As spring arrives, the ups and downs of concrete come with it. Concrete sidewalks, driveways, porches, garage slabs, and almost all other forms of concrete are affected by this natural process of water freezing to ice and thawing to water again. Homeowners are left to deal with the aftermath.
When water saturates the sub grade of your concrete, it has adverse effects. During the warmer months, moisture can compact soils or erode and cause your concrete to sink or settle. When water remains under concrete during the winter months, it freezes and expands, pushing your concrete up.
When spring arrives and the ice thaws, your expanded, pushed-up concrete drops back down and usually settles. This causes cracks at joints or in the middle, leaving you with a trip hazard and an opening for more water to seep in under the concrete. The more this cycle is allowed to happen, the worse the problem gets until you fix it. Many homeowners put this repair off year after year, not realizing that each time the slab heaves and drops back down, it gets a little worse.
Concrete cracks aren’t simply cosmetic issues, they’re symptoms of an underlying problem. While it’s easy to ignore cracks, it’s not a good idea to do so. Cracks in concrete are a tripping hazard. If you have elderly family members who live with you or who visit, this can be especially dangerous. Not only can cracks be hazardous, they’re a symptom of an underlying soil stability problem. If you had a child with a persistent cough, this symptom would cause you to consult with a doctor to diagnose the underlying problem, whether it be a respiratory infection or allergies. It’s the same with concrete cracks–these may be symptoms of an underlying soil stability issue that you should address with a concrete repair expert in order to prevent future problems with your home.
There’s good news, though. There’s usually no need to remove the concrete and replace it; you can repair it and help prevent future problems. Prevent water from getting under your concrete slabs by redirecting downspouts, installing drain tile, and doing some concrete raising to put stable material back under the concrete. Caulking is an effective way to seal the cracks and joints after you have repaired the problem. So as the weather warms up and you begin thinking about improvements to the exterior of your home and yard, don’t forget to fix up your concrete.
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