While highly durable, like many other substances concrete is not impervious to damage. Sometimes you may see cracks in concrete, but it’s important to note that a crack isn’t always a sign of a more sinister issue.
That said, it’s essential that you get an engineer to assess any cracks in your concrete, especially if it is supporting a structure like a bridge, tunnel or building, to ensure that there is no underlying structural problem.
If the crack is what’s known as active, this poses a more serious threat to the structure and remedial action will need to be taken to address it and return the structure to a strong condition.
You may want to call in concrete repair specialists in the UK in any case to ensure that the job is done to a high standard.
Many concrete cracks, however, are surface level and can therefore be easily repaired. Let’s look at a couple of the most common kinds of concrete cracks you’re likely to see and their causes.
Shrinkage cracks
Shrinkage cracks most commonly occur in concrete during the curing process, as moisture escapes from the concrete. When this happens unevenly, it leads to a contraction and this can cause cracks to appear.
These kinds of cracks are relatively simple to fix with a polyurethane resin or foam injection to fill the cracks and then seal them.
Corrosion cracks
Reinforced concrete relies on steel bars underneath the concrete to help it hold its shape and provide additional strength for the structure. However, the steel bars corrode over time and as they do so, this can crack the concrete that surrounds them.
The best repair solution in such cases will depend on the depth of the cracks and their extent. This is why it’s important to get an experienced engineer to assess your structure before you make a decision about the repair work you’re going to undertake.