To help prevent water erosion that leads to concrete cracking and settling, A-1 Concrete Leveling, Fort Wayne's sealing division cleans and fills existing joints and cracks with self-leveling urethane caulk. This preventative maintenance can prolong the life of concrete, reducing replacement costs.
Most all concrete is installed with a slope designed to direct water to a safe drainage area such as down to street gutters. When the existing expansion joint material deteriorates or the control joints open up, water has an opportunity to get down below the concrete surface. This water will continue to follow the slope, only under the concrete slabs. This will create a washout that undermines the concrete and can lead to cracking and settling. By caulking these cracks and joints, the surface water will continue to flow on top of the slabs and go to a safe drainage area.
Concrete crack caulking also prevents moisture from getting between the cracks and joints during the winter freeze/thaw cycle. This can help reduce or eliminate the concrete from “popping” along the edges which can create an eyesore or potential tripping hazards.
When the ground below concrete becomes saturated with moisture and we experience a hard freeze during the winter, slabs have a tendency to heave upward. This causes unsightly and unsafe elevation differences between slabs.
These trip hazards usually will go away when the ground completely thaws, but until then, it is dangerous and inconvenient during snow removal. Although moisture travels underground and cannot be completely avoided, caulking helps prevent winter heaving by reducing the amount of surface water that can infiltrate the ground. Lastly, caulking between house foundations and concrete slabs can prevent water from getting in along the outside of a basement or crawl space wall. This can reduce the chance of needing costly foundation waterproofing or settling repairs.