Concrete step repair is one of those ‘little jobs’ that people tend to notice and then forget about until the problem becomes much more serious! Damaged steps – be it from chipping, sinkage, chipping, or spalling – are not obviously a little bit dangerous (especially if plenty of people use your steps every day) but frankly look awful too. Once problems have started to emerge with concrete steps it can degrade much further over a relatively short period of time. Unless you take action – and ideally fix the problem ‘for good’ rather than just patch them up – the risks are simply only going to become worse.
Repairing concrete steps is one of those tasks that many people also assume they can fix themselves. It is actually a fair amount more complicated than most assume – and what may appear to just be a minor crack could well indicate much more serious issues not only to the steps but even the foundations and area boundaries. With Texas having far from ideal soil for concrete, you are best making sure problems are professionally addressed and repaired rather than spending a great deal more on a complete replacement.
Cracks Are Not Straightforward To Repair
Anyone who thinks that concrete cracks simply need some replacement fresh concrete slathered into the gap are going to be in for an unpleasant surprise. Standard concrete mix is often too large to adequately fill and close cracks – which also tend to vary in terms of width and depth. You cannot force thick mix through small gaps to fill deeper issues below the surface, and trying to do so will always make the problem considerably worse. The same applies for trying to lay down an entirely fresh layer of concrete on top of a damaged surface. It will degrade in no time at all and end up looking even worse in the long run.
When standard concrete dried it also shrinks. Plenty of people cram inappropriate fresh concrete into a cracked surface, leave it to dry for a few hours, and return to see that the gaps and cracks are still visible and already prone to flaking. This problem will only grow worse as water is absorbed into the surface, especially if absorbed into Texas soil which forces expansion and causes further pressure to the already weakened concrete. Truth be told, you can end up making the problem far worse by using incorrect methods and materials to repair your damaged concrete steps.
Concrete Leveling & Repair Services Are The Answer
The good news is that with the right tools and know-how even the worst damaged concrete steps can be made good to last for many more years. Even better, with remedial concrete leveling, they will often look as good as new. By using similar methods to those used in concrete raising (often applied to larger flat areas such as parking lots), a new mixture of fine concrete can be injected below the surface of the damaged concrete. This is carefully applied to strengthen the underlying soil and foundations and then neatly finished around the surface level. With professional concrete repair, this will make your concrete steps not only fit for use but nicely flat and even too.
Concrete repair techniques of this kind can be used for a host of residential and commercial purposes. Not only does it cost far less than a complete concrete replacement, but it will protect the concrete from further rapid decay and the work itself is usually completed within a matter of hours.
So when it comes to repairing your concrete steps – and any other concrete surface in Texas – repair is often the best path to take.