Concrete crack for many reasons. The most commonly experienced ones are temperature changes that lead to contraction and expansion in the concrete, ingredients, and formulation used, weather conditions, the surface on which it is poured, and environmental factors such as rain, snow, chemicals, salt water, etc. But there are some others as well, and sometimes the reason for the cracking is not even related to any of these. Cracks can also be caused by stress cracks, fracture, stress line, buckling, flashing, voiding, corrosion, and bonding.
Most of these causes of concrete cracks can easily be prevented, but unfortunately, they are inevitable. In order to prevent cracking, you should invest in high-quality concrete sealers, which will not only enhance the strength of your reinforced concrete but also protect it from external wear and tear. Moreover, you should invest in steel rebar, because this material can easily improve the structural quality of your reinforced concrete. Steel rebar can help prevent cracking by strengthening the connection between concrete and rebar. It improves the load-bearing capacity of your reinforced concrete and therefore it protects it from external forces.
In case of severe structural problems – in terms of cracks, stress cracks, and fracture of underlying structure, your steelworkers can strengthen your slab or foundation by hammering out a hole through it and injecting grout and sealer. Severe cases of structural problems can even be solved by cutting the existing hole and putting in a new reinforced one. However, you would need the help of an expert in this area to carry out such a complex procedure, which would require the expertise and experience of a qualified structural engineer.
If you have a cracked concrete floor, you should take immediate action. The first thing to do is get a bucket and clean up the mess. Scrub the area with mild soap and warm water to remove all the dirt and soil particles that might have been stuck inside the cracks. Now apply a waterproof coating or sealer to the affected part and let it dry. You might also want to apply a penetrating sealant or repair tape to seal the area completely and prevent further cracking.
When your slab gets damaged due to extreme weather conditions, you need to repair it as quickly as possible and avoid further expansion or contraction. Most homeowners think that the best way to fix such cracks is to pour a hot asphalt pour to shrink the cracks before they spread. However, this method can also lead to additional problems. For instance, when you pour asphalt, you create microscopic bubbles which are carried away with the hot air and end up filling the cracks in the slab.
When you use a hot asphalt pour, you also make the cracking much worse because the asphalt makes the surface much softer and allows for more cracking. In addition to making the cracking worse, hot asphalt makes a concrete crack in a short time. As a result, homeowners have to pour too much water just to remedy the cracking. The extra water increases the risk of mold growth on the floor. Mold can be very harmful not only to your health but also to your family’s health.
If you have cracks on your slab, then there is a big possibility that it was caused by structural cracks or settlement cracks. Settlement cracks occur when the bottom of a slab becomes very thin and the settlement depth suddenly increases. Structural cracks occur when the overall weight of the building exceeds the structural load capacity of the foundation.
In addition to causing cracks, moisture can also cause these unsightly structural problems. As previously mentioned, excessive water can make any crack bigger. Now, you might wonder what you can do to solve your problem. There are actually a couple of options available. If your cracks are small enough, you can use a penetrating water-based repair product such as Agglomerate, or you can also go in for micro-cracks filler in order to fill up the crack and make it look like it has been cured.