Crumbling concrete can be fixed before it gets worse. The sooner you address the problem, the better, as it can prevent further damage such as crazing, where a network of random cracks appears. The first step in repairing concrete is to remove any loose concrete and dust. You can use a chisel and hammer or rent a rotary hammer tool with a chisel tip for larger jobs.
To clean up the dust and sand particles, use a garden hose and brush. To repair deeper defects or replace missing pieces of concrete, add small stones to the mix. The proportion should be three parts stone, two parts sand and 1.5 parts Portland cement for a strong mixture. Always use cement paint to bind the new concrete to the old. If your concrete driveway is starting to crumble and has small pools that collect water, it's likely that the mix used to create the concrete contained too much water.
This is known as 'Spalling'. If the damage is not too severe, you may be able to handle the repair yourself. However, if it's more serious, it's best to hire a professional. When pouring new concrete, make sure that the air temperature remains above 10 degrees Celsius or 50 Fahrenheit for at least eight hours after pouring and above 0 Celsius or 32 Fahrenheit for the next 24 hours. If you're looking for a cold weather driveway material, contact our team today and we can design an attractive and durable solution. Concrete spalling usually begins when the steel reinforcement embedded within the concrete member rusts.
To repair this, first inspect your concrete slab to identify any potential problems that need to be fixed. Professionals can help with this if needed. Then add a patching mix and use a wooden or magnesium trowel or steel float to match the texture of the surrounding concrete. To protect your countertop from acidic spills such as vinegar or lemon juice, use a sealer such as Quikrete's Concrete & Masonry Waterproofing Sealer. Road salts and de-icing fluids can also cause spalling, so try to avoid these if possible.
If you have an area accessible to the public or workers, spalling concrete can be dangerous in terms of falling debris or tripping hazards. For cracks and spalling, use Quikrete's vinyl concrete patcher to create a strong bond with the existing concrete and level the surface. When applying new concrete, use a utility broom to add texture so that it doesn't become slippery when wet.
