Addressing Common Concrete Issues: Expert Solutions for Cincinnati Residents
Concrete surfaces like patios, pool decks, and driveways are surprisingly sensitive to damage. Thankfully, with the right knowledge and preventative measures, these issues can be addressed effectively by the best concrete repair Cincinnati.
Small cracks can worsen over time, especially with the added weight of heavy vehicles and weather conditions. These cracks are usually cosmetic and don’t impact the structural integrity of a concrete element.
1. Cracking
Cracking is the process of breaking up complex organic molecules into smaller units. It’s used to increase the gasoline yield from crude oil by splitting large, heavier hydrocarbon molecules into simpler, lighter ones.
Concrete cracks can be very ugly, especially those that are left alone. That’s why it is generally our recommendation to leave the cracks alone as long as possible, if they do not reach a width of 1/4" (opening width). This is the point at which we would recommend a treatment such as caulking.
If a crack reaches this width, it is likely that the structural integrity of your concrete has been compromised. It’s at this point that we suggest a repair be done or perhaps even the replacement of a section of concrete.
Several factors can cause cracking in your concrete. Improper concrete mixing, soil problems such as expansive clay and compressible fill, and inadequate support for foundation walls can all lead to the development of cracks in your home.
Cracks can also be caused by weathering and seasonal temperature changes. As the clay elements of your Ohio soil expand and shrink during these fluctuations, they push and pull on your concrete slabs, causing them to crack. Eventually, this can cause the concrete to sink or settle unevenly and create a safety risk. The good news is that your residential structural engineers at Criterium-Cincinnati can evaluate these problems and recommend appropriate repairs. We can also help you with assessing the risks of other problems like sagging or bowing.
3. Erosion
Erosion occurs when wind, ice, water, and other natural processes wear away at the surface of the earth. It can be seen in nature as boulders getting worn down to sand or as streams eroding the edges of mountains. It’s also what happens when a river washes sediment downstream, depositing it in new locations as it flows.
When soil erosion gets to your concrete foundation, pool deck or other concrete structures on your property, they can lose their support and sink down. A landscaping expert can help you create a drainage system that diverts moisture from your home’s concrete structures so they don’t get constantly wet.
The most common cause of soil erosion is water, either as running water in streams or the muddy flow that comes with floods and hurricane conditions. Wind and rain can also make soil erode by loosening and dispersing its particles. When this loose, powdery soil is blown away by the wind, it’s called dry soil erosion; when water carries it downhill, it’s known as wet or stream erosion.
Global warming is speeding up both wet and dry soil erosion. Warmer weather means that trees and grasses can’t hold soil in place, so it washes away. The rise in temperature is also melting glaciers, and the faster they melt, the more erosion they cause as they flow over land. This kind of erosion is also affecting coastlines and coastal habitats, and it’s causing flooding in some areas. Erosion by water can also strip a concrete structure’s reinforcing steel of its protective coating, leaving it exposed to the elements and likely to corrode. Laboratory tests and SEM observations have shown that this corrosion can reduce the mechanical strengths of a reinforced concrete structure by up to 70 %.
4. Buckling
Buckling is a type of structural failure caused by compressive loads. This is different from bending and deflection, which are both the result of tension or bending stresses. It can be caused by uneven loading, eccentric load placement, slenderness of the column or unsymmetrical cross section. It may also be caused by the presence of corrosive elements like water and acids. It can also occur when a concrete structure is not properly designed and fabricated.
Concrete is impervious to lateral forces but is prone to buckle when subjected to excessive axial stress. This is most likely to happen in the foundation and basement of a home due to its weaker construction in these areas. It can be a problem in other structures as well, especially in bridges and tunnels.
In order to prevent buckling, engineers configure concrete designs with expansion joints. This allows the concrete to expand and contract without causing any internal damage. However, if these expansion joints are not adequately designed or they get filled in with unfamiliar material, the concrete can buckle as it expands. It may also be a problem in colder weather, when the concrete clears faster than it can expand.
Another issue that can cause buckling is the buildup of moisture under your foundation or crawlspace. This is a common problem in Cincinnati due to the clay soils and poor drainage. It can result in severe foundation damage if left unchecked, including settling cracks and differential settling. The expansive soils in Cincinnati can also hold moisture against your foundation for extended periods of time, leading to excessive hydrostatic pressure that causes the concrete to bow inward. This can be accompanied by mold growth and the presence of pests such as termites, spiders and rodents.
5. Sagging
One of the most controversial concrete issues involves sagging. This fad, mainly among young African-American men, causes pants to hang down below their hips or waist. Some say sagging originated in prison, where prisoners allegedly wore clothing too large for them and couldn’t wear belts. However, Snopes, a fact-checking website, explains that this claim is false.
Instead, the most common reason for sagging in homes is that the main support beams aren’t proportionately sized and spaced far apart enough to support the load of the home. This is an issue that can lead to severe damage if left unchecked.
If you notice any signs of sagging in your home, it’s a good idea to have it checked out by a Level Ground Excavation residential structural inspection. A qualified inspector will diagnose the problem and recommend the correct solution, such as PolyLevel Injection. This system uses expanding foam to raise your concrete slab floor back to a level position. For homeowners with basements or crawl spaces, this is a much more effective and affordable alternative to replacing the entire floor.
Concrete surfaces like patios, pool decks, and driveways are surprisingly sensitive to damage. Thankfully, with the right knowledge and preventative measures, these issues can be addressed effectively by the best concrete repair Cincinnati. Small cracks can worsen over time, especially with the added weight of heavy vehicles and weather conditions. These cracks are usually cosmetic…