Recently, on a forum for house owners, I came across this Concrete question –
“I have a concrete driveway that has cracks in it. I would like to know if there are any products out there that can be used on the crack so they will not get bigger over time, but also keep them from getting worse. The driveway was poured about 10 years ago. It’s been raining for weeks now and the driveway looks terrible. Any suggestions or ideas would help me greatly! Thanks!!”
This got me thinking about how there are a number of tiny things that together comprise the house that you live in and every tiny piece is essential on its own. Concrete forms one of the major parts of your house and therefore, it must be taken care of with proper measures. Oftentimes, when people face issues with the concrete present within their house, they look for either replacing it or repairing it.
While some people are sure with the choice that they wish to make with the concrete there are plenty of others, that have no idea and couldn’t decide if they should actually get their concrete repaired or replaced. If you too are looking for concrete repair and can’t decide if this is the right option, then you should definitely give the below sections of the blog a read.
Reasons for concrete repair:
- To protect the existing structure against further deterioration
- To prevent future problems such as cracking, spalling, erosion, delamination, loss of strength etc.
- To improve appearance
- To increase serviceability
- To reduce costs
- To extend the useful life of an asset
- For any combination of these purposes
WHAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO CONCRETE?
Concrete has many weaknesses which make it susceptible to deterioration from exposure to water, oxygen, salts, temperature extremes, ultraviolet light, and other environmental factors. Concrete also deteriorates over time due to normal aging processes such as shrinkage cracking, loss of strength, and corrosion of reinforcing bars. In addition, concrete may become weakened through improper design, poor quality materials, inadequate maintenance, or excessive loading.
The most common cause of concrete deterioration is freeze/thaw cycles. Freeze-thaw damage occurs when the freezing temperatures are below 0° F for extended periods of time. When this happens, moisture in the concrete freezes into ice crystals that expand during thawing causing cracks and spalling. This type of damage can be minimized by using a well-designed system with adequate insulation and proper drainage.
Another major factor affecting the durability of concrete structures is the presence of chloride ions. Chloride ion attacks cement paste and causes degradation of its properties. The main reason why chloride ions affect concrete so much is because it reacts chemically with calcium hydroxides present in Portland Cement. As a result, Calcium and chloride combine to form calcium chloride and water. If there is enough free water available, then H20 will dissolve out of the hardened cement matrix creating pores within the structure.
Planning a concrete repair requires consideration of many factors, including the following:
1) The type and amount of cement used in making the original structure
2) The age of the structure ;
3) The environment where the structure was built.
The mindset
A few years back,it was the mindset of a number of individuals that a broken or problematic concrete must be repaired instead of getting replaced, but the same isn’t the mindset of individuals today. People today believe in getting their concrete replaced instead of getting the concrete repair in little rock. It is noteworthy here, that with technological advances, newer methods have been developed for repairing the concrete in a better way so as to ensure a long life of the same.
Degrees that matter
According to a rule, if your concrete is in a condition that more than 2 inches of it would require repair, then you should get it repaired. But, it is noteworthy here that just the degree of damage can’t serve as a parameter to decide if the same requires proper replacement or repair. Some parameters must be included.
Basic Concerns
There can be multiple reasons behind the deterioration of the concrete including poor installation. Therefore, the reason behind the concrete deterioration must be considered before deciding if it requires repair or replacement. Also, some of the essential factors including the time that would be required to fix the concrete and the type of repair also do make a difference in the same.
Focus on the interiors as well
It is not the just exterior portion of the concrete that gets deteriorated, in fact, there are ways to ensure if the interior part of the concrete is working fine or not. In case, of just wear tear, you should get your concrete repaired but, in case there is something major with the interior of the concrete, then you should surely go for a replacement of your concrete.
When it comes to the matters of household, a number of individuals actually get confused and aren’t able to decide well. Concrete is one of the eminent parts of a house and it should be considered in a better way.
