How Much Can You Fix On Your Own?
Concrete is an affordable and durable material that is used in a variety of ways around the home. Sidewalks, porches, patios, driveways and swimming pools are just a few examples of where you can find concrete in a residential setting. Even though the material is a great one to use for installations, it can be subject to damage and need repair work. As the homeowner, you want to save time and money and try to do the repair yourself. But how much can you fix on your own?
When it comes to concrete repairs, there are options for DIY. However, most repairs require a professional touch. Learning the difference between what you can tackle and what should be left to the experts will help you to make the right decision when it comes to your next concrete repair need.
DIY Options
Certain scenarios indicate what you can DIY and what you should leave to the professionals. Take, for example, chips and pitting on concrete. This is something you can cover yourself. It takes only a few minutes to mix up a patch and apply it to the area. You want to smooth the concrete over the pits and chips, and you will soon have a smooth surface once again.
You can also do it yourself when it comes to small cracks. When you have a crack in a sidewalk or patio, you can take a filler and apply it to the crack. This negates the empty space and helps you to have a strong surface once again.
All the tools and products you need for these projects can be found at hardware stores. You can also watch videos on how to complete the repairs to have a better idea as to how the repair should take place.
Professional Repairs
Certain problems with concrete require a professional touch and should only be handled by the experts. Take for example buckling concrete. When a concrete slab has water underneath it or other types of damage, it can buckle. This means a portion of the concrete has dipped down or popped up. This is common on sidewalks and driveways.
When you have this type of damage, there are several ways to repair it. One being removing the broken piece and fixing the underlayment and then applying new concrete. Another option is to fill the underneath of the buckling piece so that it falls back into place.
An expert will know how to handle their problem correctly. If you try to fix this repair need yourself, you may cause more harm than good, or have potential problems in the future.
The base below the concrete must be in good shape for the concrete to be installed correctly. An expert in the field knows how to repair your base so that the buckling issue will no longer be a problem, nor will it be an issue in the future.
While you can fix the small stuff, leave the major repairs to the experts. Whenever you have a concrete problem, be sure to handle it quickly so that no further damage occurs.
