2016 Spring Home Improvement

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Page 12 2016 Spring Home Improvement LINCON DAILY May 2, 2016
Types of repair
At times, people just need to have a small crack in
the concrete repaired. Palmer says, “When faced
with a surface repair, investigation will soon reveal
how aggressive the repair needs to be.” There are
three basic types of repair depending on what is
needed.
Full-depth repair is the most aggressive. Palmer
explains that it involves cutting out the damaged
concrete, replacing reinforcing steel, and replacing
the concrete.
Partial depth repair is less aggressive. Palmer
explains partial depth repair involves “cutting around
the edges of the damaged area (but not into the
reinforcing steel), removing the damaged concrete,
cleaning or replacing the reinforcing steel, then
placing a repair mortar.”
The least aggressive method Palmer describes is
using overlay, which is a new layer of thin concrete.
Palmer explains overlays are “effective to cover
up surface problems” as “long as good surface
preparation is used.”
Palmer says if your driveway is experiencing
cracking, it is best to “resurface it with a concrete
overlay.” As Palmer explains, “Resurfacing will not
only cover up the existing flaws, it will also upgrade
the look of your driveway by allowing you to choose
from a variety of color and pattern options.” Palmer
says before resurfacing, “it’s important to remove any
unsound concrete and repair noticeable cracks so the
overlay has a solid base.”
Another repair method is done by using forms, which
hold the concrete in place. The technique is often
used on walls. Reiners says he often uses forms and
footings to do concrete repairs. The footings are what
help support the foundation.
Forms are sometimes used in repairing sidewalks,
too. Zack Davis, who does construction, says when
repairing a sidewalk, you first need to use a tool like
a jackhammer to break up what needs to be repaired.
Davis says you then set up a wooden form which the
concrete will be poured into. When finished, you use a
trowel to smooth out the concrete.
The American Concrete Institute says, “The form-
and-pour technique offers many advantages: Many
different types of repair materials can be used; repair
material can be placed around reinforcing steel; and
formwork protects against early-age drying that
promotes cracking. “
Sunken concrete repairs
When concrete is sunken or uneven, slab jacking
is another repair method. Jack a Slab Services on
Keokuk in Lincoln uses this method, and their website
says, “Concrete Slabjacking is an alternative to
replacing sunken or uneven concrete, restoring sunken
concrete slabs to their original grade.”
CONTIUNED ►