Concrete Repair Near Me

Concrete repair has gotten a bit of a bad rap. It was once messy and invasive, but now it’s much faster and less costly than replacement.

However, it’s important to determine whether concrete cracks really need repairing. Several factors must be taken into account before a call for a professional is made.

Tree Roots

Tree roots serve many purposes including storing water, nutrients and stabilizing soil prone to erosion. However, they are also very powerful and can cause issues with the foundation of your home, concrete surfaces and even plumbing lines.

While most people think that trees have deep, trunk-like taproots, most actually grow more shallowly in search of water and moisture. Compacted, poorly drained soil can further encourage shallow root development.

While roots will not chip away at the concrete foundation of your house, they can shift and dry out the soil around it. This will impact your home’s stability and the integrity of its foundation, as well as cause other secondary problems like sagging floors, mold and rot growth and damp basements. Detecting these issues in time is crucial for your home’s longevity and safety. Here are some signs to look out for:

Settled Foundations

The type of soil under your foundation plays a big role in whether or not your home experiences differential settlement. Clay soil expands and contracts with moisture, causing it to shift under the foundation. This cyclical movement can cause excessive settlement and sinking, which leads to damage and structural problems for your home.

A certain amount of uniform settlement is normal and expected under new foundations, however, it can quickly become a problem. Uniform settlement usually doesn’t lead to significant structural issues, but it can create cracks that need repair.

If you notice that the floors in your living area are sloped or unlevel, your foundation may be experiencing serious settlement. You can also spot this if nails pop through the drywall in your living areas. This occurs because your foundation is no longer providing even support for the weight of your home. This deterioration is often caused by improper soil compaction during construction. It can also be the result of climate changes, expansive soils and natural disasters that cause shifts in the earth beneath your foundation.

Damaged Slabs

Oftentimes, the cause of concrete damage isn’t immediately apparent. Homeowners who find cracks in their concrete should consult a professional contractor to get the root of the problem. This will help prevent more serious issues down the road.

Some cracks, such as hairline ones, aren’t a big deal and can be patched with a concrete repair product. Larger cracks and structural damage, however, aren’t something that homeowners should try to tackle themselves. This is because the results can be disastrous, such as structural collapse or a foundation failure.

When concrete slabs become damaged, the type of repair required is typically determined by the stability of the soil underneath the slab. While conscientious builders should compile and compact each layer of soil before adding the concrete, it’s not uncommon for the soil to become overloaded or eroded during construction. This can lead to a sagging or sunken concrete slab. In such cases, slabjacking is likely to be the appropriate repair solution.

Cracks

Concrete crack repair is an important part of any concrete maintenance program. Cracks don’t typically impact the strength of concrete elements, but they do allow moisture and dissolved salts to enter a slab and create a corrosive environment for reinforcement steel. Cracks that are deepened, widened and/or extended by drying shrinkage, thermal movement or loading can lead to concrete deterioration and spalling.

Keeping concrete surfaces in good repair can maintain curb appeal and add to the value of your property. However, homeowners should always be careful to distinguish between surface and structural damage to avoid spending money on repairs that don’t need to be made. Even minor cracks can detract from the appearance of your home and potentially scare away prospective buyers. Homeowners with a DIY attitude can use concrete crack fillers and patch kits to address hairline or slight cracks that don’t appear to be increasing in size over time. Larger cracks, on the other hand, require a professional to assess the cause and recommend an appropriate solution.

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