How To Repair Crack In Concrete Floor

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Croaky physical is cruddy, only it's a lot easier to fix than you'd recall. To fix narrow cracks, your best bet is a caulk-manner physical repair compound, which is easy to use and prevents further cracking. For larger cracks through walls, go with an epoxy injection kit, which will let you to fill a deep scissure'due south interior. If your physical stairs are in busted, vinyl concrete patcher is durable and easy to mold into a step shape. Whichever method you lot use, e'er read your products' instructions and use them every bit directed.

1. 1

   Apply a caulk-manner, waterproof compound to repair hairline cracks. A caulk-style liquid physical repair compound is affordable, easy to apply, and the best option for hairline cracks smaller than ^ane⁄₄  in (0.64 cm) broad. Find a waterproof liquid physical repair compound online or at a home improvement store. It'll concord upwards against the elements, help go on out water, and prevent the cleft from reforming.^[1]

2. 2

   Remove loose concrete and debris with a wire brush. Scrub the crack with a wire brush to prep the surface for repair. If necessary, chip away whatever thick deposits of concrete or old sealer with a pocket-size hammer and chisel.^[ii]

   • If the crack is outdoors, such as in your driveway, work during dry conditions. A stretch of at least 1 to ii dry days is ideal.

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3. 3

   Sweep, vacuum, or blow away any remaining dust. Afterwards scrubbing the cracked area, sweep away dust with a broom, or remove residual with a shop vac. Yous could also utilise a canister of compressed air to blow away fine surface debris.^[iii]

   • A ability washer can loosen and blow away droppings all in one go. However, you'll need to allow the cracked area to dry out completely if y'all use one. Liquid physical repair compounds can merely be practical to dry surfaces.

4. 4

   Run a bead of epoxy concrete repair compound forth the crack. Load a cartridge of liquid concrete repair chemical compound into the cradle of a caulk gun. Snip most ¹⁄_eight  in (0.32 cm) off of the tip, then run a continuous dewdrop of chemical compound along the crack. Make another pass with the caulk gun if the offset bead didn't fill the entire crack.^[4]

   Variation: For a crack wider than ^one⁄₄  in (0.64 cm), slide in a strip of cream backer rod with your fingers. Then apply concrete repair compound over the rod with the caulk gun. The cream backer is needed to support the liquid repair compound.

5. v

   Smooth the caulked surface, and so let it cure for 4 to 6 hours. Run a 1 ¹⁄₂  in (3.8 cm) putty knife along the sealed crack to remove excess compound. Level the surface with the surrounding concrete, then allow the compound to cure for at least 4 to 6 hours, or as directed.^[5]

   • After smoothing the compound, wipe your putty pocketknife promptly with mineral spirits before the epoxy begins to set.
   • In add-on to repairing floors and driveways, yous can besides utilize this method to seal hairline cracks in walls. For wider wall cracks, on the other mitt, your best option is an epoxy injection kit.

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1. one

   Gear up a ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄  in (0.32 to 0.64 cm) wide crevice with an epoxy injection kit. Purchase a concrete repair kit that includes a two-role epoxy (an unmixed compound), caulk-type epoxy cartridges, and liquid concrete repair injection ports. The injection ports are small nozzles that assist you fill the within of the crack with sealer.

   • You might need to purchase injection ports separately; you'll need ane port for every 12 in (xxx cm) of crevice length.

2. ii

   Scrub and clean the croaky surface area. Scrub abroad loose debris with a wire brush, and dislodge any chunks of mortar, concrete, or former filler with a hammer and chisel. Then vacuum upward dust and debris or accident away residual with compressed air.^[6]

   • If you're sealing a cleft in a wall, lay down a tarp or driblet cloth to protect your floors from drips of epoxy.

   Condom precaution: Wear a respirator and then you lot don't inhale particles of grit, especially if y'all're working indoors. If there are any nearby windows or exterior doors, open them to amend ventilation.

3. 3

   Attach the plastic injection ports to the crack. Tap 10d finishing (headless) nails partway into the crack every 12 in (thirty cm). Employ split sticks or putty knives to scoop the 2 epoxy parts onto a small bit board. Mix the parts until you lot've accomplished a compatible colour, apply small dabs to the bottoms of the ports, and slide a port over each nail.

   • The apartment ends of the ports should be flush with the wall, and the nozzle ends should stick out.
   • The nails marshal the injection ports with the scissure. If y'all don't accept finishing nails handy, use pins, toothpicks, or thin coffee stirrers.
   • The two parts of the epoxy compound are stored in separate containers. Subsequently they're mixed, the parts cure and form a hard textile. For this reason, scoop out the parts with split up sticks or putty knives to avoid contaminating one container with the contents of the other.

4. iv

   Remove the nails afterward attaching the ports. After installing the ports, grasp the tip of the nail that emerges past the port'due south cervix, and pull information technology from the wall. Make sure the ports stay glued in place, and try not to disturb them. Pull out all of the nails before injecting epoxy into the ports.^[7]

5. 5

   Spread the 2-part epoxy over the crack and injection ports' bases. Mix a larger batch of the ii-role compound as directed. Utilise a putty knife or trowel to cover the crack and the ports' bases with a ⁱ⁄_eight  in (0.32 cm) layer of epoxy. Spread the compound 1 in (2.5 cm) on either side of the crack, and level information technology with the surrounding surface.^[8]

   • Check your kit'southward instructions for correct amount of compound for the crack'south surface surface area. Mix until you've achieved a uniform greyness color.
   • Be sure to scoop out each part of the epoxy with split up sticks to avoid contaminating the containers.

6. 6

   Permit the surface patch cure for four to 6 hours, then make full the injection ports. Subsequently 4 to half-dozen hours, or when the surface compound is hard, place a caulk-way cartridge of epoxy in the cradle of a caulk gun. Snip ¹⁄₈  in (0.32 cm) off of the tip, and so insert it into the nozzle of the lowest injection port. Clasp the trigger to inject the compound until epoxy starts oozing out of the port above the one yous're filling.^[ix]

   • The epoxy injection port kit includes small plastic caps that fit into the ports' nozzles. After you lot've injected a port, insert a cap into its nozzle. And then repeat the process to inject the chemical compound into each of the ports.

7. 7

   Saw off the injection ports' necks afterward 5 days, then patch the cuts. Permit the injected compound to cure for 5 days, or according to the instructions. And then employ a hacksaw to cut off the ports' nozzles where they meet the wall or flooring.

   • Patch the spots where you lot sawed off the necks to disguise your piece of work and ensure the cleft is watertight. Mix a small amount of 2-part epoxy, apply a dab over the cut spots with a putty knife, and level the epoxy with the surrounding surface.

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1. one

   Prepare a crack wider than ¹⁄_iv  in (0.64 cm) with a vinyl concrete patcher. Notice a vinyl concrete repair compound online and at home improvement and hardware stores. Vinyl concrete patcher works best on wider cracks in horizontal surfaces, and then it's perfect for cleaved steps.^[ten]

   • Specific instructions may vary, so read your production's instructions advisedly.
   • Vinyl concrete repair compound will as well work on wide, deep driveway and flooring cracks. While you can use it to patch large cracks in a wall, you'd need to apply information technology in ¹⁄_iv to ^one⁄₂  in (0.64 to 1.27 cm) layers and allow each layer to cure before the next application.

2. 2

   Dislodge loose concrete and remove droppings. Prep the surface by scrubbing or chiseling abroad loose concrete or deposits of old filler. Additionally, use a wire castor to rough up any smooth surfaces within the crevice. Then sweep, vacuum, or blow abroad whatever remaining dust and debris.^[11]

   • If yous have a pressure washer, feel costless to use it to prep the cracked stairs since the compound you'll use in this method needs a clammy surface. It shouldn't be completely soaked, then mop up any puddles with an one-time rag.

3. 3

   Hose down the stairs to aid the patching compound bond. Run the hose evenly over the steps to get the surface damp. Dampen it, merely don't deluge information technology; you lot don't want any continuing water.^[12]

   • The repair compound will stick better to a damp surface.

4. 4

   Place a wood plank confronting the cracked pace to create a frame. Using a round saw, cut a forest plank to your steps' exact height. Cutting the plank broad plenty to span the cracked surface area, or employ multiple planks. Place the plank confronting the broken pace, then set a brick against the plank to keep information technology in place.^[13]

   • The plank will act every bit a form and assistance ensure the repair chemical compound takes the shape of the stride.

   Safety precaution: Clothing protective goggles and use caution when using a saw.

5. 5

   Mix a dry out physical vinyl patch with h2o, if necessary. Pre-mixed vinyl physical patch products are gear up to use correct out of the container. While they're more convenient, they're typically more expensive than dry products, which you mix with water. If y'all go with a dry product, mix it with make clean h2o in a split bucket using the recommended mixing ratio.^[fourteen]

   • Mix the corporeality of repair compound recommended on the package for your repair'due south surface area.

6. 6

   Use a trowel to utilise the vinyl concrete patcher. Work some of the chemical compound into the deepest part of the crack, and press it down with the trowel. Build on that layer until y'all've overfilled the crack. Then apply the trowel to remove excess compound, smooth the surface, and level the compound with the rest of the pace.^[fifteen]

   • Clean your tools with water immediately after applying the vinyl physical patch.

7. seven

   Remove the wood plank one time the patch has gear up. Check the manufacturer's instructions for specific information about your product's set fourth dimension. Fix times may range from fifteen minutes to several hours, depending on the product, temperature, and moisture level. Afterward the patch begins to harden, carefully remove the woods plank and the brick that held information technology steady.^[16]

   • The patch hasn't cured, so accept care not to disturb it. If necessary, gently run the trowel over the patch to level information technology with the surrounding physical.

8. viii

   Allow the patch to cure for 24 hours, or as directed. Typically, vinyl physical repair compounds tin can back up pes traffic later a day. Avert rolling wheeled objects (such as a hand truck) over the patch for iii days.^[17]

   • The instructions may call for damp curing in hot, dry, or windy weather. If necessary, cover the patch with a make clean canvas of plastic for 24 hours to damp cure it.

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• If you have trouble finding a caulk-style concrete repair kit at a hardware shop, look online or check a contractor supply store.^[eighteen]

• For best results, apply epoxy and vinyl compounds in temperatures between 50 and lxxx °F (ten and 27 °C). Avoid using epoxy and vinyl concrete repair compounds in temperatures beneath 40 °F (4 °C).^[nineteen]

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• Epoxy and urethane-based concrete repair compounds are super gummy, and so vesture work gloves and old apparel when yous make your repairs. If you lot become any on your skin, wipe information technology off quickly with a rag dipped in mineral spirits.

• Cracks in a concrete foundation may indicate structural problems. Consult a structural engineer for cracks that are ⁱⁱⁱ⁄₁₆  in (0.48 cm) or wider, horizontal cracks, and basement walls that bulge in.^[20]

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Things You'll Need

• Wire brush
• Broom or shop vac
• Caulk-way epoxy concrete repair compound
• Caulk gun
• 1 ¹⁄₂  in (3.8 cm) metallic putty knife
• Work gloves
• Mineral spirits
• Rag
• Foam capitalist rod (optional)

• Wire castor
• Broom or store vac
• Liquid concrete repair kit with a 2-part epoxy sealer and caulk-type epoxy cartridges
• Caulk gun
• three in (7.6 cm) 10d finishing nails
• Hammer
• Piece of work gloves
• 1 ¹⁄₂  in (three.8 cm) putty knife
• Mineral spirits
• Rag
• Hacksaw

• Wire brush
• Hose
• Vinyl concrete repair chemical compound
• Steel trowel
• Fleck wood plank (long plenty to span the cleft)
• Circular saw
• Protective eyewear
• Piece of work gloves

About This Article

Commodity Summary 10

To gear up a crack in your concrete flooring or driveway, you'll need a caulk-style, waterproof, liquid repair compound and a caulk gun, both of which yous can buy online or at a home comeback store. In order to prepare the crack for the compound, use a wire castor to scrub away whatsoever loose concrete and debris. After scrubbing, sweep or vacuum away whatsoever remaining dust. In one case the croaky surface area is clean and dry, run the compound forth the scissure using the caulk gun. When the crevice is filled with chemical compound, smoothen over the surface with a putty knife to get rid of any excess chemical compound. You should then allow the compound cure for 4 to 6 hours. For more help, including how to fix a crack in a physical wall or in concrete steps, keeping reading!

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