One of our most asked questions is: Why is there a crack in my concrete? Or what causes concrete to crack? Although cracks in concrete are merely just an aesthetic problem, not a workmanship problem, many do not want cracks in their freshly poured concrete. We want to address some of the causes that make concrete crack so that customers and clients can have a better understanding, as well as some of the different types of concrete cracks.
American Concrete Institute touches on the issue of cracking concrete in their American Concrete Institute manual, ACI 302. 1-40: “Even with the best floor designs and proper construction, it is unrealistic to expect crack-free and curl-free floors. Consequently, every owner should be advised by both the designer and contractor that it is normal to expect some amount of cracking and curling on every project, and that such occurrences do not necessarily reflect adversely on either the adequacy of the floor’s design or the quality of its construction” Some reasons as to why concrete cracks can be due to:
Shrinkage Cracking
10 Comments
1/26/2021 07:32:27 am
It really helped when you mentioned how if the concrete wasn't installed properly, it could cause cracks in it in the end. Last week, I noticed a crack in my driveway. I spoke to my wife about it, and she was definitely not happy to hear that. We want to repair it as soon as possible because we want to put our house on the market, and we think this might decrease its value. We'll be looking for a concrete contractor soon, and we'll be sure to ask him how to avoid the concrete to crack. Thanks for your information about what to avoid when placing concrete to increase its lifespan.
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10/7/2021 06:15:59 am
The step and landing area were pushing apart from each other, causing the crack I was working with. It was a control joint that was installed with the intention of preventing cracks. Unfortunately, during the last 60 years, this control joint has become "out of control" and has enlarged excessively. If water continues to seep into the massive breach, the step and landing area will become increasingly separated. And the type of repair that this process results in can be quite costly.
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1/27/2022 01:28:23 pm
Owner should be advised by both the designer and contractor that it is normal to expect some amount of cracking and curling on every project, Thank you for sharing your great post!
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9/11/2022 10:47:57 pm
Hello, just wanna say that this is such an amazing useful resource that you’re providing and you give it away for free.
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10/14/2022 02:56:16 am
I didn't know there were different types of concrete cracks. I'm glad I stumbled upon this article, it gave clarifications on why concrete always crack.
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10/19/2022 07:40:02 am
I noticed that some of my concrete foundation has been showing cracks. It makes sense that this could be due to my home settling. I think it would still be a good idea for me to get a professional to see if they can fill in the cracks.
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10/24/2022 09:30:34 pm
Shrinkage concrete cracks are one of the most common type of cracks that can occur in concrete. They are caused by the drying and shrinking of the concrete as it cures. These cracks can be very small, or they can be large and deep. They can also be very hard to repair, as they often re-open after being repaired.
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Thanks for helping me understand that it is normal to have some cracks on concrete which the owners should be informed about by their contractors. I will be a homeowner soon, and I am researching materials that I might choose for my future house. And I think being informed about this aspect can give me peace of mind in the future, and I can also ask the concrete services I will hire for more information to actually get the best outcome when it comes to my investment.
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9/13/2023 02:17:13 am
This was an interesting read. We agree that the weather can be one of the biggest factors in concrete cracking but we have found that most of the time it comes down to the installer and if they have not laid a good base. Thank you for writing.
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