When And How To Fill Concrete Cracks
If you have a concrete foundation, it is probably going to pick up a few cracks over the years. Even if you hardly walk on your concrete, it can crack over time due to pressure and normal stress. Usually, this is a result of the soil underneath the concrete shifting as it is pushed around by growing tree roots. While you can do your part to prevent this by being smart about where you plant trees, your concrete will still pick up a few cracks over the years.
Most concrete cracks are so small that they cannot and should not be filled. But if you have any cracks that are over a 1/4 inch thick, you should consider filling them. This article explains the best tools and supplies for filling small concrete cracks.
Using the Right Crack Filler
Filling cracks is simple if you use the right product. Some people mistakenly use regular concrete mix to fill the cracks. But this is not the best solution, even if you have the exact same concrete mix as you have on the ground. Concrete mix just doesn't work in such small spaces because it doesn't have a strong enough adhesive hold. That is, when pouring such a small amount of concrete, it won't be large enough to create a strong bond with itself, and with the existing concrete. This is why you need to use a premixed, designated concrete crack filler.
Crack filler is basically half glue and half concrete. This means that it will stick to the existing concrete and stay there. Also, since it comes premixed, it is very easy to apply into narrow cracks. You can find caulk tubes which are very convenient if you have narrow, deep cracks. If you have some larger cracks or holes in your concrete that you also need to patch, you can use crack filler that comes in larger tubs.
Cleaning and Applying the Crack
The actual application of the crack filler is very simple, but you need to clean out the crack as well as possible before you begin. Any dirt on the concrete is going to make it harder for the crack filler to bond with it. You obviously want to remove any weeds growing out of the crack. Your goal should be to just fill up the crack to the top of the concrete. When the crack filler dries, your concrete look much better and there will be less risk of the crack growing wider.
If you are worried about filling in concrete cracks on your own, contact a professional concrete company, such as S&W Concrete, to help you.