By Patriot Home Service. Published: . Updated: . Published by Patriot Home Service.
Learn what to record about cracking, displacement and water before treating a concrete defect as cosmetic.
Learn what to record about cracking, displacement and water before treating a concrete defect as cosmetic.
Location, pattern, displacement and change over time are important. Shrinkage, restraint, settlement, roots and other forces can create different conditions. A photograph alone rarely establishes the cause or structural significance. Record whether the sides remain level, whether water enters and whether surrounding ground or surfaces are also moving.
A surface filler may keep debris out but does not necessarily restore load capacity or stop movement. Some repairs need to accommodate movement; others address a damaged surface or a specific structural condition. Compatibility, moisture conditions and preparation affect how repair materials perform. Repeated failure in the same location is a reason to reconsider the cause.
Date photos and use fixed visual references to compare changes. Note trips, pooling and exposed reinforcement from safe positions. Aggressive grinding or an improvised patch can create new drainage or access problems. A structural slab or retaining element deserves a different level of review from a nonstructural garden path.
Progressive movement, undermining or defects in load-bearing concrete require qualified evaluation. Do not infer structural safety from a crack-width rule found online.
These references provide supporting guidance and further reading. Follow current local requirements and the instructions for your exact products; some publications address particular materials, products or code editions.
All Concrete & Exterior Structures guides · Homeowner's Corner