If you’ve walked down your concrete driveway and noticed a fresh crack, you’re probably wondering what caused it. In today’s blog post, our concrete company is sharing a few different types of concrete cracks and what may have caused them. Concrete cracks are very common, and we only tend to worry about them when we find them on garage floors or driveways.

Continue reading to learn more, and if you notice cracks in your concrete, be sure to contact A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair in Nashville for concrete leveling. We repair all types of concrete surfaces, including steps, driveways, garage floors, HVAC pads, sidewalks, and more.

What Type of Concrete Crack Is This?

Concrete cracks are categorized into two groups: active or dormant. It’s the same categories volcanoes are placed in, and you can think of them in the same way (though much less destructive!). Active cracks visibly grow and change direction, width, or depth over time. Dormant cracks show no signs of change.

Both active and dormant cracks come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and it’s helpful to understand the differences between these different cracks. Some may be nothing to worry about, while others can lead to serious damage. For each of these types of concrete cracks, the severity of the crack is determined by the width, depth, and direction of the crack. Our Nashville concrete contractors are experts at classifying cracks and creating a plan to repair them. Find out what type of crack you have and then contact A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair for concrete leveling services.

Map Cracks

Map cracking gets its name from the thin, shallow cracks running across the surface of the concrete that look like a road map. The cracks can be caused by issues with the curing of the concrete, which is why it’s important to have an expert concrete contractor pour new concrete rather than trying to do so on your own.

This type of crack isn’t something to worry about because it is just a surface crack. It is more of an aesthetic issue than a problem that will affect your concrete’s durability.

Hairline Cracks

Hairline cracks can be deceiving, as they look very thin, but run quite deep. They occur when the concrete settles during the curing process and they’re definitely something to worry about. Because hairline cracks can run so deep, they can lead to more damaging cracks. Often, homeowners ignore hairline cracks but ignoring a problem only makes it worse. If you see a hairline crack, contact a professional concrete contractor and get their opinion on how to move forward.

Scaling

Is your concrete slab starting to look like a scaly beast? Do you have little pockmarks on the surface that are exposing the aggregate beneath? If so, you have a scaling crack, and it is caused by the concrete not being properly finished after it was cured. If the concrete isn’t finished correctly, water seeps into the concrete and when it freezes, it pushes small pieces of concrete or ice up through the surface. 

Scaling can also be caused by delamination, which is when excess water or air remains in the concrete after it is finished. Just like the water that seeps in from an improperly finished slab, this water and air can freeze, evaporate, rise to the top, and form small pockets below the surface that burst and cause scaling.

Scaling is primarily an aesthetic issue, and you should repair it if the appearance reduces the value of your property. Know, though, that scaling is an active type of concrete crack and it will likely get worse. If you notice scaling on your concrete surface, contact A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair in Nashville for a free quote.

Spalling

Spalling is a type of depression that runs parallel to the piece of rebar beneath the surface. These are typically deeper cracks and are caused by pressure rising below the surface of the concrete, causing the slab to crack. Spalling is caused by improper rebar joints or corrosion on the rebar itself. Corrosion creates pressure, pushing concrete up towards the surface and exposing the metal, which accelerates the corrosion and cracking process. 

You should get concrete floor leveling for a spalling crack if it becomes a safety issue or reduces the value of your property. This is also an active concrete crack and will likely get worse and lead to more extensive repairs. Contact A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair in Nashville for concrete crack repair.

Corner Cracks

Concrete slab corners can curl up because there are different temperatures and depths to the concrete throughout the slab. They are a vulnerable area of the concrete, and you’ve probably seen sidewalks with deep cracks in the corners of each slab. When the concrete warps or curls, an empty space is left below them and without the ground support, the concrete cannot withstand loads and cracks downward. 

Corner cracks are active cracks and will continue to get worse. Contact a concrete contractor at A-1 for concrete leveling. We will create a small hole in the concrete and inject our eco-friendly limestone slurry to raise and support the slab, providing a long-lasting solution to your cracked concrete.

Offset Cracks 

Offset cracks are when one side of the crack is higher than the other side. These types of concrete cracks occur when there is something uneven beneath the surface, such as tree roots. Offset cracks are a trip hazard, and it’s important to repair them for safety reasons. 

How Do I Fix My Cracked Concrete?

By calling A-1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair! We specialize in concrete leveling and concrete repair. From sidewalks to garage floors, patios, pool decks, and more, concrete repair can make your property safer and more aesthetically pleasing. We identify the type of concrete issue you have and then strategically pump an environmentally friendly slurry below the slab, causing it to rise and level out.

We provide free quotes, so if you see any signs of damage, be sure to contact us. We’ll let you know whether you need concrete leveling and what your options are. We’re proud to provide our Nashville clients with the very best concrete contractor services, and along with concrete leveling, we also perform foundation repair and new concrete pouring.

If you found this blog to be useful, check out our other concrete leveling posts:

• Concrete Cracks and More: Resources for All You Need to Know
• Concrete Driveways: Warning Signs, Maintenance, and Repair
• Get the Concrete Floor Leveling You Need Without Hurting the Environment
• 9 Ways to Transform Your House Into Your Dream Home With Concrete Pouring