concrete repair in uniontown paL

crack repair

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We repair cracks, toe kickers, level issues, worn down, uneven, flaking concrete.

Phone:  304-276-7770

E-Mail:  morgantownconcrete@gmail.com

cracked concrete repair

Concrete Repair

***We do not eliminate the cracks.  We treat them.

Cracked Concrete

You probably heard the saying, "concrete gets hard and cracks."  While this is true, cracks are usually not as evil as people think. Approximately 90% of the cracks we see in concrete can be repaired. There are a lot of reasons for cracked concrete. Probably 75% of the cracks in concrete are caused by poor workmanship, lack of knowledge, or design flaws.

 
Safety problems from cracked concrete

Many cracks are mostly a visual problem because they look ugly.  However, some cracks are dangerous because of the potential to cause accidents and injury.  There are building codes and  ADA guidelines for concrete surfaces to address safety issues. 

 
Solutions to your problems

The most important part is evaluating the problems with your concrete and recommending solutions. We are uniquely qualified to fix concrete because we have made all the mistakes. After years of experience with pouring and finishing concrete and watching other contractors, we know concrete.

Crack repairs

Any overlay option may require crack repair and / or other patching. We have listed the most common issues and solutions below. We evaluate each crack and determine the possible causes and then the repair options.


Three main categories of cracks and how they are repaired 

Hairline cracks

We consider these non moving cracks.  That means during freeze and thaw cycles and hot and cold weather transitions the crack does not change.  Typically these cracks are formed when the concrete was curing (getting hard) after it was first installed. They are sometimes called shrinkage cracks.  A hairline crack is seldom a safety issue.

To repair this type of crack, we grind the cracks using a "V" Groover tool to widen and add depth to the existing crack. We then fill the entire crack with a fast setting epoxy type material.  After the patch has set, we grind back over the area to rough up the surface and blend the patch with the existing surface.  These cracks seldom show through the overlay material. If the crack does show through the overlay, it indicates the concrete is moving, but probably very little. These cracks are often hard to see after the coating application.  It does depend on which coating is selected; some are better.

Expansion joints

An expansion joint is a man made crack that is created when the concrete is poured.  This joint allows the concrete to expand and shrink horizontally during freeze - thaw cycles.  These should be filled with a fiber or foam expansion material when the concrete is poured and then be sealed with a caulk material. Depending on the location they are typically not covered with an overlay material because this joint will change size.  If necessary, they are cleaned and filled with fresh caulk. The caulk is to prevent a lot of water from entering the joint and getting under the concrete.

Toe kickers - uneven concrete

Uneven or raised concrete and other cracks - also considered moving cracks.  These are the most dangerous cracks because they are a safety hazard and can cause injuries for trips and falls.  These cracks and associated problems are caused by settling, freeze - thaw cycles, tree roots and many other reasons.

Repairs will vary. Typically we grind down the higher side and if necessary raise the lower side. Next we grind out the crack to create an even surface. Then we grind "V" joints across the crack to create a deep joint. We put "pencil rod" in these joints. The pencil rod is designed to act like a concrete stitch to stabilize the crack and reduce future movement. The joint and rod is then filled with a fast setting epoxy material. Finally we grind back over the area to rough up the surface.  These cracks will eventually show through the overlay material. They usually just show as a hairline crack and not like the huge crack that was repaired. The reason they eventually show through the overlay is because the base concrete is moving.

Very wide cracks caused by settling or concrete without rebar reinforcement

These cracks can be repaired or sometimes a section of concrete must be cut out and replaced.  If we repair the crack, we will typically grind out the sides of the crack to reduce the rough edges of the crack.  We then fill the joint with a concrete type material or a fast setting epoxy.  Now that the void is filled we grind joints across the crack to create a deep joint. We put "pencil rod" in these joints. The pencil rod is designed like stitches to stabilize the crack and reduce future movement. The joint and rod is then filled with a fast setting epoxy material. Then we grind back over the area to rough up the surface.  These cracks will eventually show through the overlay material. They usually just show as a hairline crack and not like the huge crack that was repaired. The reason they eventually show is because the base under the concrete is not stable.