What Is the Best Repair for Concrete?

Nobody wants cracked, crumbling, or sunken concrete on any part of their property, but fully replacing damaged concrete can be time-consuming and expensive. With that in mind, it’s understandable that you may have questions about whether you can repair minor damage to concrete instead—and if so, what the ideal method for doing that is.

The question of what the best repair for concrete is doesn’t really have just one answer, since the best approach will vary a lot from situation to situation, depending on what type of damage you’re dealing with. That said, here are some of the more common methods that may be helpful in managing minor damage and preventing larger problems down the road.

Epoxy Injection

If you’re dealing with a very narrow crack that isn’t getting any bigger and isn’t caused by water damage, you may be able to seal it up from the inside by injecting epoxy resin inside the cracked concrete surface and sealing up whatever part of the crack is externally visible. It’s worth emphasizing, though, that this approach is often a short-term solution, especially if the underlying cause of the crack isn’t addressed.

Stitching

Similar to how doctors may “stitch” together a cut to minimize long-term scarring, you can sometimes repair and reinforce concrete cracks by drilling holes across the cracked surface and then threading metal staples through the holes. You’ll also need to anchor those staples with grout or epoxy, but if it’s done right, you can repair cracks for the long term without causing any additional damage to other parts of the concrete structure.

Drilling and Plugging

This method, which is both fairly cheap and fairly quick to implement, involves drilling vertical holes into a cracked piece of concrete and then filling them with grout. This will help “plug” gaps in the concrete that might otherwise cause water or soil leakage. However, this method typically only works for vertical cracks, not for horizontal, diagonal, or “stair-step” ones.

Routing and Sealing

Although it might feel like you’re making the problem worse at first, “routing and sealing” concrete damage by widening an existing crack and then refilling it with grout or epoxy can be a simple and cost-effective way to address minor surface-level faults. Like some of the other methods mentioned here, though, this one isn’t as effective when it comes to dealing with deeper structural problems in large concrete constructions.

Integrity Paving & Coatings Will Make Sure You Get the Best Concrete Repair Possible

While all of the methods listed above can be helpful for repairing small cracks and divots in concrete, they can also be difficult to perform correctly. Making a mistake with minor concrete repairs can create big problems for you down the road. In a situation like this, you’re almost always better off seeking help from experts like the ones at Integrity Paving & Coatings, who have decades of experience fixing all kinds of concrete damage. Call today to discuss your options.