3 Reasons Why Your Concrete Has Cracks
It can be extremely annoying for your concrete to develop cracks because these cracks tend to be unsightly, as well as make it difficult for people to walk easily over the surface without having to worry about falling. If you find cracks in your concrete, you many need to take restorative action. Cracks are often impossible to avoid completely, but if you know what causes cracks in concrete, you can take action and minimize them in the future. Here are three reasons why cracks develop in your concrete.
1. Unstable Base
One of the main reasons why concrete cracks is because the base on which the concrete is built is not stable and shifts over time. Often, concrete surfaces are built on top of a layer of gravel that provides stability and makes it easier to pour the concrete in the first place. If this gravel is not set correctly or is too loose and has the room to shift, then your concrete will also shift and therefore develop cracks. Before you have your concrete surface redone, ask the concrete contractor to investigate your base. He or she will be able to assess its stability and either offer to redo it or assure you that it is perfectly fine.
2. Salt
If you use a lot of salt on your driveway or other concrete surface, the snow and ice will indeed melt quickly. However, once it melts, it will go immediately into your concrete and refreeze. When the water freezes, it expands, forcing your concrete apart and therefore causing cracks in its surface. In order to reduce this problem but still ensure that your concrete surface remains easy to walk and drive on, use sand on it. The snow won't melt as quickly, but the sand will provide the traction that car tires need in order to navigate it safely.
3. Tree Roots
Tree roots essentially pose the same problem as water the freezes in your concrete. They force the concrete apart and create cracks. To resolve this problem, either place underground barriers on either side of the concrete to prevent the tree roots from getting too close to the concrete, or install the concrete surface away from trees in the first place.
For more information on concrete cracks, how to prevent them, and how to fix them, contact a concrete contractor like one at Garrett Concrete Cutting, Coring & Sawing Inc - Chino today. They will be able to assess your situation and provide you with the answers you need.
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