Hard Facts about Cracks – Patch a Hairline Crack in Concrete
Maintaining the exterior of your house and it’s grounds includes taking care of patios, driveways and the exposed area of your home’s foundation. Inevitably, cracks will occur in these areas, and they should be filled and repaired before they become too big to fix.
For fine concrete cracks, you can try using a new product on the market, which is specifically made for filling in small cracks. It is a cement product that is sold under various brand names, but generically it is called -simply enough-premixed concrete patch. It comes in tubs an tubes and needs no special preperation. Basically, you squeeze it into a clean opening and let it cure according to the package directions. You can also repair hairline cracks with a grout made of portland cement and water. (Portland cement is a type of cement made by heating and then pulverizong limestone and clay to a sandy consistency. It’s basic ingredient is concrete.) Add enough water to the cement to form a thick paste and follow my directions.
WHAT YOU NEED: Garden hose with spray nozzle, premixed concrete patch (usually sold in a tube or tub) or portland cement and water mixture, putty knife or towel, plastic drop cloth and scrap piece of 1×4 lumber.
HOW TO GET IT DONE:
- Clean the crack out by using the most powerful setting on your hose’s spray nozzle. This will also moisten the concrete, which will prevent it from drawing the water from the grout and drying out the mixture. Although the old concrete should be moist, no water should be standing on the surface or in the crack when the concrete patch is applied.
- Apply the concrete patch or mixture of portland cement and water with a putty knife or trowel. Force the patch into the crack as much as possible.
- Then, using the scrap lumber, smooth it so it is level with the original concrete.
- Allow the patched area to dry for about 2 hours. Then cover the area with a piece of plastic drop cloth.
- Keep the area covered for about 5 days. Lift the covering once each day and sprinkle the area with water.
Now you have patched a hairline crack in your concrete, Barbara’s Way!