If you have cracks in your concrete, water may seep in most, especially during rainy season. The winter season may also increase the damage due to freezing temperatures and also cause the soil underneath to erode. As soon as possible, you should do something about this before it can cause further damage to your home. Repair this as early as you can and check the other parts of your home; as well as there are many more damages that needs fixing. Now, how will you repair these cracks in your concrete? How will you get your home prepared for the sudden change of weather and temperature?
Everything will depend on the type of crack or fissure we are facing; the key thing is to never consider cracks as a simply aesthetic problem. We must be prepared for the worst; so before looking for a superficial solution, first learn to determine what kind of harm we have in front of us.
A superficial or deep crack?
[one_half_first]Before you begin to give solutions to the horrible cracks that affect your home; first we will teach you how to check if they are surface cracks or if the foundations of your house are compromised. For this you will need a hammer and, although the goal is not to break the wall; yes you must strike firmly the crack in all its extension to rule that the cement behind it has not been affected.[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last]
If the wall begins to crumble before your eyes and with simple blows the cement head; then pay attention to what is hiding behind the crack, maybe you have a rusty pipe.
In any case, your problem would not be a small or simple crack; so the solutions below are not for you. But, if the cement does not sit, then continue reading and solve that aesthetic problem together.
Why do these cracks form?
When we see cracks in the walls of our new home after only six months of having acquired it, we have doubts:
- Have we been scammed and construction is not integrated?
- Is the life of our family at risk in this new house?
- Why did we have to touch the faulty house?
- Is it normal for the entire neighborhood to have cracking problems?
The best way to answer all these doubts is to answer only the last one: Is it normal for cracks to appear? And the answer is yes.
This happens especially in new houses. It occurs during the first years in all construction. The materials settle definitively, the water remains disappear and; Exposure to environmental conditions such as changes in temperature, humidity and earthquakes also favor the appearance of these small cracks.
Thus behave all constructions, without exception.
These small cracks appear on the walls; specifically in the central part of those that exceed the three meters of length.
The area close to ceilings and beams, corners on door frames and corners under windows; all are prone to these small cracks.
No, they do not damage the structure of the building. Nor are they due to imperfections in the design; Deficiencies in the construction process or the use of low quality materials.
However, if it is an old building; then it is necessary to consider more carefully the occurrence of these cracks following the check indications given at the beginning.
But for these small cracks there are many alternatives when applying a solution; here is a list of possible materials you will need if you want to repair them yourself.
Materials for Repair
These are the possible materials that you can use to repair small cracks in concrete.
Spatula: It is the basic element to begin the repairs
Caulking Gun: it’s required to use it in the next step.
Sealant: Although there are several brands, such as Sikaflex; the good thing about this product itself is that it is flexible. Up to 50% flexible and can be painted. Thanks to it, we can cover the small cracks that tend to come out due to the mobility of the building.
Stucco powder: Its great advantage is that it allows us to prepare a more or less consistent mixture according to our needs. For this we will follow the manufacturer’s instructions; But Stucco and water will always be used.
Plastic Stucco: Offers the advantage of coming already prepared and in a white color very easy to paint. It is perfect for small cracks, but is not recommended for deep cracks.
Epoxy products: Small cracks do not always appear on walls only, also on floors. For them, it is best to use epoxy sealants; always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. There is a product A and a product B, which upon mixing, produce the sealant. It is very resistant but not flexible, it also works for walls.
Sandpaper: To eliminate imperfections once the work has been completed.
Cloth or brush: which you will use to clean the surface before applying the sealant material.
Repairing Cracks – Step by Step
As you may have seen, there are many options of materials that you can use to repair those horrible cracks; everything will depend on the circumstances. Whether you live on a very high floor in a building or if the crack is on the floor of the garage, there are several steps that you must follow verbatim in order to have a final result that you can consider a success.
The first one is to open the crack. All these materials have a capacity of adhesion and an expansive quality that is necessary to repair the crack; however, if the space to expand and settle is very small, the final work will be a failure.
For that you need the spatula. You should always expand the crack a bit to repair. How do you do it? Then you must support one of the corners of the spatula maintaining a 45 ° angle of inclination and then slide it through the crack.
This must be done twice, both to the left and right to form a “V” inside the crack. Opening the crack in this way, you will then create enough space for the material to settle.
Then remove all debris and dirt using the brush or cloth. It is necessary to perform this procedure with much patience, only this way you can prevent cracks from appearing again.
Now, depending on your case, use the sealer that suits you best. Although most people rely on the spatula to perform the spreading work inside the crack; others prefer to use a sponge. Both cases are acceptable.
Remember that usually you will need to apply two layers of sealant; but always wait until the first has completely dried before applying the second. You should also sanding excesses once a layer of sealant material has dried.
Once you have corrected any unevenness after the repair, it is time to apply the paint.
Final Tips
If the crack is in the concrete of the floor; it is best to use a hammer and a chisel to make the “V” shape instead of the spatula.
Remember that you can apply a primer to the sealant once it is dry before painting, so you will achieve a color with a more uniform finish.
Although it’s a weekend job, you have to be patient in waiting for the first coat of sealer to dry. Never overload the first layer, otherwise the cracks will reappear.
References
Masonry Work | Article about Masonry Work by The Free Dictionary
Cracks in concrete is not a rare thing. But very few have the idea how to deal with these cracks. It great source of information for those who are looking for some real good tips to repair the concrete.