Concrete Cracking is Inevitable In most cases, if you have a concrete floor in your home or business, you will experience cracking at some point during your floor’s lifespan.
WHY DOES CONCRETE FLOORING CRACK?
CONCRETE CRACKING IS INEVITABLE
In most cases, if you have a concrete floor in your home or business, you will experience cracking at some point during your floor’s lifespan. Cracking in concrete is very common, but the reason for those cracks occurring can actually differ from scenario to scenario. We’d like to use this blog post to inform you about the different ways that you may experience cracking in your concrete flooring and how Drake Custom Coatings in Utah can provide you with a solution. Here are some of the most common reasons you will see your concrete floors crack. Contact us right away if you need a concrete fix today!
SHRINKAGE WHILE IN PLASTIC STATE
In this context, when your concrete is in a plastic state, it is still moldable. When the moisture from your concrete slowly evaporates when it is curing, the concrete can shrink. This natural shrinking process can cause the concrete to produce hairline cracks as it becomes more rigid. This type of crack is incredibly common and can become evident within even hours of the concrete being poured. Hairline cracks can extend the entire length or width of your concrete and may cause trouble over time. This type of crack is also very common when the concrete mixture was too wet when it was poured.
CRACKS FROM EXPANSION
Just like most other materials, concrete will expand when exposed to heat. Hot weather can make concrete expand, and if it encounters another opposing force, and neither has the ability to properly flex, a crack becomes inevitable. When you look at sidewalks, you’ll often see what are called expansion joints, which is a small division in the concrete that allows for some expansion to occur without unnecessary damage to the concrete. These gaps in concrete are sometimes filled with a pliable material that can cushion adjacent concrete slabs. If your concrete is outdoors and exposed to the natural elements, cracking from heat expansion is a very common occurrence.
CRACKS FROM FREEZING & THAWING
Conversely from cracks that occur from heat expansion, cracks can also happen when the ground beneath the concrete freezes and then thaws. This is a process that is commonly referred to as “heaving.” If you’ve ever taken a walk in an old neighborhood or part of town with very old sidewalks, you may notice parts of the sidewalk that have lifted or cracked as much as several inches. When the ground freezes, it can swell with frozen water, then settle again as it thaws. When proper care hasn’t gone into preparing concrete around this type of ground, you’ll find yourself dealing with wibbly-wobbly concrete.
VOIDS BENEATH CONCRETE
When the foundation beneath concrete is not suitable to support its weight, it can crack or crumble. This is seen frequently when a root system from a tree that is planted near concrete dies or is removed. The void beneath the concrete that is created when the roots decompose creates an insufficient foundation, and you have yourself a crack. This can also be caused by improper compaction of foundation material beneath your concrete when it was poured.
CONCRETE IS HARD, BUT NOT UNBREAKABLE
Believe it or not, most concrete surfaces do actually have a weight limit. Cracking can occur when very heavy vehicles or industrial dumpsters are placed on concrete, especially near the edge of a slab. Driving off a slab or parking near the edge of a slab with an exceptionally heavy vehicle can surpass your concrete’s breaking point, and it will break just like wood or glass. This is very commonly seen on driveways where RVs have been parked or stored.
DRAKE CUSTOM COATINGS HAS YOUR SOLUTION
There are ways that you can extend the life of your concrete, minimize cracking, and have your floor look amazing. We’d like to invite you to check out our concrete sealing service! We can treat your Utah home or business’s concrete flooring with our sealing service to help with floor longevity, improve your floor’s appearance, help it to resist extreme weather, and reduce cracking! You can still have your concrete floor, and we’ll make it look incredible. Contact us today to learn more about our sealing service and to get a free quote! Our custom coating experts can provide you with answers to any questions you may have. We can’t wait to get to work for you.
TAKEAWAYS
- Concrete cracks are very common, practically unavoidable
- Cracks can occur from concrete shrinking while curing
- Concrete can crack from expansion during hot weather
- Cold weather and freezing temperatures can also cause cracks from heaving terrain
- Unseen voids beneath concrete can cause cracks and crumbling from lack of support
- Concrete does have a weight limit that can be exceeded by heavy vehicles or equipment
- Drake Custom Coating can seal your concrete to keep it looking better longer!