If you have concrete walls, you probably noticed small cracks here and there. Of course, these small cracks are usually nothing more than cosmetic annoyances. That is, they don't actually weaken the structure. That being said, if they are left alone for too long, the cracks can grow and get wider. So, it is never a bad idea to fill cracks in concrete. This article explains the process and what products work best.
When to Fill a Crack
First of all, not every crack is going to be wide enough to be filled. That is, if your crack is less than 1/8" wide, there is no point trying to fill it because it just won't stick in such a small space. Once a crack is over 1/8" thick, you can probably try to fill it. Of course, if it is deeper, it helps because you can use more filler to create a stronger bond. Before you start to fill the crack, you need to do a little bit of prep work. Most importantly, you need to make sure the crack is clean, and there is no loose concrete in it.
How to Fill the Cracks
When he comes to actually filling in the cracks, you just need the crack filler and a putty knife. It is very important that you use crack filler and not a normal concrete mixture. Traditionally, crack filler is infused with glue that creates a stronger bond with existing concrete. This is particularly important when it comes to filling in narrow cracks. Since you are using such a small amount of concrete to fill in an equally small area, it is helpful if the substance is as sticky as possible. If you use a traditional concrete mixture, it will just crumble and fall out of the filled crack once it dries.
Using a putty knife, you can easily scrape the filler flat and leave behind a relatively smooth finish. You patch job probably won't be perfectly seamless, and the newly filled crack will not be invisible. But, it is still going to look much better than if you did not fill the crack at all. Most importantly, when the crack is filled, there is less risk of it growing and chipping away at the edges.
So, it is smart to fill cracks in your concrete walls, if only as a preventative measure. It will prevent cracks from getting bigger and becoming more expensive to repair. To learn more, contact a concrete company like Claggett & Sons Inc.