Concrete Repair Austin
Concrete, while strong and long-lasting, is not a perfect material. Over time, concrete can develop issues such as spalling, cracks, gouges, and pop-outs. These problems can begin as cosmetic issues but they can worsen over time and damage the structural integrity of the concrete.
If your concrete is showing its age, it’s important to take action sooner rather than later to prevent the damage from getting worse. Our Austin, TX concrete repair contractors offer a variety of solutions to restore structural integrity and a beautiful appearance to your concrete.
Types of Concrete Damage We Repair
Concrete can suffer several forms of damage for many reasons, including tree roots and ground movement, poor installation, improper drying, freeze-thaw cycles, and more. Here are the most common types of concrete damage we encounter.
Pitting
If your concrete has small, deep holes with a jagged appearance, you have a problem with pitting. Concrete pitting can look like spalling but it’s usually caused by a poor concrete mix, improper accelerator use, or aging. It can be widespread and cover a large area of a concrete slab. Concrete pitting repair in Austin may involve patching the pits with a polymer-modified cement patch or an overlay if you have a large damaged area.
Cracks
Cracks are bound to happen and may begin to appear within just two weeks if the concrete slab did not have enough control joints. While hairline cracks are normal and won’t cause serious issues, some cracks do require concrete crack repair in Austin, TX. This includes cracks that allow water to get under the concrete, large cracks, and cracks that pose a trip hazard.
Spalling
This form of damage causes the surface of the concrete to flake, crumble, or separate in layers. It’s typically caused by freeze-thaw cycles. Water that’s deposited on the concrete works its way into the concrete. When the water freezes, it expands and causes microscopic damage. Over time, the concrete will weaken and seperate or crumble.
Lifting
Do you have concrete that’s lifting up in one or more places? This is most common with driveways and walkways and it can be caused by freeze-thaw cycles or nearby large tree roots that grow larger over time and push up the pad of concrete. Sometimes frozen water under the surface is responsible for large sections of a slab to lift at the joints.
This will allow even more water to enter under the slab and accelerate the damage. Lifting concrete should always be addressed as soon as possible because it can damage tires and pose a trip hazard. It’s also guaranteed to get worse. There are a couple of possible solutions to this lifting such as grinding the concrete to lower the raised section or replacing the section, possibly with a bridge over existing tree roots.
Settlement
Sunken, cracked, or uneven concrete is caused by slab settlement which happens when the soil stops supporting the weight of the concrete or develops a void. Soil beneath the slab can change for many reasons including poorly compacted soil, changes in the soil’s moisture content, and soil washout due to excess moisture.
If you have sunken or uneven concrete, our concrete repair contractors can help. There are a few forms of concrete slab repair that can address settlement including replacement, polyurethane foam injection, and mudjacking, which involves creating holes in the concrete to pump a slurry of material under the concrete to raise it back to its original position.
Concrete Repair in Austin, TX
Our concrete repair contractors in Austin repair all types of concrete, including stamped and polished concrete, concrete foundations, pool decks, and driveways. Here are the most common forms of concrete repair we perform
Concrete Foundation Repair
Foundation issues can lead to serious structural damage if they aren’t addressed. Foundation problems can be caused by poor drainage, expansive clay, tree roots, plumbing leaks, and seasonal changes. Depending on the damage, concrete slab crack repair is usually performed with concrete injection of epoxy resin. For sunken foundations, slabjacking or piering may be used to raise the elevation of the foundation and stabilize the slab.
Concrete Patio Repair
Your once-beautiful concrete patio repair is now sinking, lifting in areas, or cracked. Our concrete repair service can restore a safe, solid patio and even add decorative finishes like a stain or a stamped overlay.
Depending on the type of damage, concrete patio repair may require mudjacking, crack filling, acid staining, or a concrete overlay.
Concrete Pool Deck Repair
Do you have a concrete pool deck that’s stained, cracked, or even crumbling? Pool concrete repair should be done as soon as possible before your pool deck suffers more serious damage. Our concrete pool deck repair in Austin, TX can involve several strategies to restore a beautiful and structurally sound concrete deck. If your pool deck has dropped or settled slab jacking or mudjacking may be recommended. Patches can be used to address crumbling areas, cracks, or scaling. For more extensive cosmetic problems, resurfacing options like acid stains or concrete overlays may be advised.
Concrete Step Repair
Do you have concrete steps that are crumbling or badly cracked? It isn’t always necessary to replace your steps. Concrete step repair in Austin, TX can address common issues like damage at the corners and leading edges of the tread. After removing the damaged concrete, our concrete step repair contractors can use a special mix to rebuild the crumbling surface.
Concrete Driveway Repair
A damaged concrete driveway can be an eyesore and damage car tires. Damage can be caused by regular wear and tear, tree roots, changing soil conditions, and freeze-thaw cycles. There are several concrete driveway crack repair solutions to address cosmetic and structural issues. Our concrete repair contractors in Austin can also use mudjacking and concrete injection to address uneven or sunken areas.
Concrete Floor Crack Repair
While some people like the appearance of cracks in a polished or stained concrete floor, others prefer that they disappear. For small defects, a color-patched polyurethane polymer can be used to fill cracks and holes. Larger repairs may require polishing the floor again.
F.A.Q
How is concrete repaired?
Our concrete repair service can address all types of concrete damage but the right repair will depend on the type of damage you have. Scaling and pitting, for example, may be repaired with epoxy or polymer-modified cement. Cracks are typically filled while a slab that’s sinking needs to be slab jacked. For extensive surface damage, a concrete overlay may be the best option. This involves applying a thin layer of new concrete over the existing slab. The new concrete can be stained and/or stamped before it fully sets.
Why type of surfaces can you repair?
We repair all types of concrete surfaces, including interior concrete floors and outdoor concrete surfaces. Our concrete repair contractors perform quality repairs on:
- Stamped concrete
- Polished concrete
- Concrete slabs
- Foundations
- Concrete steps, walkways, and driveways
- Concrete patios
- Concrete pool decks
Why does concrete crack?
Concrete can crack for many reasons but it will crack. This is simply normal wear and tear. When new concrete begins to crack, it can be caused by shrinkage. This happens when water evaporates from the concrete as it cures. If there is too much water and it evaporates too fast, there will be cracks. Concrete will also crack over time due to contraction and expansion. When it’s hot, the concrete expands and pushes against other objects. This can cause cracks when the other object doesn’t flex.
Ground movement can also cause concrete cracks, especially in a driveway or walkways. Sometimes tree roots or hard freeze and thaw cycles push the ground upward against the concrete, forcing it to break and crack. This is called heaving. There are a few other reasons for cracks in your concrete, including excessive weight and improper drying