A number of indicators help determine the severity of cracks in concrete. Concrete cracks are supposed to be severe if they are active and continuously widen, allow moisture penetration, retain dirt, or are located in a high-visibility area. Structural cracks can influence both the strength and durability of structural concrete. I am often asked about cracks in concrete foundations.
Many homeowners get nervous when they see cracks in the concrete and wonder if they are bad or dangerous. While it's a natural reaction to worry when you see something cracked, the reality is that 95% of cracks in concrete are harmless and there's nothing to worry about. Cracks that crack are very fine surface cracks that resemble cobwebs or broken glass. When the top of a concrete slab loses moisture too quickly, cracks are likely to appear.
While unsightly, cracked cracks are not a structural concern. Cracks of 0.3 mm or more can pose a problem for durability and water tightness. This can cause deterioration of concrete, affecting its strength and durability. There are several things that should alert you to the possibility that you are not dealing with just one simple problem.
The first is a crack more than a quarter of an inch wide. If you have such a crack, contact your foundation repair contractor immediately. The other sign is the number of cracks in the base. It's normal to have some cracks.
But if you have a lot of cracks that go across the length or width of your base, that's a bad sign. Sedimentation cracks often occur in situations where a vacuum is created in the ground below the concrete surface. When concrete expands, it pushes against anything that stands in its way (a brick wall or an adjacent slab, for example). If a garage has a post-tensioning slab, there is usually a sign stamped on the concrete floor that says it is a post-tensioning slab or a plastic sign on the garage wall indicating that it is a post-tensioning slab.
Structural cracks in concrete walls and foundations mean a considerable change in the foundation of the house. Synthetic fiber additives can help reduce this type of cracking, but they do little once the concrete has cured. For a narrow crack like this, you can use a self-leveling concrete crack filler to seal the crack before painting or finishing the surface. Concrete cracks when subjected to tensile stress (forces that separate into something versus forces that push something).
Proper site preparation, quality mixing and good concrete finishing practices can go a long way in minimizing the occurrence of cracks and producing a more aesthetically pleasing concrete project. However, if you are unsure of the condition of a crack, we recommend that you inspect and diagnose it to classify the severity of the crack, the cause of the crack, whether it is a latent or living crack to determine if a repair is needed and, if so, what would be the most effective repair method. They are running a maximum of 30 degrees vertical and are caused by natural curing of the concrete foundation wall or settling over time. Inactive crack repair: Inactive cracks are stable and no future movement is anticipated or, in other words, unlikely to open, close, or extend further.
On sunny or windy days, where the top of the slab dries faster than the bottom, the top of the concrete surface may become crust. .
Leave a Comment