Keep Concrete Crack Resistant
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by
Home Repair Tutor
(IC: vlogger)
$50
2-4 Hours
Medium
There's nothing worse than a cracked, heaved, or sunken concrete pad.
Chances are you've experienced one of these 3 things if you're a homeowner (i'm in this club myself, and unfortunately it doesn't involve a cool jacket).
Fortunately you can avoid issues of this nature by making your concrete's expansion joints watertight.
With spring coming there's no better time to do this project and it's certainly a weekend DIY task.
Here's a short description
+Remove old sealant or felt from between expansion joints
+Use an angle grinder to detach stubborn sealant or felt
+Wear goggles and gloves to protect your self from the sparks or debris from the grinder
+Vacuum or blow out any dust, dirt, or debris from the joint
+Add closed cell foam backer rod between expansion joints
+Ensure the backer rod is 1/8 inch wider in diameter than the joint
+Place the backer rod 1/4 beneath the surface of the concrete pad
+Apply self-leveling sealant onto of the backer rod (I used Sikaflex SL)
+Don't walk or drive on the sealant for 3-5 days
You can buy the self-leveling sealant at Home Depot or your local hardware store.
For more tips, pictures, and two short videos check out my post at http://www.homerepairtutor.com/concrete-expansion-joints/
Chances are you've experienced one of these 3 things if you're a homeowner (i'm in this club myself, and unfortunately it doesn't involve a cool jacket).
Fortunately you can avoid issues of this nature by making your concrete's expansion joints watertight.
With spring coming there's no better time to do this project and it's certainly a weekend DIY task.
Here's a short description
+Remove old sealant or felt from between expansion joints
+Use an angle grinder to detach stubborn sealant or felt
+Wear goggles and gloves to protect your self from the sparks or debris from the grinder
+Vacuum or blow out any dust, dirt, or debris from the joint
+Add closed cell foam backer rod between expansion joints
+Ensure the backer rod is 1/8 inch wider in diameter than the joint
+Place the backer rod 1/4 beneath the surface of the concrete pad
+Apply self-leveling sealant onto of the backer rod (I used Sikaflex SL)
+Don't walk or drive on the sealant for 3-5 days
You can buy the self-leveling sealant at Home Depot or your local hardware store.
For more tips, pictures, and two short videos check out my post at http://www.homerepairtutor.com/concrete-expansion-joints/
Enjoyed the project?
Published March 10th, 2013 8:41 AM
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3 of 13 comments
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Kathy Busillo on Mar 12, 2013
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Home Repair Tutor on Mar 15, 2013
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Frequently asked questions
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What about cracks in aggregate concrete