Signs You Need Concrete Repair

Concrete’s durability, stability and structural integrity are superior to most construction materials, so it takes on wear and damage slowly. This means isolated areas of the pavement are likely to fail first, so it is important for property owners to note any damage or problems as they appear. Some of those signs include:

• Blistering, crazing or discoloration – Concrete repairs are most successful when the pavement’s damage is confined to the surface. Common examples include blistering, crazing and discoloration. Concrete blistering is typically the result of improper pouring and curing methods – specifically caused by trapping too much air in the concrete.

  Crazing refers to a network of fine, superficial cracks that appear on the concrete’s surface soon after installation and curing. Although crazing will not affect the concrete’s structural integrity or stability, it can be an aesthetic nuisance for property owners.

  Concrete discoloration may be caused by many problems. Low quality concrete mixes, improper curing techniques, wear and weather can alter the concrete’s appearance with time. Discoloration is rarely a sign of something seriously wrong with the pavement, but it can be an eyesore for property owners.

  Concrete repairs, such as an overlay, can resolve these surface-level problems and restore the concrete’s appearance.

• Minor, isolated patches of cracking – Some minor cracks can be resolved with concrete repair, including both working cracks (actively spreading) and nonworking cracks (dormant). However, they will require different methods to fix.

  Non-working cracks are considered an easier repair, as they are not widening and possibly threatening the pavement’s integrity. Working cracks are more likely to open large enough gaps to permit water intrusion. When water penetrates into the concrete’s deeper layers, it will expose the pavement to chemical attack and further damage. Water intrusion will adversely affect the base’s stability, which can cause subsidence, depressions and potholes.

  Non-working cracks can be addressed with a non-flexible crack sealer for an efficient repair. Depending on the width, depth and location, working cracks must be repaired with a flexible compound to maintain an effective seal against water intrusion as the concrete expands and contracts during thermal stresses. Severe working cracks require more drastic repair methods, including epoxy injection, routing and filling, or in extreme cases, stitching to pull the cracked concrete back together.

Widespread, deep cracks (fractures) are not efficiently resolved with repairs and are typically a sign that the damaged concrete needs to be removed and replaced.

• Minor popouts, spalls or chips – Surface-level popouts and spalling are usually the result of unchecked chemical reactions in the concrete or due to moisture freezing and building up internal pressures. In both cases, popouts are exactly that – small chunks of concrete popping out of the pavement’s surface.

  Popouts, chips and spalls are usually only cosmetic problems, but if they are widespread or deep enough, the pavement may be exposed to potential water intrusion and damage. If repairs are recommended, they may be performed using spot patching or, more likely, an overlay.

• Depressions and potholes – It is often difficult to repair concrete that has subsided to a significant degree. Fractures and heaving are both fatal forms of concrete damage, and both are common complications of base failures. If these issues are minor enough, some depressions and potholes can be addressed by removing any failed patches of concrete pavement and resolving the underlying base problems. If base instability is the problem, concrete contractors will use a combination of mechanical and chemical stabilization techniques to import the necessary load bearing characteristics into the base, such as lime cement stabilization. Once this is done, the concrete slab can be replaced in spots to complete the job.