It’s common for concrete problems to grow slowly over time, until the homeowner is shocked at how drastic the issue has become. The key to careful concrete maintenance is knowing where these hidden problems could come up and planning a repair — before the damage is too extreme for a simple fix.
At Lift-Up Concrete, we see countless hidden concrete problems that plague our clients, but there are common three signs that something is about to go wrong.
The Surface Is Too Smooth
There’s a reason you see indents in most poured concrete surfaces. They’re called control joints and they’re vital for limiting any future cracking.
After concrete is poured, the curing process, temperature changes, soil settlement and more all have an effect on how the slab solidifies. Control joints allow for concrete movement — if the concrete cracks, it will happen along the control joint, not randomly. This helps preserve the look of your slab as well as reduces the chance of excessive cracking and weakening of the surface.
If your concrete is super smooth, meaning there are no control joints, it’s time to call the installation contractor — you have a problem. No control joints, or control joints placed in the wrong locations, have the potential for major cracking.
Hairline Cracks That Are Slowly Widening
Concrete cracks are a fact of life. But small hairline cracks aren’t anything to worry about, right?
Here are the facts: You should monitor all concrete cracks. It’s easy to ignore or overlook a crack that’s not too large, but then you might notice the crack is suddenly growing much wider. When did this happen?
If the crack goes deep enough, you could start to see water seeping up from beneath the slab, and the cracked portion of the concrete could start to sink. Call a repair contractor right away!
Natural Subgrade Movement
When erosion carries away the subgrade on either side of your concrete slab, it’s clear you could soon be dealing with sinking concrete.
But some subgrade movement is hidden — it’s impossible to spot. Settlement can open air pockets deep underneath the slab. Groundwater can dissolve sandstone particles and wash away some of the concrete’s support. Natural gas extraction can also cause subgrade to shift, affecting your slab’s stability. It can cause issues that you don’t notice until after the fact, but not to worry — you can still fix it with Lift-Up Concrete’s help.
Call us today to get affordable, fast repairs for all your concrete problems. We are here to help!
