In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on concrete cracks and the issues that tend to cause them. Concrete cracks may develop from a few sources, many of which are related to either the slab installation or the care you’ve provided for your concrete over the years, and they also vary in terms of their risk levels – some are relatively minor and don’t present much concern, while others are serious and present major structural or hazard-related risks.
At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive array of residential, commercial and even municipal concrete repair services, including for concrete surfaces dealing with significant or severe cracks. Today’s part two of our series will help you differentiate between serious and less risky cracks, plus go into the role expansion joints often play here and how our professionals will assist you.
Are Cracks Serious?
When assessing a given crack or group of cracks in your concrete, the primary crux point in determining their severity is whether they expand beyond the slab itself. There are many minor cracks that may appear in certain limited parts of the concrete slab, especially on its surface – these may or may not become a tripping hazard depending on their precise location, and also may have an aesthetic impact. However, if they’re limited only to small areas and are not showing signs of expansion, plus are not allowing moisture into the subgrade beneath, they’re probably not too serious.
On the flip side, cracks that continue through junction points and impact foundations, subgrade and the soil beneath the slab are significantly more serious. These cracks will typically worsen with time, plus will allow moisture to penetrate the lower parts of the slab and create soil settlement, erosion and other risks. If cracks meet these thresholds, or are greater than a quarter-inch in width, you should contact our team for repair considerations.
Expansion Joints and Crack Avoidance
In most cases, certain minor slabs can’t be avoided – but these only impact limited areas of aesthetics. However, with the right care taken during concrete pouring and future maintenance, you can limit the risk of cracks.
One such method that’s often used, especially in business settings, is the placement of expansion joints. Expansion joints separate concrete slabs from the other parts of the structure while allowing independent movement between structural pieces, limiting the risks of cracking based on pressure – or, at minimum, keeping the risks here limited to small, surface-level cracks that don’t impact structural integrity.
Professional Concrete Repair
If significant cracks have appeared in your concrete slabs, contact our team for quality concrete repair services. We’ll both fill in your cracks and level the slab to its proper height, ensuring soil settlement or other concerns that led to the cracking to begin with will not be present moving forward.
For more on concrete cracks and how to deal with them, or to learn about any of our concrete repair services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.
