How to Repair Cracked Concrete

Project Two: Sidewalk crack caused by ground settling. Tools Needed: Leaf blower or compressed air gun Grinder with a masonry blade A rotary drill with paddle wheel to mix the epoxy Rubber gloves Safety glasses Concrete primer, sealant, sealant scraper and liquid epoxy -– preferably all made by the same manufacturer Difficulty level: Moderately hard. Time: One to four hours, depending on size of the crack. Cost: Under $100 if you have the tools. How to: Run the masonry blade through the crack to widen it so it can stand the movement as the soil continues to settle, Joyce says. Then, blow the crack out with a leaf blower as with the driveway crack. Next, apply concrete primer and follow steps, beginning with sealant, for repairing the driveway crack. Stay off the surface for at least a day while the repair cures. Project Three: Surface blistering where the top layer of concrete is flaking off in chunks. This before and after shows a concrete walkway that was repaired by slabjacking. Photos courtesy of Concrete Slab Jacking, Inc., Maryland USA. Read more about concrete slab jacking at ConcreteNetwork.com Difficulty level: Very hard. “This is a complicated, hard repair to do with mixed results,” Joyce says. For the best results with this kind of concrete repair it is best to call a professional. Slabjacking is another solution for uneven concrete which you should discuss with a professional. The technology, widely used for years in the Midwest where freezing winters cause more irregular ground settling, is now being employed across the country. Instead of ripping out the existing concrete, the slabjack company drills small access holes (which are later patched), and then injects a special grout material underneath the existing concrete or exposed aggregate. The injected, pressurized grout material levels the concrete and then dries, providing long-term support. The expansion joint is replaced if needed and any cracks are then sealed with caulk, says Karen Snowden Roberts, vice president for Concrete Jack in Williamsburg, Va. Concrete Jack has leveled surfaces that have settled as much eight inches. Compared to replacing an entire sidewalk or driveway, slabjacking is environmentally friendly, cost-effective and fast, Roberts says.

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