Contact Atlanta Paving Solutions Today for all of your metro Atlanta concrete repair and maintenance needs.
First things first, concrete isn’t invincible. Over time, soil consolidates, leading to voids under concrete slabs. Soil consolidation refers to the phenomenon in which the volume of soil already saturated with water decreases when stress is applied to it, becoming more compressed. Events like weather changes lead to erosion or shrinking of dry soils, and even heavy loads and tree roots can mess with its integrity. Understanding the underlying causes help us apply the proper fix; the soil or fill below is the problem in most cases. Thankfully, there are ways we can repair these issues without replacing your concrete and also prevent them from occurring in the future. Sealing joints is similar to sealing open cracks as it prevents water from reaching the soil under concrete. Doing this with new concrete can ensure it won’t have long-term issues.
Spotting the Usual Suspects
Here’s a quick rundown of the typical problems I encounter:
- Cracks: From hairline ones to more significant splits, cracks are a concrete staple. They can be due to settlement, temperature changes, or just plain old age. All concrete expands and contracts with temperature changes. Cracks grow in width over time due to all that movement.
- Settlement: When concrete becomes uneven and creates tripping hazards, it is called settlement. Settlement happens when the heavy concrete sinks into the voids underneath. It can happen gradually or rather quickly. When the settlement process begins to cause erosion at a particular site, it often leads to further deterioration at the same location, making it worse and worse.
- Joint Issues: If you’re seeing gaps, worn-out sealants, or rotting wood in your expansion or control joints, you’ve got a problem. Failing joints can lead to water getting in and causing more significant erosion and soil consolidation issues.
- Spalling: Have you ever noticed parts of your concrete surface chipping off? That’s spalling for you. Water infiltration and freeze-thaw cycles are usually the culprits. It starts with tons of tiny cracks and ends with gradually reducing concrete to rubble after each cycle through the seasons. It’s essential to address any type of surface damage immediately to prevent further deterioration.
Contact APS Today for all of your metro Atlanta concrete repair and maintenance needs.
