A concrete driveway has a small chance of cracking, but if it does, it must be repaired right away. There are numerous methods for repairing a crack in a concrete driveway. Concrete patching compound should be used to patch and seal large concrete cracks. To repair smaller cracks less than 1/4 inch wide, use concrete caulk or liquid filler. Patching compounds are typically mixed with water and applied with a trowel. They have a grout-like texture and can be smoothed and textured to blend in. The patch’s color, on the other hand, will appear to be new concrete and will not match the color of the old concrete. To have a more detailed information about fixing concrete driveway cracks, we will tell you how to repair large cracks in concrete driveway.
How to Repair Large Concrete Cracks
The best approach to fixing larger cracks is to undercut the crack’s sides, creating an inverted “V” shape. This allows the repair material to “key” into the crack, forming a mechanical bond as well as a chemical bond between the patch material and the concrete.
- Use a hammer and masonry chisel to widen the crack’s base and detach any loose material from the concrete structure.
- Using a wire brush, remove all wreckage from the crack. If desired, use a power washer or a garden hose with a spray nozzle to clean the crack
- Using a wet/dry shop vacuum or a brush, remove all dust and debris from the crack. Remove all dust and grit from the crack with care. It’s fine if the surfaces are wet, but no puddles should exist.
- Prepare the concrete patching compound according to the assembly specifications.
- Work the compound into the crack with a trowel. Impale the trowel into the compound to eliminate air pockets and aid in the application of the patching material down into the crack. Fill in the crack all the way to the surrounding concrete surface.
- Using the trowel, smooth the patch’s surface, padding the compound into the surrounding concrete.
- Texture the surface of the patching compound by brushing it with a dry paintbrush.
- Allow the compound to cure according to the directions. After that, if desired, paint or seal the surface of the patch and surrounding area.
How to Repair Small Concrete Cracks
Small concrete cracks can be stuffed with masonry crack elastomeric filler and a sealant gun. Many products, on the other hand, come in bottles with an applicator tip. cracks, for example, can be fixed with a vinyl concrete patching compound applied over the crack and trimmed with a craft knife or shovel. Applying repair sealant or crack filler over hairline cracks is usually ineffective, as the sealant tends to peel off the surface as the time goes by.
Small cracks can be quite deep, often spreading the entire thickness of the slab of concrete. As a result, it’s a great way to begin the repair by implanting foam backer rod into the crack to build a foundation for the repair material. Backer rod is available in a variety of sizes; choose a rod diameter that is slightly larger than the crack width. With a screwdriver, plug the backer rod to a depth of 1/4 inch into the crack. And then, Plug the crack with the repair material.
Those are the answer of how to repair large cracks in concrete driveway. Repairing larger cracks might requires detailed and complicated steps. On the other hand, fixing smaller cracks can be done with some simple tools and substance. Just follow the steps above, and you will have your concrete driveway fixed in no time.