If you stop and think about it, there are dozens of categories and subcategories of building materials on the market. When it relates to exterior and interior hard surfaces, concrete far outpaces brick, tile, asphalt, and a variety of others in long-term durability.
On average, concrete utilized outdoors in any number of climates is designed to last up to forty years, and its indoor applications last even longer due to its protection against the forces of Mother Nature. However, everything undergoes wear and tear in some way, including the rigidity and quality of concrete.
From surface stains to cracks due to heaving, regular maintenance of concrete surfaces increases their longevity beyond the average estimate. US Coatings, a professional concrete repair and commercial flooring installer, has collated the following list of what concrete repair can prevent.
Common Concrete Damage
Excess Weight – Consider the driveway leading to your home or place of business; vehicles drive up and down it constantly. Over time, stress fractures will occur if vehicles exceed the weight limit of a certain thickness of concrete roll up and down said driveway.
Chemical Exposure – This does not always refer to chemicals that comically burn a hole through the floor; this can be oil stains on a garage floor, transmission fluid on a driveway, or even road salt and slush during the winter. All of these and more can eat away at the integrity of concrete.
Improper Mixture – Before installation, was the mixture prepared with quality in mind? Many homeowners and commercial property owners do not realize that just a little too much water or worse, impure water contaminated by chemicals corrosive to concrete, can weaken concrete right away.
The Concrete Repair Process
Suppose your concrete damage falls under those three categories as mentioned above. In that case, the main concern at play is a fracture in the material and water or other damaging liquids finding their way inside. Because of this, there are a few concrete repair methodologies that work best.
First, filling the crack is what is needed. Keep in mind, whether it is epoxy injections or a self-leveling overlay, new material is introduced into older material during this process, both of which are prepared differently than the other. This is the main reason having an expert team like US Coatings pays, as they have perfected the process of preparing the material.
Following physical repair is the finish work, namely waterproofing or sealing. Many concrete companies offer sealing after initial installation, but if your repaired concrete was never sealed to begin with, doing so will also reinforce its structural integrity in the future.
Choose the Right Team
Given these intricate repair methods, it is imperative that you call the right team for your concrete repair. US Coatings specializes in solid surfaces, including concrete, and can repair your concrete surfaces no matter what stage of degradation you find them in.
For more information or to receive a quote for a concrete project, visit USCoatingsCorp.com today.