A concrete crack is extremely common but is often misunderstood. Whether it’s a crack in a slab or a wall or even a floor, it is not always that it happened because there is something wrong. Sometimes cracks can be repaired, but they are inevitable most of the time. The concrete floors, latex and the right bonding agents are needed to seal the cracks. Along with that, you also need to check if there is any debris inside the cracks. You need to clean those first, in order to apply a fresh layer on the concrete.
What is concrete?
Concrete is an ideal material for its construction because of its durable, long-lasting, and hard nature. The only drawback is its tendency to crack, and people wonder about the reasons behind a concrete crack, especially when it occurs in a newly laid foundation. Simple tools like a wire brush, sledgehammer and broom can be used to clean and then seal the cracked concrete.
How does concrete crack happen?
A concrete crack can occur both in hardened and fresh or plastic concrete due to various causes. It is essential to identify these causes as they might affect the foundational and structural integrity.
Substandard construction practices: Most concrete cracks tend to happen when construction is overlooked. Take the concrete crack fillers, the right caulking gun and then use it to fill in the cracks.
Construction overloads Stress occurring at the time of loading, transporting, and unloading pre-cast concrete can result in stresses that overload the structure at an early age and result in permanent cracks.
Error in design: Poorly detailed corners, improper foundation level, the extreme differential movement could result in a concrete crack.
Cracking in hardened concrete: This can result because of any of the following causes:
Thermal stress: This usually happens in mass concrete structures. When the heat is released during the cement’s hydration, called the heat of hydration causing a difference of temperature in the center and the exterior of the concrete structure tries to escape, a crack happens.
Drying shrinkage: This is the most common cause of cracking in hard concrete. When there is exposure to moisture, the concrete swells, and when there is low humidity, it shrinks. The content of proportion in the concrete’s mix, its mechanical properties, the binder type, and the water content are some major factors involved here.
Corrosion of steel reinforcement: The presence of oxygen or moisture can lead to metal corrosion. Concrete protects steel passively by providing it a coating of oxide, and by-products are formed on the surface. This increases the pressure and results in cracking.
Cracking in plastic concrete: This type of cracking appears from a few hours after the concrete placement. It can be categorized as:
Plastic shrinkage cracking: When the water pushed by the heavy particles of the concrete that are settled in gravity towards the lighter ones on the surface dries out, shrinking happens. The difference in the moisture levels of the layers of the concrete is higher than it should be, i.e., the lower is well hydrated, and the superficial is dehydrated, resulting in a concrete crack.
Plastic settlement cracking: This may occur when a sudden change in the concrete’s depth. When the settlement of concrete is more in the deep sections than the shallow ones, there is tension at the point of change, eventually resulting in the concrete cracking.
When you identify how a concrete crack happens, you need to take appropriate measures to repair it. The type of crack will determine the method to fix it. For wide cracks, you just need to mix the right amount of concrete with a trowel and then apply the layers evenly.
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