural part of curing and hardening concrete.
There are very good repair options to prevent cracks from getting worse, but there is no good method to make them go away. When it comes to how to handle cracks in concrete, preparing your client ahead of time will be in your best interest. Even if a crack appears along the way, all is not lost. Can repair cracks in concrete surfaces quickly, easily and safely.
Quikrete, a company with nearly 80 years of experience, offers a range of solutions for all types of cracks, including its new line of advanced polymeric sealants, which includes self-leveling sealant for use in cracks in horizontal concrete surfaces and anti-sag sealant for fixing cracks in vertical concrete surfaces without sagging or sagging.
Cracks in concrete
are extremely common, but they are often misunderstood. When a homeowner sees a crack in their slab or wall, especially if the concrete is relatively new, they automatically assume something is wrong. This is not always the case.Some types of cracks are unavoidable. The best thing a contractor can do is try to control cracking. This is done by properly preparing the subbase, ensuring that the concrete is not too wet, using reinforcement where needed, and properly placing and spacing crack control joints and expansion joints. However, cracks sometimes occur despite the precautions taken.
In general, cracks wider than a credit card and running through the depth of concrete are structural in nature and could be a sign of more serious problems (see Evaluating Concrete Crack Repair). The selection and use of appropriate materials with good construction practices reduces the occurrence of shrinkage and the resulting cracks, thus improving the service life and reducing the life cycle cost of concrete structures. The plug does not seal gaps in the entire wall or slab and the bond to the concrete generally fails over time. Cuts should be made at a predetermined spacing, depth, and pattern to meet structural engineering specifications and only after the concrete has gained sufficient strength, but before internal cracking begins.
However, if an excessive amount of water is added, the strength of concrete can be unintentionally reduced. Carbonation-induced corrosion often occurs in areas of building facades that are exposed to rain, shaded from sunlight, and have a low concrete cover on the reinforcing steel. Depending on the temperature difference and deformation capacity of the concrete, differential thermal deformations can cause the concrete to form cracks by early thermal shrinkage. Plastic shrinkage cracking occurs when the surface evaporation rate exceeds the rate at which moisture is supplied to it (through concrete bleeding).
Crack cracking after hardening can be the result of excessive flotation that tends to attract water and cement to the surface, which then comprises weak concrete subjected to high shrinkage stresses. The chemical reaction which causes concrete to move from a liquid or plastic state to a solid state requires water. By using the procedures in this publication and exercising proper care, you will get the best performance out of your Holcim concrete. In these cases there is too much air in the concrete usually caused by inadequate vibrations non-permeable formwork and mix design for example insufficient fines to fill the gaps between the aggregate.
Concrete cracks can range from being non-structural and unsightly to being detrimental to the structural integrity and safety of a building. Plastic Shrinkage Cracks Probably the most common reason for early cracks in concrete is plastic shrinkage. You can maintain the curing process by maintaining the wet condition of the newly placed concrete by wet curing.
