Concrete Repair can be described as the repairing or restoring of concrete surfaces, patios, driveways, walkways, sidewalks, and more. This service is required on a regular basis in most areas and not just on highways and throughways. Even if you live in an area with a low cost of living your contractor should be able to perform concrete repair at affordable prices.
Concrete repair is basically the repairing of a concrete surface, which over time has gotten so damaged that the concrete binding components no longer hold the aggregate together. Concrete is composed primarily of aggregate, water, and sand. The aggregate is the one that is mixed with the water. The water is a mixture which includes oils, water, and other additives to help the surface adhere to the aggregate.
As time progresses the rate of the mixture becomes higher and the oils and water start to degrade the concrete surface. When this happens the concrete begins to crack. This will generally happen in all layers but the cracks tend to appear in the middle of the road where the vehicle has traveled the longest and has created the biggest cracks. This will also happen along a sidewalk, driveway, or patio if it has been paved with untreated concrete. If the damage is very large or has occurred for a long time, then there is a good chance that the surface has suffered more actual damage than the visible cracks. There are a variety of different tools available for concrete repair and the methods can be broken down into two categories, one-compound and rapid patch.
One-compound concrete repair jobs include concrete repairs that utilize an external sealant or sealer. These types of repairs will usually be more expensive because they require a larger investment. This type of concrete repair is done to fix smaller cracks that do not require a large amount of replacement material. For example, if the damage is confined to a small area then you could just replace a small section of the damaged area with new concrete. The repair could be completed in about a day and you would be able to walk on the surface immediately afterward.
Another type of concrete repair is to cover up a larger area of damage. If the damage is on the interior of a slab or on an interior wall then you might be able to just mask the crack. For large areas you will most likely have to remove the affected portion of the slab before beginning your concrete repair job. Once the area is removed, you can begin the repairs. After the damaged portion has been removed, you can place the new slab over the old one and begin to repair the damage.
Rapid patch jobs, on the other hand, will repair a damaged slab that is composed of different materials that have been damaged over time. For example, concrete that has been cracked on one side might need to be repaired by replacing that part of the slab. The concrete repair can come together as a sheet and be held in place with steel rebar. Then the pieces can be cemented together to make a entire new floor for your home. This type of rapid patch job can be done quickly and without much disruption to your regular routine.
Concrete isn’t a material that comes completely “out of the ground” like stone or wood. You must consider the amount of force that is used when driving over it, especially over smaller cracks that form over time. Over time these cracks will gradually widen until they cause significant damage to the concrete. You will need to make certain that you take all of this into consideration before deciding whether or not you need a surface replacement.
These types of repairs are necessary and they are often the first steps towards making certain that your building material is protected. For most homes these repairs will not be necessary because the concrete in question is made from reinforced concrete. Reinforced concrete is virtually impenetrable once it has been poured and is in its final stage of expansion. In fact, there is very little that can be repaired about this type of concrete once it has been poured. However, it is certainly worth the effort to have a professional look at these repairs if you want the peace of mind that your building material is not going to fall victim to an unforeseeable accident.