DIY-minded homeowners often find it easy to handle crack-related problems on concrete structures. In order to successfully undertake DIY concrete repairs, it's important that you understand the common misconceptions about concrete repair so that you're in a position to avoid costly mistakes.

Basement Cracks And Radon Mitigation

The dangers associated with exposure to radon gas are well documented. DIY-minded homeowners are often aware that cracks in their basements/in the foundation of the house act as an entry point for radon gas into interior living spaces. Therefore, homeowners often conclude that sealing off all cracks in the basement and/or foundation is a full-proof way to block out radon gas.

This is a misconception because radon gas can get into your home through several other avenues. These include voids on the top part of interior walls and small openings on floor drains. In order to completely block out the radioactive gas, you might have to fill the voids on the part of interior walls using closed cell foam and you might need to install radon drain traps along the floor drains. This is in addition to sealing the basement/foundation cracks with a caulk material such as polyurethane.

Salty Water Damages Concrete Sealants

The application of sealants is a cost-effective way to repair concrete cracks without necessarily demolishing the concrete structure. Because salty water is known to have an adverse effect on the structural integrity of concrete, many homeowners often think that the water has the same effect on sealants. Thus, sealants may seem like a temporary fix if you live in an area where the water is pre-dominantly salty. This might prompt you to demolish a cracked concrete driveway (and to re-install it) instead of sealing the cracks when there was really no need for the demolition.

Concrete sealants are often made of plastic resins. Because plastic isn't sensitive to salty water, the sealants are not likely to be affected by exposure to such water. This is similar to the manner in which the structure of a plastic cup will not be affected if you immerse it in salty water for extended durations.

Waterproof Paint Is The Magic Ingredient

It's likely that the cracks in a concrete surfaces appeared as a result of moisture/water infiltration into the internal structure of concrete.

You shouldn't be deceived into believing that applying a waterproof paint after sealing the cracks is a full-proof way to prevent the re-occurrence of cracks. Waterproof paint will delay the rate at which cracks may develop in the future by limiting the penetration of water/moisture into concrete. However, you can expect cracks to re-appear in the near future so long as you haven't eliminated the source of water/moisture around the concrete structure.

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