Concrete Maintenance in Bakersfield, CA

Cracking – Fissures in concrete slabs do not only detract from the overall look of your home, but they can also be a serious hazard. There are several different types of concrete cracks that you may encounter. Hairline cracks are small and thin. They usually appear after the concrete has begun to cure and are considered cosmetic damage. Making sure there are enough control joints in your slab is key to avoiding or minimizing future cracking issues. Control joints are grooves built into the slab that allow for expansion and contraction without cracking.

Blistering – It occurs due to entrapped air under the surface of the concrete and is more pronounced for fresh cement. The entrapped air does not allow the hydration products to reach the surface and cure correctly, which results in a weak concrete skin. Blistering can be found anywhere on the concrete structure depending on how much air gets trapped under the slab. For example, if air cannot escape from around a steel rebar or cable, then it will collect under the slab and cause blistering.

Sinking – Sometimes the concrete will appear to sink or bulge out of the ground, which is quite an eyesore for homeowners to deal with. Concrete sinking can also be a safety concern, as it can put a tripping hazard in the yard. The sinking occurs because water gets trapped beneath the concrete, causing the slab to shift inward toward itself. This type of shifting is affected by groundwater rising from lower levels in the soil and swelling up into the slabs as it freezes during winter. When it warms up again, it melts and creates air pockets under the concrete slab.

Improper installation – The most common mistakes made with concrete stamping include using too much water when mixing the concrete. This causes it to set quickly and potentially creates weak spots in the finished product. Similarly, an insufficient amount of cement makes for weak joints that allow water into the slab and can lead to early deterioration and cracking. Lastly, using improper joint widths when pouring the slab. The standard for most residential slabs is half an inch, though some slabs might require an inch or more depending on traffic conditions.

Weather conditions – Freezing and thawing cycles can cause efflorescence and heaving in concrete slabs. Efflorescence forms when water gets into the concrete and freezes then thaws over time. The water turns into ice crystals that push salt out of the concrete and onto the surface where it can be seen as white powdery patches. Heaving occurs when water causes the cement paste in your slab to expand and contract as it freezes and thaws. This expansion can tear apart the structure of your slab, causing it to crack or even pop up from the ground.

Structural stress – Heavy loads placed on concrete may cause it to crack or break. Concrete can withstand considerable weight, provided that this weight is distributed over a large area. If you are putting a heavy load in one small area — say, if you are building a new level of your house and the weight of the floor above is resting on the concrete below — the concrete will have no way to distribute this load. The result is likely to be a crack, bulge or break in your concrete.