Responsible homeowners know regular home maintenance keeps your home in great shape for years to come. Your concrete may be overlooked until it becomes a problem. Tiny cracks can become big problems. Sealing concrete around your home prevents potentially expensive damages.
If you live in Merced or any of the surrounding areas of the Central Valley, give us a call for help sealing your concrete.
What You Need for Concrete Sealing
Here are a few of the tools and supplies you will need to seal concrete around your home.
- Concrete cleaner
- Long-handled scrub brush
- Water hose with sprayer
- Foam backer rod
- Urethane or Polyurethane caulk
- Caulk gun
- Old spoon or trowel
- Mineral spirits
- Rag
- Masonry chisel
- Disposal gloves
How to Seal Concrete Around Your Home
These are the steps to seal cracks in the concrete around your home.
Clean the Concrete
- Sweep, vacuum, or spray to remove as much debris as possible.
- Follow the directions for the concrete cleaner to apply to the concrete.
- Remove any old sealant with mineral spirits.
- Rinse area.
- Repeat these steps to ensure all debris, staining, or concrete sealer is removed.
Seal Wide Gaps
Concrete gaps wider than ¼ inch allow water to get into the cracks, expand, and cause problems. Take care of these quickly to prevent problems.
- Step 1: Install a foam backer rod into the crack ¼ inch lower than the concrete’s surface.
- Step 2: Apply caulk to the crack. Snip the tube’s end at a 30° angle, the same size as the gap.
- Step 3: Use a trowel to smooth on a flat surface or an old spoon to create a bevel against a vertical surface. Use the rag and mineral spirits to clean the trowel or spoon.
Caulk Narrow Cracks
For cracks ¼ inch wide or smaller, you do not need the backer rod. Follow steps 2 and 3 above.
Sealing and Waterproofing Concrete Cracks
Water does not have to freeze to cause problems for concrete.
- Redirect roof water runoff
- Caulk around doors, windows, vents, roof flashings, pipes, and other openings.
- Create an inverted “V” to help lock the material in place with a masonry chisel and hammer.
- Mix the quick-setting sealant material as directed by the manufacturer, and force it into the cracks you find inside, outside, and around pipe openings.
- Smooth with a trowel.
Things to Remember About Cracks Around Your Home
- Don’t worry about hairline cracks.
- Seal cracks that are ⅛-inch or wider.
- Divert water from concrete and seal cracks.
- Cracks in a foundation wall wider than ½-inch should be checked by a pro.
- A large crack in the foundation wall with a bulge indicates a problem with structural integrity.
- A horizontal crack is riskier than a vertical or diagonal crack.
- Use Water Plug products to seal any cracks between a concrete floor and the walls.
Professional Concrete Sealing
Concrete cracks can cause a lot of headaches. Hire professionals who know how to seal concrete around your home and fix those crevices before they cause problems. Our experts know the codes and can handle any construction and concrete service on budget and on time. We provide any amount of high-quality, dependable concrete in Merced, the surrounding areas, and throughout all of the Central Valley and Bay Area. Family-owned and operated.
