Why Does Concrete Keep Cracking?

If you have noticed that concrete surfaces around your home are becoming cracked, there are many different things that could be causing this damage. This can range from lack of support to excess pressure and even design flaws. 

Concrete is Brittle 

Concrete is very strong and durable, but brittle and non-flexible by nature. This means factors that would cause metal or wood to flex and bend will instead cause concrete to crack or crumble. As such, the concrete surfaces around your home may be cracking as a result of pressure, lack of support, or even changes in temperature. What is most likely to do damage to concrete, however, is consistent change. 

Concrete is a material that likes stability. Consistent pressure, heat, or cold alone are unlikely to do damage to a strong, reinforced concrete structure, but constant changes will. For example, if there is an unseasonably cold fall or spring that causes repeated thaws and freezes, concrete structures will suffer as the water around them (and in them, thanks to concrete’s porous nature) expands and shrinks repeatedly. 

Defects Can Cause Damage 

If the concrete around your property seems to be cracking, flaking, sinking, or staining without obvious reason, it could well be a flaw in the concrete itself. This can take two forms: a defect in the mix or poor construction methods. Defaults in the mix refer to things like there being too much water in the concrete or the wrong type of aggregate. This can cause all kinds of issues, from flaking to efflorescence. 

Secondly, the concrete may have been laid improperly, disturbed after the setting process had started, or even inappropriately cured. This can also cause a wide range of problems, from the purely cosmetic (like staining) to the structurally damaging (like spreading cracks and spalling). Only a professional will be able to diagnose defects in the concrete itself.