Concrete cracks aren’t just painful to look at. They can cause a whole lot of damage to your home or business if they go untreated. Foundation cracks that are left unfixed may widen over time, resulting in a damaged structure or water seepage. Large cracks can cause trips and falls, and if you want to sell your property in the future, they’ll definitely need to be repaired in order to make the flooring desirable to potential buyers.

While some concrete crack repairs are simple enough to do it yourself, consulting with an expert is wise to determine if the crack has caused foundational damage and if the concrete needs to be replaced. If the job is minor, here is how to treat concrete cracks in commercial flooring or residential flooring yourself.

Prepare Materials to Treat a Concrete Crack

First, you’ll want to make sure you have all the materials you need to successfully repair your crack. These include:

• Concrete crack patching compound
• Concrete crack sealant
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Broom
• Vacuum
• Wire brush
• Trowel, caulking gun or putty knife (depending on the size of the crack)

Additionally, you may need extra cleaning materials in order to get the area where you’ll be repairing the crack completely clean.

Create a Clean Work Surface

Make sure the area around the crack is clean and free of dust, dirt and oil. Then, chisel the crack so that all large pieces are removed, and you have a widened hole that will make the patching material adhere better.

After you use a chisel and hammer to create your hole, use a wire brush to clean out large particles. Then, sweep and vacuum so that there is no excess dust or debris.

Mix, Patch and Seal

Next, follow the directions on the concrete crack patch compound to correctly mix it and prepare it to fill the crack. Use a trowel, caulking gun or putty knife to fill it into the crack, depending on how narrow the crack is. Brush or smooth the top of the mixture so that it blends in with the rest of the flooring.

Wait about 24 hours for the patching to cure and determine if any additional patching is necessary. Then, prepare your concrete crack sealant according to the directions. Once the patching is completely dry and set, add the sealant to protect the concrete from absorbing stains.

When to Call a Flooring Expert to Repair Concrete Cracks

In any instance where you feel unconfident about repairing a concrete crack yourself, or

for especially large cracks, it is always wise to call a flooring expert to ensure the repair is done correctly the first time, to save money in future repairs, and to prevent future damage. Other instances involving concrete cracks where an expert should be called immediately include:

• Rust appears on the crack
• The concrete is deteriorating
• Rebar is exposed
• The structure is in danger of collapsing

In all of these instances, it is likely the concrete will have to be replaced in order to keep the flooring and structure safe.

If you have Arizona flooring and are concerned about a concrete crack in your home or business, Arizona Urban Floors offers free flooring consultations and can help you determine the best method of action. Contact us here for flooring next steps, or give us a call at (602) 300-2823 for more information.