Hairline Cracks In Concrete Slab
- Hairline Cracks In Concrete Basement Floor
- Acceptable Cracks In Concrete Slabs
- Small Cracks In Concrete Floor
A simple, permanent repair for cracked concrete walls
Concrete consists primarily of cement, sand, gravel and water. As the water in the slurry evaporates, the remaining ingredients cure into a hard, monolithic slab. Unfortunately, the curing process causes the concrete to shrink slightly, often resulting in hairline cracks. Larger stress cracks occur when a house settles or the ground beneath it shifts. These types of cracks typically don't threaten the structural integrity of the house, but they do create an entry point for groundwater, insects and radon gas. Here, we'll show you a simple, effective way to patch cracks in poured- concrete walls.
Concrete consists primarily of cement, sand, gravel and water. As the water in the slurry evaporates, the remaining ingredients cure into a hard, monolithic slab. Unfortunately, the curing process causes the concrete to shrink slightly, often resulting in hairline cracks. Larger stress cracks occur when a house settles or the ground beneath it. These cracks - no matter what the width - are rarely acceptable. Consult an engineer or concrete repair professional to determine the cause of the crack and to recommend the best repair solution. For hairline or non-structural cracks in concrete, the answer as to what’s acceptable is less clear. Im getting ready to install a 2 post car lift in my garage. It so happends one of the post will have to be anchored over some hairline cracks. Im not sure if these are just surface shrinkage cracks or they go right through the slab. Iv tried to insert a pin into the crack but it will not go in.The concrete must be stronge in this area for the. Active oldest votes. Up vote 4 down vote. Concrete will crack naturally on its own unless it is given a place to crack such as control joint or expansion joint. As the concrete is curing it is heating up and expanding. In the summer time, I have seen the slab crack before being able to walk on it.
If you notice large, recurring cracks or bulging walls at your house, don't try to fix these conditions yourself. The cracks might indicate a more serious structural problem; call in a structural engineer for an in-depth evaluation.
OTHER VIDEOS
How to Grade Around a Foundation
Repairing the Crack
Several masonry patching products, such as hydraulic cement, do an adequate job of filling cracks in concrete walls. However, these concrete crack repair products can fail after a few years if your foundation or retaining wall continues to move slightly, leaving you with little choice but to chip them out and start all over again.
We repaired a foundation wall, which had an 8-ft.-long crack that leaked water into the basement during periods of heavy rainfall. To permanently patch the crack we used an epoxy-injection system from Polygem, called the Liquid Concrete Repair Kit (about $60). Each kit contains a two-part epoxy crack sealer, two 10-oz. tubes of Liquid Concrete Repair (LCR), a viscous epoxy that comes in a caulk-type cartridge, and seven plastic injection ports that deliver the LCR deep into the crack. There's enough material in each kit to repair a 1/16-in.-wide x 8-in.-deep x 8-ft.-long crack.
Before you start, check to make sure the crack is dry. If the crack is slightly damp, dry it with a blow-dryer, then wait 15 minutes. If it remains dry, proceed with the repair. However, if the dampness returns, water is still seeping into the crack and you'll have to wait for it to dry out on its own.
First, scrub the crack clean of any loose concrete, paint or old filler using a wire brush. Remove all dust and debris with a shop vacuum.
- Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles
- Interior
- Exterior
- Lawn
- More
- Articles
Hairline Cracks In Concrete Basement Floor
House
Auto
Health
Pets
Services
You just had a fresh concrete driveway poured and it cracks. Now what?
Dear Angie: I just had a new concrete driveway poured and the very next morning, several cracks showed up in the concrete. My contractor says that this is normal and will not affect the integrity of the concrete. My contractor had a representative from the material supplier come out and take a look and he also said that this was normal.
I looked at my neighbor’s 1-year old driveway, though, and there is not a single crack in it. I elected to hold the final payment until I get a satisfactory answer. What do you think? Is this normal? – James B., Chicago.
Oct 01, 2017 Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate v7.8.21 2017 + Serial key Xilisoft 7.8.21 (New in September 2017) NEW Xilisoft video converter 2018: https://www.youtube.co. Sep 25, 2017 Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate 7.8.21 Build 20170920 + keygen A new version of a very powerful program for converting a large number of video formats has been released.Its plus consists in fast work, excellent result on an output, the excellent interface, support of technology CUDA. Jan 26, 2018 Xilisoft Video Converter 7.8.21 Crack + Keygen. Xilisoft Video Converter Crack is multifunctional video converter with the advanced level of effects and modified tools which generate your videos in the 3D looks.You can split the videos from end to starting point.You can do various tasks like the setting of video size, the formation of the online tutorial, merge videos, add subtitles, and add. APE and CUE decoding and audio CD ripping are not a secret for Xilisoft Video Converter either. Xilisoft Video Converter ensures compliancy with the most common multimedia devices: iPhone, iPad, PSP, Archos, Zune and various mobile phones. Besides video and audio files, Xilisoft Video Converter works with pictures, too. Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate – is the fastest video converter software, converts more than 161 audio and video formats. You can convert your 2D normal movies into 3D. The 5x speed with GPU acceleration technology.Import videos into the queue by using “drag and drop”. 
Dear James: Unfortunately, cracking is pretty common in concrete, especially during the first 30 days, while it’s curing or setting up. If a contractor does it right and the conditions are ideal, the cracks can be virtually unnoticeable from plain view, except the homeowner’s prudent eye.
RELATED: How to Extend the Life of Your Asphalt or Concrete Driveway
RELATED: Why Concrete Cracks and How to Prevent It
There are a number of reasons why concrete cracks. The most common is because concrete shrinks as the excess water evaporates and it hardens. Unfortunately, too often contractors add too much water to the mix, which makes it easier to apply but also more vulnerable to cracking. Concrete can also crack if it dries too quickly.
Weather conditions — extreme temperatures, rapid temperature changes or conditions that are too wet or too dry — also play a major factor in how well concrete cures.
Another consideration is if the contractor used control joints and spaced them properly. Contractors place control joints in the concrete with the anticipation that it will crack. Also called “relief joints,” control joints are the straight lines or grooves you typically see at regular intervals on concrete sidewalks, driveways and garages. Their purpose is to relieve the pressure that leads to cracking with the cracks essentially forming in those grooves, so that, cosmetically, it’s barely discernible.
What are the benefits of a concrete driveway?
Check out the video below to determine if a concrete driveway is the right choice for you.
Crack may lessen when concrete settles
I recommend you give it a little more time. Concrete takes a good month or so to really set up. By then, the cracks could be undetectable. The method the contractor uses to cure the concrete plays a big role on how well it holds up. Cement requires a moist, controlled environment to gain strength and harden fully. Talk to your contractor about his method to cure the concrete.
It expands and contracts in response to the temperature. If there are fluctuations in the weather during and immediately after the pour, which is known to happen in Chicago, that can also create problems. Contractors must be good judges of those situations to determine when to seal the concrete to reduce the chances of it cracking.
Those many variables alone could have played a factor as to why your neighbor’s driveway has no visible cracks.
RELATED: Angie's List Guide to Driveways
All that said, if after it cures, the cracking is severe — big enough that you can fit a quarter in the crack — that’s an indication of a problem and deserves a conversation with your contractor about an agreeable solution. You were smart to withhold the last payment. I advise homeowners to do that precisely for situations like yours. You now have leverage in case those cracks do become worse instead of better.
If you continue to have concerns about the integrity of the concrete, consider bringing in an independent home inspector or structural engineer to determine if there’s a more serious issue.
RELATED: Paver Driveway Makes Dramatic Change Over Concrete
Angie Hicks is founder of Angie's List. Email questions to askangie@angieslist.com or tweet to #AskAngie. Follow Angie at @Angie_Hicks.
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted on June 21, 2012.
Did your concrete driveway crack after being poured? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
Advantage Database Server. The licensing is the same as for the Advantage Database Server. A user can have an unlimited amount of connections. A user is defined as a single client workstation connected to the Advantage Database Server. The maximum number of users is not configurable. The maximum number of users is determined by the Advantage Database Server option purchased. Advantage Database License v11. You need a separate Advantage Data license for Medisoft Network Pro and Office Hours Pro Client Server. One license for each user or machine that will connect in to the database at once. Advantage database server license.
Acceptable Cracks In Concrete Slabs
