Although built to last, concrete will become susceptible to problems as time goes by. The concrete parts of your home go through natural degradation over time, and this is catalyzed by the wear and tear it experiences due to foot traffic, natural disasters, and extreme weather changes. Even if your home was built with the highest quality concrete and maintained by walk-behind floor polishers and regular cleaning, there will come a time that you need professional concrete repair.
Here are the signs you need to call professional concrete contractors:
Large cracks
You might be able to repair small cracks and gaps in your concrete on your own. It only takes the proper application of sealant to fix small cracks and prevent further damage in the meantime.
However, when the cracks or gaps in your concrete are large (which usually stems from small cracks that are left ignored), it’s best to call for professional concrete repair right away. Not only do large craps create cosmetic issues for your home, but they may also cause structural problems when they continue to go unaddressed.
Standing pools of water
There are several causes of water ponding on concrete. Water can accumulate and form standing pools on concrete if it wasn’t graded properly from the time it was poured. It may also be due to improper sloping, which can cause the water to stay in one spot rather than drain away into the yard or drain.
There is also a natural cause for this problem, which is when the soil beneath the slab develops holes after continuous cycles of thawing and freezing. When this happens, the concrete will sink into the holes in the soil and cause water to pool in that sunken spot.
You may be inclined to ignore the problem. After all, it’s just water, right? If left ignored, however, the water can cause further wear on your concrete, making it thinner and shortening its lifespan over time. Don’t let your standing water problem persist–call a professional concrete contractor to determine the problem and fix it before it causes further damage.
Sunken or uneven slabs
Concrete that has an uneven surface is a trip hazard. It’s bad enough if someone in your household falls on your concrete. But when it’s a guest, worker, or a passerby, you may face a personal injury lawsuit and be held liable for their medical expenses and lost wages.
If you notice uneven parts of your concrete, call a professional concrete repair service right away. They will have to add support to the concrete to correct the uneven surface, which will eliminate falling hazards and potentially save you from unexpected medical expenses.
Discoloration
The change in your concrete’s color is not only a cosmetic issue, but it can also denote that the protective surface on your concrete is wearing or has worn away. If the protective coating is inadequate, it will make your concrete susceptible to corrosion and further wear over time. And when left unaddressed for too long, you may need to have your concrete resurfaced entirely, which is more expensive than adding another layer of protective coating.
Door and window problems
You don’t just need to look at your concrete to see if there’s a problem with it. Your doors and windows can also indicate if there’s a problem with your foundation and if you need professional concrete repair.
If your doors and windows start to stick when you try to use them, it’s likely that your foundation is the problem. In this case, call a professional immediately to assess the damage and correct it before it gets worse. Keep in mind that foundational problems can be very expensive to fix, so the earlier you get help, the less money you have to spend on repairs.
Don’t wait for your concrete problems to get worse before calling for professional help. If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s time to give up the DIY route and call in a contractor.
