How Concrete Joint Repair Reduces Maintenance Costs
Have you noticed chipping or spalling in your building’s concrete joints? Routine maintenance and timely repair are necessary to prevent the problem from worsening and becoming more expensive to fix.
Types of Concrete Joints
Before discussing concrete joint issues and the importance of timely repair, let’s find out what concrete joints are.
Concrete joints are cut in new concrete flooring. In an unpolished concrete floor, joints will appear like lines that separate two concrete slabs or a concrete slab from surrounding construction.
For those wondering what the advantages of joints are in concrete, the answer is preventing uncontrolled concrete cracking. Unlike wood, concrete cannot bend and stretch. When the material contracts and expands because of weather conditions, its surface will crack under pressure. By placing joints in the slab at specific locations, the floor won’t crack easily; put simply, it has breathing room.
In concrete slabs, there are several types of joints:
Construction joints, which also function as contraction joints
Contraction joints, also called control joints
Isolation and expansion joints
Construction Joints
Construction joints are essentially screed rails placed during concrete pouring and finishing. They are made using metal, wood, or plastic. With this joint, the concrete won’t move, allowing workers to pour the concrete in steps easily and control the placement of the slab. If you do the placement well, construction joints can also serve as contraction joints.
Contraction Joints
Contraction joints are one of the most commonly used but troublesome types of concrete joints.
Fresh concrete will naturally create its own joints or cracks after a while. However, the concrete may crack in areas that will compromise its structural integrity. Therefore, contractors use either a saw or plastic strip to force a crack in concrete at specific locations, called contraction joints.
Isolation and Expansion Joints
As the name suggests, isolation joints “isolate” the concrete slab from something else, such as a machine that vibrates. The purpose is to prevent the slab from cracking when the surrounding constructions move. To create isolation joints, contractors place preformed joint material next to the surrounding construction before pouring the concrete.
A concrete expansion joint is an extra-wide isolation joint that provides additional protection against blowups in long, unjointed sections or extreme conditions.
Understanding Concrete Joint Problems
Concrete joints also have their weaknesses. They can be damaged by dust, debris, and moisture infiltration. Therefore, contractors tend to seal and fill the joints to protect them from the elements.
The sealers are soft enough to accommodate the contraction and expansion of the concrete. They don’t add pressure to the joint and even improve the floor’s appearance. Fillers are more rigid and hard to the touch but effectively provide support and prevent debris accumulation in the joint.
However, these seals can lose adhesion over time. As a result, the joints become more susceptible to damage.
In industrial facilities where concrete floors are unprotected, the biggest threat to joints is impact traffic. The joints can also get damaged by material handling equipment, like carts, scissor lifts, and tow motors. You may see the joints chipping away or spalling. In laboratories, chemical spills that seep into open joints are also a common cause of joint problems.
The Cost of Ignoring Concrete Joint Repairs
If you’ve noticed issues with your concrete floor, it is crucial to act fast. Otherwise, you will likely spend a significant amount of money restoring and keeping the floor in the best shape.
Joint issues could weaken your concrete floor’s integrity. Huge cracks in concrete flooring do not crop up overnight. Rather, they start with hairline cracks that look harmless. These tiny cracks will serve as an entry point for microorganisms, moisture, and other elements that will worsen the damage. Unrepaired tiny cracks will eventually deepen and widen. As a result, it could threaten the integrity and longevity of your flooring.
Damaged joints can be hard on vehicles and may even affect your team’s productivity. Tires and other components of an industrial vehicle frequently traveling over damaged joints will likely develop issues over time. Aside from that, vehicle operators will have to slow down as they approach the joints, rendering them unable to operate at optimum speed and achieve the intended productivity rate.
Damaged flooring can result in compliance issues. Flooring in facilities must meet standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). One of the general requirements is to keep walking and working surfaces free of hazards. Employers must also fix flooring problems that can put employees’ safety at risk.
Therefore, ignoring concrete joint repair may result in compliance issues. Non-compliance can damage your facility’s reputation and may incur severe penalties. Facilities will likely have to deal with insurance claims and other related expenses if employees have gotten into an accident because of the damaged flooring.
Joint problems can also cause costly water damage. Water can seep through spaces as small as a hairline crack. Once the liquid enters the crack, it is only a matter of time before the situation becomes a nightmare. Water is one of the leading causes of concrete erosion and deterioration. Damages caused by water intrusion are typically costly to fix.
Benefits of Timely Concrete Joint Repair
It’s tempting to delay concrete expansion joint repair if the damage does not seem to pose an immediate threat. But before you think about putting off the repair, consider the advantages you can reap from doing it now.
One major benefit of timely concrete joint repair is preventing problems from worsening and saving money. Minor issues are easier and cheaper to fix. For example, contractors will likely only need to use an industrial product with a superior bond to fix a minor joint spall. But if you leave it untreated for a long time, the issue may become so bad that it requires a structural rebuild.
Furthermore, it’s faster to fix minor concrete joint problems, so your facility will only have to deal with minimal downtime.
Concrete Joint Repair Techniques
The process of concrete joint repair depends on the kind and extent of damage.
However, concrete joint repair generally involves grinding the surface to make it even. The workers will also clear out debris or chipped coating. Afterward, they will use a high-quality expansion joint filler to recreate a smooth and level surface.
Depending on who you hire, the contractor may also repair or replace the coating on the surrounding floor. With a dependable joint repair service, the floor will return to its attractive, beautiful, and durable condition.
Proactive Maintenance Strategies
Here are steps your facility can take to keep concrete joints in tip-top shape:
Ensure you keep dirt and debris out of the joint. However, you may skip cleaning if the joints are filled or sealed. Another thing to do is conduct regular inspections to check whether the existing joint filler is doing its job to maintain and protect joint edges. If you have wooden expansion joints, maintenance may be more challenging, so it’s better to replace them with modern alternatives.
Also, remove water near the joints to prevent water damage in case the concrete cracks. If you see weeds or plants growing in expansion joints, remove them as well.
Lastly, if you see a problem with the flooring joints, contact a trusted contractor to fix them immediately. Timely concrete joint repair will reduce the costs necessary to keep your flooring in pristine condition.
Looking for a Concrete Solution?
Your facility’s concrete flooring is one of its most important assets. Joints are there to protect these floors, so make sure you’re protecting those joints. Ensure compliance and keep costs low at your facility with Kaloutas’ concrete joint repair services.
