How To Repair A Driveway With A Torch

Driveway Fissure Repair: The Complete Guide

Posted by Dale Pease - Oct 9, 2019, 3:34 PM

When is it important to address those cracks and open up expansion joints in your concrete driveway? The short answer is ASAP, only information technology tin can exist a bit more complicated than that. And there are definitely things to proceed in mind if yous want to brand sure information technology is done correct and volition terminal.

Concrete Driveway Crack Repair

Stopping water from flowing nether your concrete is probably the most important matter you tin exercise to proceed your driveway from sinking and becoming out of level. Caulking the joints and cracks is the best mode to stop this from happening.

Earlier —

Even expansion joints in your concrete driveway should exist caulked. They tin can exist the biggest culprit of water under your slabs.

AFTER —

Observe how the caulking is slightly lower than the concrete slab around it. This protects the caulk from wear and tear of people walking and driving over it.

In this guide, yous will learn the steps that can, and should, be taken to help extend the life of your concrete and keep your dwelling safe and beautiful for years to come. These include the types of caulk to employ, equally well as best practices for getting those concrete driveway cracks repaired and long-lasting.

Concrete Driveway Crack Repair Basics

Concrete driveway crack repair is non all that different than any other concrete scissure repair, except for ane big difference; the size of the cracks. Because driveway slabs are ordinarily much bigger than sidewalks and other concrete areas, the cracks tin can be longer, and oftentimes wider.

When we talk about concrete driveway crack repair, we are typically talking about two processes. The first is concrete leveling, and the second is caulking (and sometimes grinding) the crack.

Nosotros hash out concrete leveling in-depth on other pages of this site (here'south a detailed guide on what is involved in concrete leveling) but for our purposes, we first want to become any slabs that are out of level from each other back into alignment. This involves a procedure of pumping some material under the lower slab and gently lifting it until it is the same level equally the slabs around it. This could involve intact slabs that have sunk at expansion joints or slabs that have broken and partially sunk on one side of the crack. Depending on how out of level your driveway is, this could be simply moving ane slab, or it could involve lifting and leveling almost every slab in the driveway.

In one case the slabs are leveled with each other, and so the cracks or expansion joints are filled with a flexible caulk to keep water from flowing nether the slab. This is the primary purpose of concrete driveway crack repair. If h2o is flowing nether your driveway, it is only a matter of time earlier the slabs will begin to sink. This is precisely why we always recommend caulking the cracks and joints after we level your concrete slabs.

How to Caulk Your Concrete Driveway Cracks

With the right tools, cloth, and patience, caulking your concrete driveway cracks is something you tin practise yourself. In the end, y'all may want to rent an experienced professional person (discussed more than below) but if you lot're the handy, do-it-yourself type then this might exist a project you can tackle equally a weekend project.

Tools & Textile Needed For Concrete Crack Repair:

1. Caulk - We recommend a flexible polyurethane caulk. You can notice either self-leveling or non-sag caulk that is specifically fabricated for articulation and crack sealing. Two brands we employ are Chemlink and Sika.
2. Caulk Gun - You'll need a caulk gun that will agree the size caulk tubes yous buy.
3. Backer Rod - If yous have larger expansion joints, you will often want to purchase a roll of backer rod to fill in the gaps betwixt the joints earlier you lot caulk. This tin can save you a ton of money past limiting the amount of caulk needed to fill up the joint.
4. Spray Bottle - Using a spray bottle filled with soapy water can help polish out the caulk. Especially of import if you use not-sag caulk.
5. Dry sand - Definitely optional, but sometimes used to aid visually blend the caulk in with your concrete.

Self-leveling vs. non-sag caulk

First, a brief word about the differences betwixt cocky-leveling and non-sag caulk. Self-leveling is just what it sounds like. It is a thinner material and will period to fill up the gap between your concrete slabs nicely. It finishes with a nice surface and doesn't require any smoothing afterward. However, self-leveling caulk can run out through the ends of a fissure, or through any gaps underneath where you caulk. And then y'all must make sure you've got a pretty well-sealed area for the caulk before you put it down. It cannot be used on any vertical surface either. Typically, if your chore is larger, self-leveling caulk is the mode to go as it doesn't require smoothing.

Non-sag caulk is a chip thicker, and volition mostly stay in identify once yous put information technology down. This tin can sometimes be used every bit a "dam" at the finish of cracks that you then fill in with self-leveling caulk. It can likewise be used to fill cracks that go vertically (similar cracks that might go from a driveway to a pored concrete curb.) Because this caulk is thicker, it requires smoothing after application. This can best be accomplished by spraying the yet-wet caulk with soapy water and running a finger forth the caulk to smooth information technology out. It'southward a adept idea to habiliment gloves to keep the caulk off your peel. Non-sag caulk is best if yous only have a small amount of caulking to exercise.

Footstep past Pace Guide for Concrete Driveway Cleft Caulking.

1. Before applying the caulk, brand sure all the expansion joints, or cracks, are gratuitous of debris and cleaned. A power washer is helpful during this time. Brand sure the physical is dry before proceeding to the next footstep.
2. If the crack to be caulked is more about 1/ii" wide, and an inch deep, then nosotros recommend using a capitalist rod. Backer rod is a similar textile as a pool noodle (and you can actually use pool noodles if you lot don't mind cutting them up to fit.) Y'all'll desire to make sure the capitalist rod you choose is slightly larger in diameter than the cleft is wide and then that information technology volition fit snugly in the crack. Also, when inserting the backer rod, you lot'll want to make sure information technology is installed at to the lowest degree a 1/2" below the surface of the concrete, to give room for the caulk. If you're unable to buy capitalist rod and don't accept whatsoever pool noodles available, you can as well apply playground sand for this. Pour the sand into the scissure until all the holes are filled. Tapping the concrete with a 2x4 can help settle the sand into all the voids. Like the backer rod, leave the sand at to the lowest degree ane/2" below the surface of the physical.

3. One time the backer rod is installed, or the crack is pocket-sized enough to not need it, it's time to lay down your caulk. If you're using cocky-leveling, be sure you've sealed off the ends of the crevice. Again, it's not a bad idea to buy at least one tube of not-sag in the same color, so you tin seal off the ends of the crack earlier you use the self-leveling. Either manner, be sure to lay a nice dewdrop of caulk all the way along the crevice. Be sure to not use too much, so that it is mounding up higher than the surface of the concrete, or too little so it leaves gaps that water can get through. Information technology's actually best to proceed information technology slightly lower than the concrete surface (as indicated in the analogy.)

4. If you are using non-sag, and so later you put your caulk down exist sure to smoothen it out with soapy water. You'll want to exercise this right abroad before the caulk has a chance to set up. Again, a pair of disposable gloves is a good thought here.
5. Sometimes, depending on the color of your caulk and concrete, we will have some sand and throw it down on the caulk to requite it a little texture and help it match the concrete. You lot'll desire to do this while the physical is wet as well.
6. Finally, follow the directions on the caulk as to how long it takes to set up. You lot'll desire to go on anyone from walking over it, or driving on information technology until it's fully ready.

DIY vs. Experienced Caulking Pros

While fixing your concrete driveway cracks is sometimes a project you can undertake yourself, there may be times when you want to consider hiring a professional.

Beginning, if you need to level the concrete slabs, before fixing the cracks, it is definitely time to call in the pros. This isn't something y'all want to attempt on your own. It takes special equipment, and pregnant expertise to elevator concrete back into place correctly.

Second, getting caulk to lay down smoothly, and look the way you lot want it to is a skill in and of itself. Professionals practise this 24-hour interval in and day out. So if the visual results of your caulking chore is a priority, then information technology might be worth it to spend the actress amount to rent the experts. Non to mention the time it volition accept to buy the correct materials and go the job done. If it's something you just don't desire to mess with, then requite u.s. a call.

Source: https://www.a1concrete.com/driveway-crack-repair

Posted by: gordoncoughterep1971.blogspot.com

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