Concrete can actually last hundreds of years or more. It’s extremely tough, and builds long-lasting structures and driveways. But when your concrete has been around for long enough it begins to crack and fracture. Sometimes you’ll need a pro to patch things up. However, homeowners can fix cracks in concrete themselves with just a few tools.

How to Cracks In Concrete

Get a Concrete Repair Product

You can’t actually repair concrete with more concrete! It doesn’t work that way. Concrete repair mixes are easy to find at hardware shops and anywhere on the internet. They usually use a latex or mortar mix that lets you fill in larger cracks and chicks. If your crack is really large, you’ll need a mortar kind of repair concrete. If your crack is smaller, a latex base works great.

Make the Crack Worse

Before your cracked concrete gets better, it’s going to have to get a bit worse. If there are any loose or crumbling materials, you’ll need to clear them out before repairing. They can damage the integrity of the repair job and make things worse. You should clean and rinse the area with a rag or wire brush. Don’t worry about making the crack worse! You’ll be fine.

If you have a longer crack you can easily clean with a hose or pressure nozzle. That allows you to clean up the crack efficiently, but you’ll then have to wait until it dries.

Apply Your Concrete Repair Product

If you’re repairing a narrow crack with a latex base (this could be epoxy too), it should mix with just a bit of water. You can apply with a simple putty knife. Don’t use too much mixture, and scrape it away if there is an excess.

If the cracks are larger and you’re using a mortar base. Repair mortar mixes usually mix with water and sand, or just water. Make sure to check the specifics when buying so you’ll know whether or not you need to pick up sand as well. Mortar mix needs to be pressed down to get the air out. Once smoothed, let it sit for a couple of hours before covering with plastic. You should then sprinkle a bit of water beneath the plastic so that the surface hardens up over a few days.

Repairing Deep Cracks

Some concrete cracks are uneven or shallow, which makes them very easy to fill and restore. The repair mixture can sit on top of existing concrete or won’t sink down. But if you have a narrow crack that’s really deep, you may need to create a surface for your filling to sit on. Backer rod is a base that can fit into a crack and support a filling mixture.

Additionally, backer rod is often much cheaper than the filler mixture. So even for shallower cracks, it can be a great option to reduce the amount of caulk that you’ll need to fill the crack. Plus, backer rod is a solid foundation which doesn’t tear or crack.

Filler often is really pliable so that you can fit it into cracks that move and zig zag across the concrete. The outer layer is usually water resistant as well, preventing deterioration in the long run. It’s a great option for deeper cracks!

Repairing Very Small Cracks

Hairline fractures in concrete can become worse over time, and also can be unsightly. Luckily, there is a really simple way to fill these cracks: vinyl concrete patching. It can be applied over the top of the crack and smoothed into the fine line with a knife. The vinyl stays on the concrete, and won’t peel off like a normal crack filler might over time.