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What Causes Concrete to Crack?

1/11/2021

9 Comments

 
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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:
  • Plastic shrinkage cracks
  • Cracks due to improper jointing
  • Cracks due to continuous external restraint
  • Cracks due to lack of isolation joint
  • Cracks due to freezing and thawing
  • Craze cracks or crazing
  • Settlement cracks
The three most common types of concrete cracks are: 
Shrinkage Cracking
  • Plastic shrinkage concrete cracks when that water eventually leaves the slab, it leaves behind large voids between the solid particles. These empty spaces make the concrete weaker and more prone to cracking. This type of cracking happens frequently and is referred to as “plastic shrinkage cracking
Settlement Cracking
  • Settlement cracks happen when the ground beneath the slab wasn’t compacted properly and part of the concrete sinks. Settlement cracks wider than a credit card, or that run through the entire slab require repair or replacement of the concrete.
Craze Cracking
  • Craze cracks on concrete is when the surface of concrete develops a lot of fine cracks. Sometimes called map-cracking or alligator cracking, crazing of concrete is a result of conditions and curing methods at the point the concrete is laid or even the way it is finished.
Unfortunately some concrete cracks cannot be avoided and do not always attest to the workmanship of the project. If you have a crack in your concrete and are wanting to know if it is worth it to replace and pour new concrete, give A-Concrete a call and we would be happy to talk more with you about your options. We service the entire Northern Colorado area and do a range of both commercial and residential concrete projects. 
9 Comments
Eli Richardson link
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.

Reply
concrete crack repair link
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.

Reply
Tommy Amador link
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!

Reply
Best Concrete Contractors In Columbus link
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.

Reply
Pavers link
9/20/2022 11:02:55 am

Concrete while very durable still is susceptible to cracks and damages. Unlike pavers, they are stiff and does not move with the ground so during earthquakes they can easily be damaged.

Reply
Paul Klein link
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.

Reply
Braden Bills link
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.

Reply
stamped concrete link
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.

Reply
Mia Evans link
12/14/2022 08:07:23 am

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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