Skip to content
People tend to be hesitant about choosing concrete for their projects because it cracks.
Although this durable and practical material is extremely strong, the forces of nature and time will eventually cause it to crack, especially if a reputable company installed it.
But concrete cracks. What can be done to prevent it?
These five mistakes are the most common cause of concrete cracks.
- Too fast as the concrete’s drying
Sometimes, faster is not always better. Your concrete mix will crack if it doesn’t have enough moisture. Depending on your project, it may take several weeks or even a full month to dry completely. - The contractor put too much water into the mix.
Poorly mixed concrete can cause several problems. As with cracking concrete, too much water can cause it to crack. To be set and cured properly, water must be combined with concrete at the right rate. - Control joints were not utilized.
Concrete should be able to expand and contract properly in all temperatures. If it doesn’t, it can crack. Control joints are designed to allow concrete to move freely without breaking.
This joint is essential for slabs to adjust their size to the changing temperatures. The slab may crack from the internal pressure if it’s not used. - It was too cold when concrete was poured.
Concrete’s hydration process is affected by the amount of water. Cold weather is similar. Concrete will not cure correctly if it is too cold. In such cases, pouring will have to be delayed, or the subsurface must be warmed up before pouring. - The concrete is too thin.
Concrete that is too thin will crack very easily. Based on the purpose of concrete, the proper thickness can vary. For example, a driveway meant to support vehicles will need to be thicker than a sidewalk.
A poor concrete thickness is one of the top reasons DIY concrete projects fail. You can easily miscalculate the concrete’s weight and subsequent thickness when you take on such a large project. This can lead to premature cracking.