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Concrete Crack Repair
Cracks in concrete overlays can be prevented by proper preparation of the substrate and by moisture control. Large cracks can be filled or incorporated into your floor design. Hairline cracks in concrete are fixed with grout or a concrete patch.
by Susan Brimo-Cox
And the artwork that can be produced with these products is often breathtaking. So, it is especially unfortunate when cracks appear in an overlay.
What causes cracks in overlays? A number of things.
Most overlay experts agree that the most common crack-inducing culprit is the substrate, and there can be multiple factors involved. Expansion joints in the underlying slab that are not honored will telegraph through an overlay. But, more often than not, it's movement in the substrate that will produce cracks in the overlay.
It is important to assess the situation before you commence making any repairs to a cracked concrete overlay.
If your crack is wider than a hairline, you will have some prep work to do before you fill it. You will first need to decide whether you are going to repair the crack and try to hide it or whether you will repair the crack but let it become part of the overall design.
If the crack you are repairing is from an existing joint in the substrate below that wasn't honored when the overlay was applied - say an expansion joint - it might be easier to work the crack into the design.
Fortunately, most cracks you'll encounter in overlays are likely to be hairline cracks.
Usually a very fine, nonsanded grout or concrete patch can be used. Another technique is to just apply another coat of sealer over the whole floor. If the crack is tight, this can often do the trick.
Camouflaging crack repairs requires skills in faux finishing.
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