3 Common Reasons for Concrete Cracks and What to Do About It
Concrete cracks are a very common household problem but are often misunderstood. Whenever a property owner finds a crack on their new concrete, they often assume something is wrong with the concrete or a bad quality product was used. But this is not applicable at all times. Some of the concrete cracks found are inevitable. You can hire the best concrete suppliers Brisbane to do the job of building a house but even with the best plans and designs, concrete cracks cannot be avoided.
Why Concrete Cracks?
Now you must be thinking, why do concrete cracks form? Here are the 3 most common reasons.
1. Rapid Drying of the Concrete
Once the concreting is done, the rapid drying of the wall or slab will notably increase the chance of cracking. The chemical reaction that causes the concrete to settle from the liquid state to a solid needs water. This reaction happens for several days and weeks after you pour the concrete. If it happens too quickly, cracks may appear.
2. Excess Water While Mixing
Usually concrete does not require a lot of water to achieve maximum strength. Often concrete used in residential work has too much water added to the mixture at the construction site. The more water you add the easier it is to install. But as the concrete shrinks and hardens, the water is evaporated causing a crack on the concrete wall. The wetter the concrete is the greater the shrinkage will be.
3. Lack of Control Joints
Control joints help prevent concrete cracks. The joints should be of the slab and no more than 2-3 times the thickness of the concrete.
Types of Concrete Cracks
Listed below are the 4 common types of concrete cracks:
- Hairline crack
- Shrinkage cracks
- Settlement cracks
- Structural cracks
What to Do About the Concrete Cracks?
Discussed below are some ways you can avoid concrete cracks:
- Modify the concrete mixture: Contact premix concrete Brisbane experts for a better understanding of the ratio of the water and concrete. Be sure to choose a reputable contractor who knows the proper mixture ratio.
- Allow more time for curing the concrete: It takes about a month for the entire curing. When waiting for the concrete to dry keep the following time in mind:
- 24 to 48 hours, 7days (partially cured), and 28 days (fully cured).
- Good quality concrete: Now concrete is available in different strengths and prices. It is very important to do some research before you finalise the concrete strength type with your contractor. Consult with few contractors and choose the best option suitable for you.
- What lies below concrete: A foundation of a building is important and in the same way the soil support system beneath the concrete slab is also important. Start with a sound substrate and uniform support before pouring the concrete. You can also contact steel suppliers Brisbane for good quality products.
Bottom Line
In general, cracks can happen for a number of reasons and not always because of bad quality concrete. Cracks that are bigger than a credit card when running through the depth could be a sign of serious problems. You can consult an engineer or reinforcing mesh Brisbane expert to get the best repair solution.
