Companies must ensure that their teams are working on solid and safe floors. Even the smallest of cracks on a concrete floor can cause a worker to trip and injure themselves.  To avoid this, companies must learn how to respond to a full range of concrete repair problems. In this article, the trusted team at Capital Industries, Inc. looks at four reasons why concrete might crack and require a patch over time.

1. Shrinkage Occurring a Short Time After Pouring
Companies may require a concrete patch shortly after new concrete has been poured. That’s because shrinkage can take place when water evaporates too quickly from the surface of the material, thereby causing the top of the slab to dry more quickly than the bottom and pull apart from the rest of the concrete. The optimal curing procedures and keeping the concrete moist over the first 24 hours after the pour can help companies avoid this issue.

2. Settlement Cracks in the Foundation

Over time, tree roots, poorly compacted soil and water erosion can cause the ground under the concrete to move. The concrete will then develop small cracks that become larger over a period of time and require concrete patch work to be completed. It’s important for teams to monitor areas for water erosion and tree root exposure before concrete is poured. Afterwards, the monitoring process needs to continue so that any cracks that develop can be fixed.

3. Cracks due to Heavy Vehicles

A concrete floor is designed to take a certain amount of weight load within an industrial setting. However, companies don’t often have a clear understanding of the concrete’s weight capacity. This can leave them facing large cracks in the floor when driven over by large warehouse trucks, forklifts, pallet jacks and other vehicles. To mitigate this issue, it’s important to speak directly with the concrete repair product’s supplier and determine its load capacity for future years.

4. Lack of Control Joints

Control joints are planned cracks which allow for movements caused by temperature changes and drying shrinkage. In other words, if the concrete does crack – you want to have an active role in deciding where it will crack and that it will crack in a straight line instead of randomly.

By understanding the circumstances that require a concrete patch, companies can protect their flooring structures against long-term safety issues. To learn more about this topic, speak with the specialists at Capital Industries, Inc. directly at (631) 298-6300 or visit their website at www.kwikbond.com.