Observing Cracks In Your Concrete? Here’s What To Do
There’s nothing that can ruin the look of a driveway or patio faster than cracking concrete. However, if you catch cracks early enough, they are easy to repair. The key is knowing what happened, how deep they are, and what the cause was. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about repairing cracked concrete sections. We’ll also discuss the ice melt that won’t hurt concrete.
Examine The Crack
The first thing to do when checking for cracks in your concrete is to carefully examine the surface. If you have a crack between two slabs of concrete, that’s likely due to an expansion joint. The proliferation of potholes is usually due to some kind of damage caused by frost heaves or freeze-thaw cycles.
Clean The Crack
For cleaning the crack, use a wire brush to remove any loose debris. Next, fill a pressure washer with water and set it to a low setting. Spray water into the crack until it’s clean.
Coat The Crack With Concrete Sealant
You can use a concrete sealant to repair cracks in your driveway. Epoxy and polymer-based products are the best for this purpose, but you’ll want to make sure that you’re using one made for outdoor use in cold weather. Apply the product with a putty knife or another similar tool, being careful not to cover up too much of your driveway with it.
Once you’ve mixed the concrete and gap filler, use a tube of crack filler and a crowbar to apply it into the crack. You can also use an applicator gun if you have one handy!
Once you’ve spread the filler, make sure that it’s level and smooth. Use a trowel or putty knife to remove any excess filler. Then use a paintbrush to clean up any leftover mess.
Let It Dry
Once you’ve applied the sealant, wait 24 hours before walking on it or driving over it. Wait 48 hours before washing the area with a hose. Do not apply any pressure to the area for 48 hours as well.
Paint The Area
You can paint the area above and below with driveway paint. You can use a brush to spread it on, but if you have a large area to cover, rolling works better.
A roller will give you more control over how much paint gets on your concrete surface. Rollers are also easier to clean off and less messy than brushes—but they’re not as precise, so they take longer to cover the surface.
If you’re seeing cracks in your driveway or sidewalk, it’s important to know that concrete is a very durable material. Although it seems like a lot of damage has been done, the good news is that cracks are easy to repair. The best part? Cracks can be fixed with just a few simple tools and don’t require any special training or expensive equipment!
Ice Melt That Won’t Hurt Concrete
Safe Thaw Ice Melt is a urea-based ice melt designed to be safe for kids, pets, and the planet. Safe Thaw is also the best concrete safe ice melter that doesn’t damage concrete and is effective at freezing temperatures.
Safe Thaw’s eco-friendly formula can be used on concrete driveways, lawns, and decking material without discoloring or damaging the surface. Safe Thaw crystals are effective in melting ice even at a temperature as low as (-25) °F.
100% salt & chloride-free, fast acting Ice Management Solution
Conclusion
If you’re worried about cracks in your driveway, don’t be. It’s easy to repair them yourself, and they don’t need to be a permanent problem. You can save money by doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional—and if you do decide to hire out the work, ask around for recommendations first before signing any contracts! Also, always use concrete safe ice melter for the long life of your concrete driveway.
Try Also Our Other Winter Safety Products:
Safe Paw
The Original and #1 Selling Pet and Child Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe –It won’t harm animals or children, and it won’t damage your property. That’s Safe Paw. Safe Paw can change how winter affects our planet.
Walk On Ice
The handy disposable canister can be taken everywhere, with the same 100% naturally occurring minerals that provide instant traction on ice or snow. Use it on sidewalks, steps, or as an instant traction agent for your car.
