Don Ciesielski

One of the most frustrating and perplexing issues with concrete is the matter of cracks.  I am sure you have heard the old saying, “There are three things guaranteed in life: death, taxes and cracks in concrete.”  Well, I am here to tell you that two of the three are a given, BUT, with a crafty accountant, you might get out of some taxes.  Seriously though, as hard as concrete feels when you fall on it, it is no match for Mother Nature and/or careless workmanship.  The good part of cracking is that it rarely indicates a devastating structural problem. Understanding why it cracks will help tell you if you have to worry.  Please note, this overview is not to be used in place of a proper evaluation from a qualified concrete contactor, only to help you understand the stresses that concrete goes through.

Expansive Cracking

Common in large structures, expansive or “thermal” cracking is an issue. Temperature differences between concrete surfaces and interior can cause frequent expansion and contraction of those areas which will result in cracking from the stresses. Huge temp differences can cause some pretty significant cracks, so contractors prepare for this by the use internal reinforcements and strategic placement of expansion joints to allow some movement.  When necessary, cracks of this type can usually be repaired with a specially designed repair product like epoxy. Similar are the cracks that occur in climates with freeze-thaw cycles. When the ground surface freezes, it expands and can cause heaving of whatever is on top of it, usually your driveway, sidewalk, etc.  Again, in addition to proper use of interior reinforcements and strategic joints, contractors also have to prepare the surface on which the concrete is going to be poured to best alleviate the effects of heaving. This may include but is not limited to several inches of packed stone.

Shrinkage Cracking

Extremely common in most concrete is “shrinkage” cracking which occurs during the curing (drying) process.  Cement uses water as part of a chemical reaction causing it to harden.  Excess water actually dries and like many items, concrete can shrink as the excess moisture disappears.  Since the surface usually dries faster, it shrinks more than the rest. The shrinking can cause stress, with enough stress, cracks can appear. These tend to be purely aesthetic and many contractors will assure customers that they will do all they can to prevent them; if they do happen, do not worry about serious problems. One form of crack prevention comes in the form of control joints. They serve two purposes. They provide start and stop points for the shrinking and provide a slightly weaker point in the concrete which will induce cracks as needed from expansive stresses.  Other prevention measures are careful control of the water content of the concrete mix.  Excess water is bad, but often happens because it makes the concrete easier to work with. Dry concrete just does not go down well, so water content often ends up somewhere in the middle. This excess water can also contribute to “spalling” which is the small divots and flaking you find on a concrete surface. In addition to water, simply making sure the concrete mix is designed for the job is also important.  Subtle differences in the mix design will allow it to be used more easily for the job at hand such as the inclusion of air, set retarders, accelerators, fibers, etc.

Regardless of preventive measures, Mother Nature is a tough opponent and will often come out winning. As a customer, you may now understand why even the most experienced contractor avoids warranties against cracking. As a contractor, making that guarantee is sort of like a die hard Cubs fan guaranteeing a World Series victory. Despite all the off-season preparation, come fall you are going to be let down.

Remember, if both parties involved have a good understanding of the nature of concrete and why the unexpected may occur, it will help alleviate some the stress if it becomes an issue. 

by Joseph Malek

by Tim Harry

The hot tub is one of the most fun items in anyone's backyards, and many people like to enjoy their hot tub all year round. There is nothing wrong with jumping into the hot tub when the snow lies deep and thick in the rest of the yard, but some people do prefer to winterize their hot tub. Again there is nothing wrong with winterizing the hot tub, but problems do arise when the winterization is not done correctly, and these problems can be expensive ones.

The first step in winterizing a hot tub is to ensure that all electrics, including the heating system, are turned off. Then it is necessary to start the draining process. Most of the water within a hot tub can be easily removed by opening up the drain, but the use of a pump will aid the removal of water from crevices like foot wells. This process will remove the majority of water, but the removal of the majority of water is not sufficient. The major problem with incorrect winterization of hot tubs is that water is left, expands and damages parts of the tub.

To remove all water from a hot tub, there are several additional steps that need to be taken. The use of a towel, sponge, mop or similar product will help soak up the remnants of water, but it is also necessary to find out where any water is lurking. Some hot tubs will come with air blowers and these will also need to be cleared of water. This will require the power to be reconnected, but allowing the air blowers to run for a few seconds will clear any water remnants.