When I talk about concrete, I typically focus on your foundation. As a key part of your building envelope, the foundation should always have your attention — and be constantly monitored for cracks and holes. This needs your attention because it maintains the integrity of your home.
But the foundation isn’t the sole place you’ll find concrete around your home. Patios, walkways, outdoor stairs, and driveways are commonly made of concrete, and shouldn’t be ignored. These are key parts of your home — and if you let them fall into disrepair, you’ll likely be on the hook for an expensive repair.
But, with a little maintenance, you can keep them strong for years to come. When it comes to holes and cracks in your concrete walkways, here’s what to do:
What’s the point?
Small holes and cracks here and there in your exterior walkway aren’t a big deal, right? So what’s the use in making repairs when the rest of the sidewalk is still in good shape?
It may seem that way, but any imperfections in the concrete, such as cracks or holes, become an entryway for water and moisture. Especially now, heading into the colder season, when water sneaks in there it can freeze, and start lifting the concrete away from the ground. Then, as the water melts it will lower — and over time as the freeze-thaw cycle continues, you’ll start to see vertical movement as the concrete begins to lift off the ground.
This heaving occurs when three ingredients are present: freezing temperatures, water and soil that’s susceptible to frost. The way to prevent it is to remove one of the ingredients — in this case, water. Keeping the concrete free of cracks and holes is the way to do that.
Doing the repairs
If you’ve got huge cracks, or a lot of them, you may want to hire a pro, but a homeowner with a little savvy can fill small holes and cracks. You can buy concrete repair kits at your local hardware store to take care of the small stuff. Make sure you’ve got gloves, goggles, and a dust mask to protect yourself while working. Every DIY job needs PPE.
First, if there are any bits of loose concrete around the hole, remove that with a chisel. If possible, you want to make as level a surface as possible for the repair patch to adhere to.
Next, you’ll want to clean out the hole. Think of it like a wound — you have to clean it properly before you patch it. So remove every bit of dirt and debris that you can so the patch can fill the hole and properly bond to the concrete. If you’ve got a shop vac handy, this can help make quick work of this step.
Then, you’ll want to saturate the surface of the concrete with a little bit of water. Not a lot — you don’t want any standing water in the hole, but the area should feel a little damp. This will help the patch adhere properly to the rest of the concrete. Give it a quick spritz with a spray bottle. You could use a concrete cleaner for this step — but for small, new holes, you can often get away with just using water.
Next, you’ll take your repair mixture and pour it carefully and evenly in to the hole. From there, you’ll want to smooth it out with your trowel so that the new patch is flush with the rest of the surface. Depending on the product you use, it could be ready for heavy traffic in as little as an hour. For the small stuff, it really is that simple.
You’ve still got plenty of time to address any issues with your concrete before the freeze-thaw cycle of winter kicks in. This week, take a good look at your concrete to check for any holes or cracks in need of addressing. If you have any repairs needed, you can take care of it in less than a day with a repair kit and some PPE.
To find out more about Mike Holmes, visit makeitright.ca
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