Concrete Breaking - Cracked sidewalks and driveways can have a negative effect on the look or your home. And the damage tends to worsen with time due to water getting under the structure. Fortunately, repair is not too difficult.

Cracks in Sidewalks

Enlarge the crack along its entire length with a cold chisel and hammer. Use gloves and eye protection! Make the crack wider at the bottom than at the top, a process known as undercutting. It helps to bond the new concrete with the older concrete. After the crack has been thoroughly undercut, remove all loose material and brush the area with a wire brush.

The new concrete patch will hold better if a concrete adhesive is used first. This will both assist with bonding and prevent old concrete from absorbing moisture from the newly installed patch. Brush the adhesive into the undercut area and allow it to dry until it becomes tacky.

Concrete Breaking - Ordering concrete is easy once you know the formula. The standard measurement is called a yard and contains 27 cubic feet. That's 3 feet wide, 3 feet high, and 3 feet long. So 3' x 3' x 3' = 27 cubic feet, and that's 1 cubic yard. The following discussion will help make the calculations easier. Once you get the hang of it, the process will seem quite easy.

Most concrete projects are measured by the foot for length and width, and inches for thickness. So how do you determine the cubic yards of concrete to order?

Let’s say you are pouring a slab that measures 20 feet wide, 20 feet long, and 4 inches thick. Start by calculating the square feet of surface area. The formula is: