Cracked and damaged concrete is more than just a mere unattractive sight. It can cause structural damage and safety hazards. For example, water seeping through cracks can gradually lead to freezing during winter. This can later be a tripping hazard for anyone visiting the property. In addition to that, some tenacious weeds can grow in the gaps, making driveways, walkways, or patios appear unkempt. With the growth of weeds, their roots can burrow deeper in between the cracks, causing damage to the surface, which may worsen over time.
These cracks can be treated by hiring a professional, which may cost you a lot. However, in this blog, we have covered some DIY options that can help to repair the cracked concrete.
Understanding Concrete Cracks, Its Types and Causes
It's essential to assess the extent of the problem and address it at the earliest; otherwise, they can cause deeper underlying issues and lead to costly repairs. Concrete cracks that are larger than ¼ inches seen from inside and outside the building require the attention of a professional and can't be done via DIY. Hence, it's important to address them quickly.
Here are some common concrete cracks.
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Hairline cracks: These cracks can be only visible from inside the house or on the surface of patios or sidewalks. They are usually safe and can be filled easily to prevent water from entering the area.
- Structural cracks: These cracks can lead to structural damages such as house collapse. It can also occur due to settling - cracks in slabs, poured masonry or block walls.
| Notes | Settling is a common issue that can cause cracks in slabs, poured masonry walls, or block walls. |
Best Types of Concrete Crack Fillers
Here are some of the best concrete crack fillers to repair the cracks with.
Sikaflex Self-Leveling Sealant
It's a perfect choice for multiple concrete applications. It's available in 10.1 ounces and 29 ounces. It's also easier to caulk the sealant into the crack. Then, wait for 3 to 5 days for it to set and bond with the concrete.
Use a caulking gun to apply the filler, whether it's for small cracks or wide gaps. Sikaflex sealant can easily fill the crack up to 1.5 inches wide on horizontal surfaces such as garage floors, walkways, and patios. Additionally, it's a great choice for pool repairs or areas exposed to water due to its flexible and submersible nature.
Sikaflex sealant is an affordable yet effective solution to apply, even with a little extra curing time.
Sascho Slab Concrete Crack Filler
Sascho Slab is a budget-friendly and flexible option. It is perfect for filling gaps up to 3 inches as Sacho can stretch three times the width of the crack it repairs. It is available in 10.5 ounces.
You can just caulk the sealant into any cracks or horizontal surfaces, including driveways, patios, walkways, floors, and more. Use a caulking gun to fill this 10.5-ounce filler. It can easily pour the substance into any small or large cracks without taking the help of towels or putty knives.
Once it is cured, which possibly takes around 1 week, Sacho remains durable and flexible. This further helps in the prevention of potential damage from freeze-thaw cycles.
RadonSeal DIY Foundation Crack Repair Kit
RadonSeal is specifically made to repair and seal vertical cracks in poured-concrete walls. Its kit can fill up to 10 feet or 20 feet up to cracks.
RadonSeal kit uses epoxy and polyurethane foam to repair cracks up to ½ inches thick for basement foundation and concrete walls. It consists of two tubes of polyurethane foam to fill the crack, injection ports to adhere over the crack, and two-part epoxy to seal the crack before injecting. All these materials are enough to fill the crack up to 10 linear feet long.
The filler is squeezed out of a caulking gun. Later, the repair can be cured within 4 hours.
Additionally, once repaired, it will prevent water, insects, and soil gases from entering the foundation, which keeps the houses safe and dry.
Red Devil Premixed Concrete Patch
True to its name, Red Devil Premixed Concrete Patch comes as a ready-to-use tub or tube for homeowners' convenience so that it can be directly applied to the gaps. It's available in 5.5 ounces, 1 quart, and 1 gallon.
It's best for repairing a large crack in concrete or filling a missing chunk of masonry material. Additionally, the Red Devil concrete patch is great for filling large cracks of sideways walkways, patios, and vertical surfaces - both inside and outside. To use this patch, apply the required amount into the crack with the help of a putty knife and smooth it along the surface.
Once the cracks are filled, it will take at least 24 hours to cure. But it adheres well to the surface and won't shrink or crack, making it a long-lasting product.
Quikrete Concrete Crack Seal
Quikrete Seal is the easiest and budget-friendly concrete crack filler to repair hairline cracks in horizontal surfaces. There is no requirement for additional tools - just shake, snip, and pour onto the crack.
It's available in 5.5 ounces, 1 quart, and 1 gallon. The 1-quart bottle can fill up to 38 linear feet of ½-inch-wide cracks and ¼-inch-deep cracks. Additionally, it's safe to use in temperatures above 45°F.
Once filling is completed, it takes around 72 hours to fully cure the repair, which dries to a persistent and flexible finish.
UGL Drylok Fast Plug Hydraulic Cement
Drylok Fast Plug is the best option to repair cracks faster and fill minor cracks. It sets quickly - within 3 to 5 minutes once the filling is completed. This makes the product suitable for patches on a variety of masonry surfaces. The hydraulic mix consists of a tub that repairs cracks in masonry, brick walls, and concrete surfaces. It's also inexpensive and comes in 3 pounds of filler - 4, 10, and 50.
Before using it, you are required to mix the water in the hydraulic cement. Additionally, it is great at fixing leaks and deep cracks.
Once cured, the repair turns out to be extremely hard and durable. This becomes capable of preventing water and soil gases from entering holes or cracks.
