Does Concrete Have To Crack? Contractor Ideas That May Help.

I had a concrete contractor tell me a few years ago that there were two kinds of concrete – concrete that is cracked and concrete that will crack. That’s always good for a chuckle.

If you have a cracked slab, you may not think it is so funny though. There are reasons why concrete fails; maybe we can take steps to prevent the cracks from happening.

Here are some ideas to help prevent the cracking of a concrete slab.

Pour Your Concrete Slab Correctly

If you planning a area to pour a new surface, think about what you may add to strengthen it. You can get extra cement added to the concrete mix. A 5 sack mix is stronger than a 4 sack mix. Concrete is made with large aggregates (stones), small aggregates (sand), cement (the binding agent that hold everything together) and water. Adding cement may make sense in your situation. Also, adding a metal grid or rebar can help in holding your new slab crack-free.

Tree Roots Can Crack Concrete

The planting of trees and shrubs near your driveway or walkway may look good on paper, but the root can be very harmful to your concrete investment. Think before you plant. Some trees tend to stay need the surface and grow quickly, others may grow a deep tap root and be sidewalk friendly.

Good Water Drainage

If possible divert the flow of drainage water around the concrete. Over time the constant force of the flow of water can weaken and erode the soil under the slab. Drainage pipe, French drains, and soil grades can all help in eliminating soil erosion.

Proper Use of Existing Concrete

If you have a slab that kids have been playing basketball on for years, and now you want to park the RV on it, you may have a problem. The strength of the cement mix for 4 kids and a ball can be a lot lower than what is required to support a 30,000 lb. vehicle.

Of course you can choose a qualified contractor to assist in the process. But if you have cracks in your concrete; you can take steps to minimize the crack getting worse. If you are planning on pouring a new concrete slab; know what the purpose will be, strengthen the concrete to prevent cracking and choose your landscaping wisely.