Concrete Slab Repair
East Texan property owners are no strangers to the challenges of concrete. Foundation damage is a common problem in pockets across East Texas because of the soil and extremely dry periods, and even the most diligent maintenance only reduces the risk. Eventually, concrete slabs for sidewalks, driveways, and buildings will need repair, and the experienced team of concrete foundation contractors at East Texas Slab Masters is here to help. Learn more about the most common causes of concrete damage and see how our comprehensive list of concrete repair services can handle each one.
Common Causes of Concrete Damage
Before you can protect your property from concrete damage or stay on top of needed repairs, you need to know the most common sources of damage.
Here are four:
Freezing and Thawing Cycles
Texas winters hover around the freezing point, which means the moisture inside concrete slabs is constantly expanding as it turns to ice and then shrinking as it melts. This puts internal strain on concrete, leading to surface-level spalling and weakening throughout the slab. Freeze and thaw cycles also destabilize the soil around concrete slabs.
Chemical Deterioration
Unsealed concrete is vulnerable to concrete damage. Road chemicals can etch or stain the surface of your concrete, and chemical drops (car oil, insecticides, furniture stain, and so on) will get absorbed deep into the concrete. Repair services can pull chemicals from slabs, mitigate the damage, and seal them against future exposure.
Structural Overloading
Structural overloading happens in two main ways:
- Too much direct physical weight on concrete, making it crack or crumble
- Destabilization, such as when foundations shift or tree roots lift up sidewalk slabs. This shifts all the strain to part of the surface and removes the surrounding support.
Environmental Factors
Temperature and moisture can continually stress concrete. High temperatures can weaken concrete when it’s originally poured, as the slabs don’t stay properly hydrated. Cycles of heavy rain or high humidity and extreme drought can also wear the concrete and make it more vulnerable to damage.
Concrete Repair Techniques
Once damage sets in, it only grows over time. That’s why our team of concrete foundation contractors provides fast services designed to stop damage head-on and protect your concrete over the long term. Our concrete repair techniques include:
Thin cracks can be repaired before they turn into big crevices. We can assess the damage and provide professional epoxy injections that fill in cracks and minimize additional stress cracking. We also apply sealants and coatings to help hold the surface together.
If your concrete surfaces have spalling, crumbled edges, or other visual damage, we can patch it. We provide cementitious overlays that improve the look, feel, and longevity of concrete, and the new surface is held tightly in place with hard-working bonding agents that last through year after year of harsh weather.
When more serious damage sets in, we provide in-depth solutions. With steel plate bonding, carbon fiber reinforcement products, and in-depth inspections to uncover and stop the cause of the damage, we can restore your concrete slabs and make sure they support your structures.
The best way to preserve your property’s concrete surfaces is with preventive maintenance and care. Waterproof epoxy or polyurethane coatings minimize the risk of stains, cracks, and chemical damage, and corrosion inhibitors can also protect your concrete from developing material or structural weakness over time.
Concrete Slab and Driveway Specialists
The concrete experts at East Texas Slab Masters specialize in concrete slabs, driveways, and more. We have years of experience repairing, structurally supplementing, and coating concrete slabs so they last for decades.
Trust East Texas Slab Masters for Quality Concrete Repairs
Do you have concrete slab damage you want to be repaired and resealed? Contact us today to schedule a fast appointment, and get expert insights from our concrete foundation contractors.