Cracked Concrete
Why is my concrete cracking? And what can I do about it?
When installed properly, concrete is one of the most durable products that you can invest in for your home. However, no matter how skilled your contractor is, no material can be considered foolproof. Here are some possible reasons why your concrete is beginning to exhibit signs of cracking:
1. Excess water quantity in the concrete mix.
While concrete doesn’t need too much water to achieve maximum strength, much of the concrete that is used in residential work has too much water. This is because adding extra water makes the concrete easier to install. However, the addition of too much water will reduce the strength of the concrete in the end and result in cracks as the water evaporates and the concrete proceeds to shrink.
2. Dry weather.
After the wet concrete is laid down, it can take a few weeks for the hydration process to be completely finished. If the concrete does not receive adequate hydration during this step in the chemical reaction that causes concrete to go from a liquid to a solid state, it might develop cracks.
3. Improper selection of cement.
Cement comes in a wide variety of grades because different jobs require concretes of different strengths. If the wrong grade selection is made and your concrete is too weak, it will go on to develop cracks.