When concrete dries and shrinks, cracks can occur hours after pouring. Any crack 1/8 inch or smaller in your yard or driveway is considered standard. Some fine cracks may form and disappear after a month or two, but it takes a full month for new concrete to fully settle. Fine cracks in concrete can be difficult to repair, but they are usually not a cause for concern and are mostly cosmetic.
Although that doesn't mean they should be ignored. Repairing a fine crack in a concrete structure involves filling the space with a material that adheres well to the concrete, restores its original appearance, and prevents liquids from penetrating inside the structure and staining the concrete. Concrete naturally cracks on its own, unless it is given a place to crack, such as a control joint or expansion joint. As the concrete cures, it heats up and expands.
In summer, I saw the slab crack before I could walk on it. ACI 116R-90, Cement and Concrete Terminology, defines fine cracks as cracks in an exposed concrete surface that has widths so small that they can barely be perceived. Big D Ready Mix Concrete has been serving customers in the Dallas, TX area since 2002, with more than 400 utility mixes, heavy-duty wall mixes, exposed aggregate mixes, flexural strength mixes, stamped concrete mixes, fluid fill mixes, mixes for slurry and mixtures for trailer pumps. A reputable local concrete driveway professional will know the best way to keep a concrete slab in good condition for optimal curing.
For a narrow crack like this, you can use a self-leveling concrete crack filler to seal the crack before painting or finishing the surface. When it's hot, a concrete slab will expand as it heats up and pushes against any object in its path, such as a brick wall or an adjacent concrete slab. Instead of letting the heat cause cracking, cover the concrete with an insulating plastic sheet or even straw to trap moisture and help the concrete cure at an even rate. If your concrete is a little older, a concrete repair professional can help you fix the cracks. Understanding fine cracks in concrete is essential for any homeowner or contractor who works with this material. While shrinkage cracks can appear on the surface within hours of pouring concrete, it takes a full month for new concrete to fully settle.
Fine cracks are usually not a cause for concern and are mostly cosmetic but should not be ignored. Repairing these fine cracks involves filling them with a material that adheres well to the concrete and prevents liquids from penetrating inside the structure. In addition to traditional curing methods such as control joints and expansion joints, Big D Ready Mix Concrete offers more than 400 utility mixes for slurry and mixtures for trailer pumps. A reputable local professional can help you keep your concrete slab in good condition for optimal curing. Self-leveling crack fillers can also be used to seal narrow cracks before painting or finishing the surface.
