How to Repair Wide Concrete Cracks
The secret to fixing wide concrete cracks is to undercut the sides of the crack to give it an inverted “V” shape. This helps the repair material to “key” into the crack, creating a mechanical bond in addition to the chemical bond between the patch material and the concrete.
How to Repair Narrow Concrete Cracks
Narrow concrete cracks can be filled using masonry crack elastomeric filler that can be applied with a caulking gun. Alternatively, many products come in bottles with an applicator tip. Very small cracks, such as hairline cracks, can be repaired using a vinyl concrete patching compound applied over the crack and then smoothed with a putty knife or trowel. For hairline cracks, applying repair caulk or crack filler over the cracks usually is not effective, as the caulk tends to peel off of the surface over time. Narrow cracks can be deep, often extending through the entire thickness of the concrete slab. Therefore, it’s a good idea to start the repair by stuffing foam backer rod into the crack to create a base to hold the repair material. Backer rod is sold in a variety of sizes; use a rod diameter that is slightly larger than the width of the crack. Stuff the backer rod into the crack with a screwdriver to a depth of 1/4 inch. Fill the crack with the repair material, following the manufacturer’s directions.
