How Long After Concrete Repairs Can I Work in the Area Again?
Concrete is a durable material that is used in several areas of residential homes. Concrete is commonly used for foundations and basement areas, as well as patios, porches, sidewalks, and driveways. The consistency of concrete creates a space that will last for many years if cared for properly. However, despite your best efforts, over time, concrete will begin to have repair issues. Cracks and movement result in the need for repairs. But how long after a repair must one wait before the area can be used again?
Types of Repairs
The most common types of repairs for concrete include cracks and bulges. Both repair needs can easily be done by the homeowner or a professional. With a crack, a filler can be used for tiny issues or new concrete poured into a larger area. For bulges, the area will need to be reviewed and possibly more material placed under the concrete slab to repair the bulge or movement of the concrete.
Depending on the scope of repairs, it should only take a few minutes or a few hours to make the necessary repairs. By taking care of small concrete repair issues, you are able to extend the life of your concrete instead of redoing the area over completely.
Using the Area Again
With a crack repair, you should be able to use the area again in no time. Most cracks are small and can be filled in with a material that dries relatively quickly. It is best to give the material time to dry but walking over an area of concrete where a crack was present should still be doable.
With a bulge in concrete, the repair process is a bit more detailed. Take for example a sidewalk. Let’s say a portion of the sidewalk is bulging upwards. This is due to movement of the soil underneath. The repair of this type of issue would involve trying to level the soil underneath, possibly adding filler, and then placed the concrete back down where it belongs. Depending on the repair type, the sidewalk concrete might easily slip back in place or that section may need to be repoured.
If the concrete goes back in place with ease, then the usage of that area would be much sooner than if the concrete was repoured. With new concrete, the area would have to dry completely before it could be used again by the homeowners.
Whenever a repair need arises with home concrete structures or areas, service should be completed as soon as possible. A small repair is much easier to handle than one that is neglected and turns into an even bigger deal. If you find those concrete areas of your home need assistance, do your homework to see how they can be repaired.
In most cases, professional assistance is needed to ensure the concrete is repaired correctly and no issues are present in the future. With professional help, your concrete will be good and new and ready to use for years to come.
