Thriftism

In Parts 1 & 2 we discussed some the causes and criteria for evaluating cracked PCC, now in Part 3 I will cover some of the options available for crack remediation. A word of caution to those who have not experienced the brutal stubbornness PCC removal, in certain situations, can be capable of inflicting, start in a small non-essential area and equip yourself with adequate tools for the task. Alternative 1: Do Nothing Always an option but you need to evaluate your situation independently. Alternative 2: Rout & Seal PCC Cracks This method is likely to be the most common for the average homeowner as it is relatively low cost and does not require a high degree of skill. Routing and sealing is largely intended to waterproof the crack, while providing some degree of overall aesthetic improvement. It does not join/fuse or restore any strength to the panel and does not work well with high movement/deflection...

Glad you were able to tune in for Part 2 of our concrete series where I will give some tips and tricks on identifying causes of concrete failure and methods for DYI repairs. Before we get started, a brief clarification on the term concrete which is synonymous with Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) and widely accepted as a reciprocal. However, concrete is the mixture of a binder/glue and aggregate, and many types of concrete exist such as asphalt concrete, resin concrete, or the most famous Portland Cement Concrete. Please also note the term cement is used when referring to a neat mixture of binder/glue, think of the plaster of Paris used in sheetrock. With that pet peeve addressed lets dig into identifying some common root causes of PCC failure. Uncontrolled Cracking - A menacing term with simple meaning, this is any cracking that occurs outside of the intended locations or joints. Typically affects relatively new PCC < 1 year in age and is co...

Spring has finally arrived, banishing old man winter for nicer weather! However, it is possible old man winter has left a few things behind in your driveway, patio or perhaps walkway adjacent your house. I am not talking about snow but freshly cracked concrete! Winter and subsequently its partner in crime frost or frozen ground, can be very hard on your paved surfaces when Spring rolls around causing a phenomena known as frost heave. This distress results in the movement and short term weakening of subsurface soils/aggregates reducing support to the pavements above. The most basic analogy I can provide is trying to cut a peanut butter tortilla sandwich and the peanut butter squishes out the sides. That is similar to what is going on under your sidewalks and driveway during the Spring thaw, a soft saturated layer of material trapped between an upper layer of hard pavement and bottom layer of hard fr...