Different Concrete Cracks and What They Speak Off
Concrete has been used in walls and floors of buildings for a long time. That is why you will most likely have concrete floors and walls in your house. But one major problem with concrete is the cracks.
This will not be an issue if your home floor already has an epoxy concrete floor coating. Otherwise, you need to learn about all the different types of cracks and what they may indicate. Not only will that help you get a forecast of more significant problems, but it will also aid in maintaining your floor better.
The Most Common Concrete Cracks and Their Indications
Plastic Shrinkage
Before the concrete cures, there is water in it. But as time passes, the water slowly evaporates and leaves patches of hollow areas inside and beneath the concrete. When the contractor adds too much water to the concrete solutions, the hollow areas generated within the slab get more extensive than normal. The concrete slabs start to sink into the hollow areas because of the weight. Even though the cracks in this type look very thin, in reality, the breaks go down throughout the whole slab resulting in extensive damage in the long term.
Premature Drying Cracks
Sometimes, the concrete floors dry up and settle excessively fast due to the change in the weather. The changes in the concrete floor happen very rapidly during this period. Hence, cracks can appear at almost any time. These cracks mostly look like a spider's web or shattered glass. This makes your floor look horrible.
Expansion Crack
Almost every other element expands when exposed to too much heat. Concrete is no exception to this rule. Because of that, the expansion in the concrete slabs causes them to generate large-sized cracks. These cracks are clearly visible, unlike plastic shrinkage cracks. But such problems can be solved with the help of concrete epoxy. The resin-based material used in this floor coating protects your floor from external heat. Hence the chances of it cracking by expanding also decreases.
Settling Cracks
Often, after the construction process, the ground below starts to shift due to the weight of the floor and the building. This process is called settling. Because of settling, gaps beneath concrete floors can appear. And now, with a little extra pressure, the concrete slab can crack anytime.
Cracks from External Damage
If you lay down an artifact that weighs a lot (large dumpsters etc.) on your floor, it might be too much for your floor to bear. Unless you have Epoxy concrete floor coating, your concrete floor will surely get cracked at a time like this.
Zone Out and Use Epoxy Concrete Floors
Many of the cracks and damages mentioned in this article can be stopped before appearing if a bit of help is provided from the outside. This help comes in the form of epoxy concrete floor coatings. And the best place to go for all Epoxy products and services is Zone Garage. Call us now and get a quote from our expert professionals.