Crack formation is one of the common problems seen in concrete structures and pavements. Cracked concrete pavement if left untreated can soon lead to pothole formation and you may need to invest in costly concrete repairs in Denver. Cracked and damaged concrete also increases the safety risks as well as dulls the look of your property and for commercial properties maintaining a clean appearance is super important. If you notice concrete cracks in your property then you should get them repaired immediately. The following are some concrete repair methods that are commonly used to repair cracks.
Epoxy Injections
Epoxy injection techniques for crack repairs are used for repairing fine and narrow cracks. Epoxy injections are inserted in the cracks and the surface sealed to cover the exposed surface. However, you need to keep in mind that you need to take care of the root cause of the cracks first before fixing the cracks otherwise the cracks will keep reappearing from time to time. The process of Epoxy injections is as follows:
Cleaning the cracks: The first step is to clean the cracks and remove any contamination from the cracks. The contamination can be dirt, oil, grease, or any other fine particle trapped in the cracks. Removing contaminants is important as they prevent the epoxy from bonding properly and the repairs become ineffective. The contaminants are usually removed by flushing with water or a cleaning solution, or by vacuuming.
Creating entry and venting points: This is done by three methods. By drilling a 20 mm hole in the crack which serves as the entry point.
If the cracks are not V-grooved, an entry point is created by bonding a fitting flush to the surface of the concrete over the crack. The flush fitting comprises an opening through which the Epoxy is injected into the cracks.
The next method is to remove the seal from the surface of the concrete surface and the Epoxy is injected directly into the cracks.
Injecting the Epoxy mix: Paint pressure pots, hydraulic guns or, air-actuated caulking guns are used to inject the epoxy into the entry ports.
Seal The Surface: Once the Epoxy has cured properly, the surface should be sealed.
Routing And Sealing
This is one of the simplest methods of repairing cracks. But this method can only be used in situations that demand remedial crack repairs. In this crack repair procedure, the cracks are widened to form a V-groove with a minimum of 6mm width and depth from 6 to 25 mm. This V-groove is then filled with the suitable filling material and then the surface is sealed to prevent the material from leaking. The sealing material can be anything that can help balance the cycling expansion and contraction within the crack and also does not become brittle with age. Cement grout should be avoided as this can potentially lead to future cracking.
Stitching The Cracks
This is also one of the easiest and effective methods of crack repair. This method of crack repair is long-lasting and in this method, a number of holes are drilled along the surface of the crack, and then the entire crack is stitched in a zigzag pattern with a U-shaped wire inserted through the holes. The wires are secured in place with epoxy or grouting systems. However, this type of repair is not used in some properties as they are visually not as appealing as other methods and may not suit your commercial landscaping in Denver.
Drilling And Plugging
This type of repair is used when there is a vertical crack in the surface of the concrete and the cracks run in straight lines. Vertical holes are drilled along the cracks and a key formation takes place with the passing of grout. The purpose of the grout key is to prevent any leakage of the adhesive substance. In addition to these other methods can also be used to fill cracks like gravity filling, overlay, dry packing, and surface treatments. When selecting the method of filling make sure to take the nature of the cracks into consideration.
Comments