Concrete Sidewalk Repair & Protection
Repair & Prevent Damag to Concrete Sidewalks, Including Spalling, Cracking, & Chipping
Concrete Treat: Concrete Sealer and Blanket is a great way to help you preserve your concrete sidewalk. By applying this product to new concrete or cured concrete in good condition, you can help prevent chipping, flaking concrete (also known as spalling concrete), as well as helping to slow the progress of other cracks in concrete sidewalks.
As a concrete sealer product, Concrete Treat also protects your concrete from many other damaging forces, such as ice salt and damage to curing concrete during freezing conditions. Order Concrete Treat today!
Below are the three most common ways that concrete sidewalks become damaged. Click on any of the images below to learn more about what causes the problem and the best way to address it.
Spalling & Chipping |
Sinking Concrete |
Cracked Sidewalks |
Spalling & Flaking Sidewalk Concrete
The smooth, tooled-off surface of concrete sidewalks can easily look chipped, damaged, and roughened by the effects of spalling.
This is caused as water soaks through the smooth, top layer of concrete and collects between that layer and the layer underneath. When this water freezes, it expands, causing the surface of the concrete to "pop", revealing the rough area below.
Spalling patches of concrete should be cut cleanly away from the healthy areas with a masonry blade. Fill the space with a concrete patch mix, to slightly higher than the surface of the cured concrete around it. Repairs of 2-3 patches should take about 4-6 hours.
For detailed instructions on how to repair spalling concrete, contact us today for advice, or check out this excellent concrete repair article.
Settling & Sinking Concrete Sidewalks
Concrete sidewalk slabs generally sink down because the soil underneath has either been washed away, or it is unable to support the concrete's weight. Some sidewalks will also be cracked or damaged by this process.
The solution to this kind of problem is "mud jacking". By injecting a mixture of soil, water, sand, and Portland cement (known as "slurry") underneath the concrete, you can create a solid mass that will add stability.
As the slurry builds underneath the sidewalk, it lifts up the concrete, restoring it to its original position.
This requires special equipment, and it's best done by a contractor. Your local Concrete Treat distributor can help you find a solution for these kinds of repairs. Contact us today to get in touch with your local office.
Damaged, Cracked Concrete Sidewalks
Concrete sidewalks crack when their control joints (the gaps between each slab) are insufficient, clogged with gravel, or do not exist. These joints allow the concrete to swell and shrink with temperature. When they can't, cracks can form.
To repair severely cracked concrete, first clean the concrete thoroughly with a hose. Using a cold chisel and hammer, work the crack into a V-shape, then clean again. If the hole is deeper than a half inch, fill the bottom with sand and place concrete on top.
Use a caulking gun to get the concrete into cracks and a putty knife to work it into holes. Fill the crack to just above its surface-- scrape away any excess. Apply Concrete Treat, and allow the concrete four days to cure
For more information, contact us today, or check out this concrete repair article
Proper preparation of the concrete can eliminate the need for most concrete sidewalk repairs. Protect your newly placed concrete, as well as your cured concrete in good condition, with Concrete Treat: Concrete Sealer and Blanket. Order a 5-gallon container of Concrete Treat today!
