Is it Worth the Money to Repair Damaged Concrete?

Aug 2

Concrete is the most favored product for driveways, inground pool decks, patios and pathways. It's strong, resilient, and needs little maintenance.

But like most building products, it breaks down over time.

Much like we show age as people with graying hear and wrinkly skin, concrete shows its age with fractures and holes.

When homeowners see these signs in their driveway or garage floors, they may believe it's time to totally replace them. But that might not be the case. Concrete repair work is an excellent method to renew all types of slabs.

But how do you understand for sure if you should repair or replace it it? Let's take a deeper look.

Why concrete breaks down

To understand if you require to repair or replace concrete, you ought to understand just what is causing your concrete to fail. There are three major factors most concrete stops working.

Changing temperatures

Concrete's biggest enemy is the weather conditions. Temperature level changes can trigger concrete to broaden and contract.

In warm weather, concrete expands, and when it cools, it shrinks.

When concrete contracts, the joints, and fractures broaden, collecting pebbles, sand, and additional particles. And after that, when it gets warmer and the concrete expands, it increases in size.

Poor soil

Land developers and contractors relocated soil on your home property to prepare for building. This created an extra leading layer of fill soil.

Your concrete slabs were then poured over these locations of fill. That fill, even if compressed effectively, is not as steady as the native soils below.

So when fill soils consolidate and settle, spaces form beneath the concrete slab. In time, that piece cracks and falls into these voids.

Precense of moisture

Concrete is a huge sponge. When it rains, concrete's pores soak up almost all of it. When the sun returns, the water vaporizes. This consistent absorption and evaporation cycle triggers spider-cracking at the concrete's surface.

What causes concrete to become damaged?

As already mentioned, concrete breaks down eventually. Thus, it's essential to find out why the problem you're having actually has taken place. If it is merely an outcome of old age, then replacement might make good sense.

Some typical concrete concerns are cosmetic in nature, such as blistering. This might look a little unsightly but isn't a sign that the concrete is necessarily unsafe. In such instances, you might attempt cosmetic repair work first.

On the other hand, if you or your concrete professional sees significant problems such as curling (when edges of the surface have curled or risen), the cause is generally a poor installation. When that's the factor behind your concrete concern, a replacement done the right way is frequently the very best means for results you can count on.

What is the nature of your problem?

Have a peek at the surface and pay particular attention to all the issues that seem obvious. Here are some typical problems you may witness, and whether it makes sense to opt for concrete repair work or concrete replacement:

Unlevel slab

This can take place when the ground moves due to soil growth and contraction, or when roots from trees expand beneath the concrete and disrupt it. If the disproportion is minor and restricted to one location, repair work might be possible. If the entire surface is impacted or the unevenness is extreme, it might be much better to change the concrete.

Chipping

Areas like patios may have steps made of concrete, and it's typical for edges to chip away or break from pressure, weather, and other damaging aspects. This is frequently quickly fixed with patching.

Wear and tear

Frequently, concrete driveways, patios, and floors will begin to show subtle signs of aging, such as little fractures or cracking. If the piece itself has been installed correctly and has maintained its stability, then topical concerns likely can easily be covered with a repair work job that enhances the surface appearance.

Discoloration

Another surface area problem that can make your concrete appear less than ideal is staining from discolorations or exposure to sunlight. Once again, if the slab is in solid condition, all you need to do is fix up the surface area look. A stain cleaner made for concrete may suffice.

Cracking

A couple of small, thin fractures on the surface can be unsightly, yet they are unlikely to require a concrete replacement. However if you notice many cracks, remember that the more repair work you need, the more expensive the task will become. If the fractures are numerous, or big, and specifically if the surface area is divided and damaged in numerous areas, replacement is frequently a better, more economical long-lasting method.

Potholes

Concrete driveways often suffer from holes resulting from moving soil and wetness freezing and thawing in tiny fractures. The basic general rule is to patch up little holes. If these holes are big or if there are many of them, patching might not work. And given that holes can damage automobiles, changing the concrete may be a better solution.

What can you afford?

Depending on the concrete surface location and your spending plan, you may choose to leave the surface area as is or make small repairs to improve the visual appeals. If it's actually bugging you, you might replace the concrete, but it usually is not needed when the issue is little or isolated to a location that can be quickly repaired.

On the other hand, if the problem is considerable or sizeable, purchasing replacement concrete may be worth the investment in the long-run. Fixing structural issues and changing a significantly damaged surface area makes sure your concrete driveway, pool deck, walkway, patio or flooring is safe to utilize and all set to last for decades with the right upkeep - which provides you comfort too.

When to fix concrete

Repair is an excellent alternative when the concern is small in nature, the integrity of the piece is not in question, and the damages may quickly be fixed. Such instances may include:

Blistering
Small cracks
Small holes
Discolorations
Stainings
Damaged stairs and steps

When to replace concrete

It's typically much better to change a concrete driveway, deck, patio, or floor when the concerns are hard to fix, threaten the concrete's stability, or are substantial in number and scope. This may include:

Numerous large cracks
Many large holes
Significantly uneven surface
Proof the concrete slab was put in incorrectly
Signs the concrete isn't holding the weight load efficiently

To close

Maintaining a home takes great effort. It seems here is always something that requires work or repair. If you are thinking about selling your house, it is very important everything looks as fresh and updated as possible.

Damaged concrete outside of the home gives it an unpleasant appearance and can likewise be a safety problem. You might not need to stress over pricey replacement tasks for this problem.

Fixing concrete is a more affordable and safe choice to bring back the appearance and toughness of the outside locations of your house.