Outdoor concrete surfaces are prone to damage because of the many elements it is exposed to. Concrete is durable but there will always be a time when a good concrete repair solution in Orange County would come handy. There are many different types of concrete damage and there are many different types of concrete repair techniques to help solve the problem. It is important to know the different repair methods and what works well with exterior concrete surfaces.
Resurfacing
The term resurfacing means applying a new surface layer onto an old one. Concrete resurfacing has become a popular solution to surface damages because it can be decorative and more affordable than most materials. Concrete overlays and coatings can be thinly applied on a slab and then customized with either stamps, stencils, stains, and more.
Slabjacking
Also called mudjacking, this technique aims to level concrete slabs that have sunk due to subgrade compaction issues. A hole is drilled on a sinking slab where a special grout is injected. The grout fills up the empty spaces underneath until the slab is slowly pushed up. Once the right level is achieved, the grout injecting process is stopped and the hole is sealed close.
Crack Sealing
This is a method that involves filling up the gap in a working crack and preventing water and other debris from entering. A working crack is a type of crack that shows significant movement, meaning it has a tendency to recur. Concrete repair contractor Orange County companies make use of a sealant that is rubberized, making it flexible enough to move along with the concrete slab. This is often applied on cracks that are more than 0.1 inches in width.
Crack Filling
In contrast with crack sealing, filling a crack with an asphalt emulsion or epoxy filler is often used for non-working cracks which are cracks found on concrete slabs that do not show significant movement. Cracks with less than 0.1 width will benefit most from this type of exterior concrete repair technique.
Grinding
Grinding concrete used to be only done on interior floors where the surfaces are ground and polished until it reaches a certain level of shine and smoothness. Nowadays, it can also be done on concrete driveways, patios, and even pool decks. There were concerns about traction and slip-resistance. Concrete contractors found a way to make it work outdoors without compromising slip resistance. How? By making the grinding rough enough, not smoothened, to maintain a texture for better traction. Also sealers are applied as a top coat to keep it protected and shiny.
