Cracks on your concrete are common. They can happen due to a long-duration without maintenance or if heavy equipment fell on your concrete floor. You can clear it up yourself. It is a simple task that can be done with some patch material. Here is how you can do the concrete repair for broad as well as narrow cracks.
- Clean the area
As the preparation for repair, clean out the cracked area. Rinse it with water and let the area dry thoroughly. Cleaning is an important step. Because the crack might have taken a long time to happen and might have collected dust and other particles inside it. Use a shop vacuum and clear the pebbles and other dirt in the crack. If we try to patch it up without cleaning, the dust particles will not let the crack to close correctly. The dust reduces the adhesion that can be created with the patchwork. So make sure the cleaning is done before you start to work with it.
- Apply the mortar repair
Concrete repairing Auckland and many other services suggest using a mortar repair. It is a tube used to fill small cracks. This tube is useful as they fill the cracks and seals it. This prevents water from breaking into the crack anymore. The mortar repair tip already gives a smooth finish, but you can use your fingers to even more straighten it out.
- Mixing the patch material
If the crack is bigger to fix it with the mortar repair, you can make a patch to fix it. Making a batch is easy if you can get the material is small packs available in your area. Mix it with water in a bag, and you are good to start applying it on the cracker surface. Go through the manufacturer’s instructions before you start mixing. This way, you do not have to go looking for a professional to do small things like this at home. This material is readily available in your nearby hardware stores. Apply it thoroughly on the crack and make sure you have the tools to even it out. It would look like a patchwork, but an even patchwork seems much better than an irregular one. Also, be sure about the proportions of each material when you are mixing. It is essential.
- Repairing wide cracks
Wide cracks can be made into an inverted V using a chisel. This way, it is easier to repair the break by having to create a chemical and mechanical bond between the patch material. First, chisel the crack, widen the base of the crack. It will help to loosen any old crack that needs repair. Remove the debris from inside and clean it thoroughly. Mix the patch and trowel it into the crack. Make sure there are no air pockets by filling the crack to deep down. Smoothen the surface with a trowel and brush it with a paintbrush to get the desired texture. Seal or paint the surface if needed.
- Narrow concrete cracks
An elastomeric filler can be used for a thin crack. This filler is loaded in a caulking gun. Sometimes, these filler products come with applicator tip. Vinyl concrete patching is another way of filling up cracks, which are as small as hairline cracks. Smoothen the applied filler with a trowel or a putty knife. These are available in the nearby hardware shops. Narrow cracks can sometimes run deep. Therefore, start by stuffing a foam backer rod. It will create a base for the repair patch. Use a rod that is bigger than the width of the crack. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and fill the crack.
