When discussing the sturdiest building materials, concrete comes up most often. And it’s no surprise, considering its incredible tensile strength and impact resistance. Unlike wood, it doesn’t rot due to prolonged rain exposure and is virtually impervious to fires.
Still, that’s not to say that concrete doesn’t have its fair share of problems, including cracks. Cracked concrete can no longer withstand the weight it is intended to support. Various culprits can be responsible for concrete developing cracks, whether too much weight, extreme moisture, or intense soil shifting.
Once Baltimore homeowners notice these cracks, acting fast and contacting a reliable foundation repair company is essential. It is vital to understand what causes concrete to break and how experts repair it.
Concrete is a tough building material; however, it’s still susceptible to various issues, some of which can cause cracked and uneven concrete:
There’s no way to stop shifting soil’s detrimental effects on Baltimore’s landscapes or the concrete supporting its homes. Even the slightest shifts can displace concrete, resulting in more pressure in some areas. Consequently, those areas crack.
Erosion occurs when water washes away soil. When this occurs beneath a home’s foundation, it leaves voids behind. In turn, there’s no support for the concrete above the voids, causing the structure to dip and crack.
Though trees enhance the look of Glen Burnie yards, they can wreak havoc on concrete foundations. Tree roots constantly look for moisture and travel through soil to track it down. Eventually, they may reach and puncture slab foundations or basement walls, leading to concrete cracks and uneven surfaces.
Heavy rainfall can be a nightmare for homeowners due to its detrimental impact on concrete. More specifically, it saturates the land surrounding concrete, causing the soil to contract and expand. Pressure beneath the concrete will eventually create cracks in the concrete as it has nowhere to go but up.
Overly wet soil is bad for concrete, but arid soil is harmful too. Drought causes the ground to shrink, leaving the above concrete without sufficient support. An excellent way to tell if that’s the case is to see if the house has any uneven floors.
A well-laid foundation usually takes a few weeks for professionals to install. If they’re not careful, they may pour concrete on land that hasn’t settled appropriately. If so, cracks and uneven areas are practically inevitable.
No matter how severe a concrete crack may seem, Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake can provide a solution. We offer a variety of repair methods to repair cracked concrete so that it can support the weight of the home above. Solutions include:
Epoxy sealing: Epoxy is a versatile substance used for garage floors and many other surfaces. It can also be used for concrete crack repairs. Experts insert the epoxy into the concrete cracks with injectors. As the epoxy dries, it expands and seals the gap.
Stitching: Stitching a concrete crack requires professionals to drill holes on both sides of the gap. Then, they install a metal rod that pulls the edges together, reinforcing the concrete. An epoxy resin or grout is also added to secure the rod.
Joint sealing: A technician hired for a joint sealing job first enlarges the concrete crack. It may sound counterproductive, but this allows the professional to pour a specialized joint sealant more easily. It’s a simple solution that works particularly well for horizontal surfaces.
Drilling and plugging: The drill-and-plug method is similar to joint sealing. The contractor drills a hole along the length of the crack and pours grout to seal the gap. Keep in mind that this technique is only used for vertical cracks.
Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake – Cracked/Broken Concrete RepairExperts in Baltimore.
Cracked and broken concrete can be repaired in many cases. Baltimore residents should contact Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake. Our industry-leading response times and cutting-edge equipment allow us to diagnose and repair even the most extensive cracks. So, rest assured, knowing we’ll determine the cause of the gap and provide a solution.
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Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake provide foundation, basement, and crawlspace installation and repair for the greater Baltimore area homeowners.
