What causes cracks in concrete?

Can property owners prevent concrete from cracking? (Photo Credits)

Concrete may be one of the strongest building materials there is but can still be subject to cracks.

Civil Engineering Daily shared 10 reasons why concrete surfaces may crack.

“Shrinkage can cause cracking if not controlled during mix design and curing stage. Shrinkage can become critical in high strength concrete because of low water/cement ratio and also because of use of Mineral Admixtures.”

Read about the nine other reasons here.

More reasons

The website Houzz also offered some possible readons for the cracking. National Ready Mix Concrete Association

“How is it possible that the concrete that looks so stable and gorgeous in this backyard will certainly crack somewhere as the years go by? Forces such as soil upheaval, expansion and freeze-and-thaw cycles all guarantee that your perfect concrete patio won’t stay perfect forever.
But more immediate forces are most commonly responsible for the early, hairline cracks that can blight concrete slabs almost as soon as they’re poured.”

Check out other possible reasons here.

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The website Techeblog.com meatime featured a solution to cracking concretes in one of its published posts.

“Fixing cracks in concrete can be a real pain, but thanks to scientists in the Netherlands, lead by Henk Jonkers, that will be a thing of the past. The team has created a bio-concrete blend with water-activated bacteria – kept in tiny pellets – that can patch up small cracks and holes in cement. That’s right, the bacteria would eat food provided in the concrete mixture to combine calcium with oxygen and carbon dioxide to form limestone”

Check it out here.

Inspecting concrete fixtures in a home should be periodically carried out to minimize further damages to a property.