Why Does Concrete Crack?
When it comes to selecting concrete for their projects, one of the major hesitations homeowners have is that it cracks eventually.
Though concrete is a durable and practical material and is one of the best goods on the market, the forces of nature and time will cause it to crack eventually. This is particularly true if it has been installed by a non-reliable company instead of a professional concrete contractor Kennewick.
However, why does concrete crack? Can you prevent it from happening?
Today, we’re going to share with you several reasons why concrete cracks.
The Concrete is Extremely Thin
Your concrete is prone to cracking if it is extremely thin. The correct thickness of the concrete will differ based on its purpose. For instance, you will need to have thicker concrete if it’s meant for a driveway that will support cars. On the other hand, if you’re going to pour concrete on a sidewalk, it shouldn’t be as thick as the driveway.
Wrong concrete thickness is one of the main reasons why concrete cracks, especially DIY projects. It is easy to miscalculate the weight that your concrete will have to endure when taking on a major project by yourself. Thus, you might pour the wrong thickness of concrete. Unluckily, this will lead to severe premature cracking.
It Was Too Cold When the Concrete Was Poured
For those who don’t know, cold weather greatly affects the hydration process of concrete. Concrete will not be able to properly cure if the temperature drops extremely low. In these cases, you will either have to postpone the pour or warm up the subsurface before you pour concrete.
You Didn’t Use Control Joints
A properly poured concrete will be able to contract and expand properly in various temperatures. Else, it will crack. Control joints are specifically designed to help your concrete move without cracking.
There will be no additional space for the slab to change its size with the shifting temperatures if a concrete contractor does not utilize control joints. Because of its internalized pressure, concrete will end up cracking.
Putting Too Much Water in the Mix
Concrete that is mixed poorly can produce a lot of issues. Having too much water can cause concrete to crack. Water should be mixed with the concrete at just the right amount so that it can properly set and cure.
The Concrete Dried Too Fast
Keep in mind that it isn’t better if the job is done faster. This is particularly true when pouring concrete. If you don’t mix enough water in your concrete mix, it will dry too quickly. Because of this, it will prematurely crack. It should take at least several weeks or perhaps months to completely dry. This depends on the project.
To make things simple, not having enough knowledge about proper concrete pouring will lead to premature cracks. If you’ve got a concrete project, the best thing you can do to ensure longevity is to hire a professional concrete contractor. They have the right tools and knowledge on how to properly pour concrete.
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