Most times, we take concrete for granted. We walk by it almost every day and couldn’t care less if it wears down due to many things like traffic, weathering, and damage caused by man. However, like us, concrete falls under pressure and stress and other hassles as well. Proper maintenance and care is key to long-lasting and working concrete.
A concrete mix is flexible and workable – you can install it without expert assistance or let a local Concrete Driveway Repair Houston do the task. There are many types of concrete in the market today, and discussing them can cover an entire article on its own. We will get to it next time.
Today’s article will get into concrete, repair, and care. The tools you need are here, so strap-on your own contractor’s kit and read through ’til the end!
The Fundamentals Of Concrete
Concrete is a construction material containing aggregates in the form of sand and water. This mixture bonds with cement and water, resulting in a compound that finds its use in many structures such as walls, interior, exterior floorings, decks, etc.
Today’s society regards concrete as a common building component. Just imagine what our buildings, roads, and other infrastructures would be without it. Concrete keeps us safe from many elements, allows us to get to destinations faster and safely, and creates aesthetics in our homes and settings.
Concrete finds its use but is not limited to the following.
- Roadwork
- Bridges
- Dams
- Buildings and skyscrapers
- Apartment Complexes
- Residential properties
- Pool Decks
- Patios and yards
- Garage floors and concrete driveways
- Basements
Repairing Broken Concrete
Concrete failure is due to many factors. It may be due to chemical exposure, reinforcement steel corrosion, impacts and overloading, physical damage such as wear, earthquakes, and abrasion. It may also be due to a lack of adequate maintenance, poor construction, and faults in the overall design.
Concrete building and infrastructure repair is a crucial and delicate matter. A proper procedure results in concrete lasting longer and performing its functions, no matter where its location is.
The materials and tools needed for a repair job include caulks, caulk guns, dry sand, fillers, concrete sealers, backer rods, and spray bottles.
a. The TOOLS: Guns and Fillers
- Caulks: Caulks come in the form of flexible polyurethane that contractors use for sealing cracks and joints.
- Caulk guns: Contractors use these guns to apply caulk tubes on damaged concrete.
- Backer rods: Backer rods are best for large expansion joints. A worker uses a rod first before using a caulk gun.
- Dry sand – comes in handy but is optional. Contractors mix dry sand with caulk so it could blend into the concrete.
b. Repair Techniques
Besides, you can learn about specific repairing and maintenance, as there are a lot of them.
- Crack patching
- Concrete sealing
- Resurfacing and refinishing
- Concrete replacement
- Driveway repair
- Chemical detection and mitigation
- Outdoor deck and yard repair
- Pore filling and leveling
- Concrete protection
The Expenses
You might be wondering what it’s like to do repairs, and ask yourself some questions like how much it costs to seal driveway cracks and would it cost a lot?
This aspect will vary, depending on if you will do the task on your own – this means you will purchase a concrete repair kit and other tools and materials for the undertaking. A local concrete contracting company offers services, which will make your life easier, albeit you have to spend more money.
A Concrete Conclusion
Get in touch with a company for a project; talk with them regarding finance, work duration, and other related matters. Do all of this, and let them take care of the rest.
Whether it’s your driveway or a whole building, concrete repair and maintenance are necessary. It will make it last for a longer time as well. So, it is paramount that you, as well, learn about the best way to make your concrete work more efficiently and last longer.