When a client spots cracks in a concrete driveway or other concrete areas outside a home they are viewing, it is not time to panic. Cracks can be repaired quickly and relatively easily and needn’t be costly or hold up a home sale. Share these tips with your homeowner to help them understand their options and to help your home sales go smoothly!
Concrete has a tendency to crack during settling or changes in the weather. However, when cracks start to spread, it’s time to go into repair mode. In winter, water can seep into an untreated crack, freeze, and make the crack larger as the water expands. Having concrete repoured can cost upwards of $1,000, so it is important to take immediate action.
Narrow Cracks: Clean the crack and surrounding area thoroughly with a wire brush and broom. Fill with a masonry crack filler that comes in a cartridge designed to be used in a caulking gun, or use a vinyl concrete patching compound applied and smoothed with a putty knife. Vinyl concrete patching compound is ideal since it does not require a bonding agent.
Wide Cracks: Use a small hammer and chisel to widen the base of the crack. This technique will make it wider at the base than at the surface, keeping the patch in place for a more secure and permanent repair. Clean the area in and around the crack with a wire brush and broom. Wash with a stream of water. Mix vinyl patching compound and trowel the compound into the cracks. Pack the mixture tightly to remove air pockets. Smooth the mixture with the trowel. When the patch has set, smooth or brush the surface to match the surrounding area.
Kirk Alexander, Indymac Bank
Office: 702.939.1050; cell: 702.324.6874
E-mail: Kirk.Alexander@IMB.com; fax: 866.451.9527
www.MaryW.com or www.MaryWarren.com
Las Vegas REALTOR® specializing in representing clients with homes for sale, single-family residences, income property. I work all of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Green Valley, Henderson, & Summerlin
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Mary, what great tips. This would be great to put on your website for seller information or whatever! ;-)
Mary, that is good advice. My sister put some kind of de-ice on their cement and totally ruined it then had to completely re-do it. That's probably not a huge issue in your neck of the woods but I know you do have some winter weather.
What a great blog.... do you mind if I copy it and send it to my sphere.... we have alot of cracks here in TX and this is great info!!!
Keep up the great blogs!
Help yourself with copy it and sharing it Ara. I like to make sure my sphere gets tons of info like this!