In terms of opting for concrete as a material to be used for their projects, one of the major reasons why people hesitate is because concrete tends to crack eventually. While this durable and practical material is among the most durable goods available in the market, the test of nature and time will cause it to crack over time, especially when you choose to have it installed by an amateur service provider. Now, why does concrete crack? Is there any way you can do to prevent these common causes of cracks from taking place? To know better, keep on reading the common mistakes that often result in concrete cracks.

Your contractor excessively put water in the concrete mix

If your concrete is poorly mixed, it can make an extensive range of issues. This means that putting too much or too little water in the concrete mix can both cause your concrete to crack. Hence, water should mix with the concrete at just the ideal place so that it can properly cure and set.

It was too cold when the concrete mix was poured

Similar to how the water amount can impact the hydration process of concrete, so does cold water. Once the temperature excessively drops, concrete cannot cure properly. In such instances, the subsurface will have to be warmed before it can be poured or the pour will be required to be postponed.

The concrete dried too fast

Faster isn’t better at all times. When your concrete mix does not have sufficient water in it, there’s a possibility that it’ll dry too rapidly and crack prematurely. Depending on what project you want, it must take a couple of weeks or even a month to completely dry.

Control joints were not utilized

Your concrete should be able to contract and expand well in various temperatures. Or else, your concrete will crack. Control joints are specifically intended to assist your concrete to stir without breaking.

When your chosen concrete contractor failed to utilize such joints, there won’t be more space for the slab to simply change its size with the varying temperatures. Moreover, it’ll wind up cracking because of its internalized pressure.

Your concrete is extremely thin

Excessively thin concrete is highly prone to cracking. The right concrete thickness will differ based on how you want to use it. For instance, a driveway that is intended to support cars should be thicker compared to a sidewalk.

Keep in mind that one of the major reasons why DIY concrete projects fail is because of the incorrect thickness of concrete. If you choose to take on a huge project like this all by yourself, it can be simple to overestimate the weight that your concrete can potentially endure and the necessary thickness that a subsequent should have. Sadly, this will end up in extreme premature cracking.

Not asking the professional concrete contractors

If you’re planning to do a concrete project, then make sure to only let expert concrete contractor Maple Ridge do their thing. As much as possible, never do it on your own. This way, you can guarantee that the results will be perfect and you won’t have to pay for concrete repairs sooner.