A common misconception is that your driveway, patio, porch or sidewalk surface will last and hold indefinitely. However, concrete surfaces are subject to wear and tear due to various factors like weather, sunlight exposure, and heavy traffic. While concrete is indeed durable, it’s not immune to flaws.
SURFACE
One common issue with concrete surfaces is the appearance of popping or flaking. This can occur due to several reasons, including the popping out of stones close to the surface. If this popping or flaking is minimal, meaning only a few spots here and there, it’s typically not a cause for concern as it doesn’t compromise the integrity of the concrete slab.
However, if you notice a significant amount of popping or flaking, exceeding around 20% of the surface, it could indicate a more serious problem and may be grounds for a warranty claim. In such cases, it’s advisable to contact us so we can assess the extent of the damage and determine the appropriate course of action.
CRACKS
Concrete cracking is a common occurrence, and it’s something that concrete contractors and engineers anticipate and plan for. Control joints are strategically placed in concrete slabs to encourage cracking to occur in predetermined locations, which helps minimize the appearance of random cracks and control the overall integrity of the structure.
It’s important to note that concrete often cracks shortly after it’s poured. Despite efforts to mitigate cracking, such as proper joint placement and curing techniques, there’s no absolute guarantee that concrete won’t crack in unexpected areas.
We do everything we can to control cracking, but there is no guarantee that the concrete will not crack in other locations later on. A warranty covers cracks that are greater than 3/8 of an inch in height or gap. A crack that is less than 3/8 of an inch (height or gap) does not fall under warranty. These cracks don’t compromise the structural integrity of the concrete and are more cosmetic in nature.
Michigan is in a severe weather region. During any given winter, there are many freeze-thaw cycles. During these times, your exterior concrete is likely to heave up. However, over time, it will most likely settle back to its normal elevation again. Unfortunately, the slab is at risk to crack during a frost heave event. Cracking that is related to frost heave does not fall under warranty.
SETTLING
It is not uncommon for most driveways, sidewalks and garage floors to have some shifting over time. If you notice that your driveway or garage floor has shifted or settled a little, please do not be alarmed, particularly if there are no cracks.
DISCOLORATION
Color is another common misconception. It is not possible for us to match exact color of your porch to your sidewalk or to your driveway. Sometimes even your driveway may not match exactly since most driveways need two or more loads of concrete. Most of these color variations are minor and will fade over time. If you do an addition on driveway or replace sections of a driveway, please know there will be a color variation between the new concrete and the old that will take years to blend together.
HOW TO CARE FOR CONCRETE
Do not drive on new concrete for at least 7 days. Do not allow water to drain beneath the concrete, as settlement cracks may develop. Do not apply deicing chemicals (salt) for snow and ice removal the first winter. As an alternative, sand can be used for traction.
WARNING Never use deicers containing ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate (i.e. fertilizers). Such products are known to aggressively attack concrete. Do not use harsh acids for stain removal.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
One year warranty of materials and workmanship. The use of any salt or deicing chemicals voids the warranty. We will repair or replace a section or sections of your flatwork if it can be defined within our warranty. Warranty work will be done during the months of June, July and August. If we don’t get the warranty work done during those months we will honor your warranty work for the following year. All warranty works needs to be reported in the first year.
CRACKED CONCRETE
The warranty for cracking coincides with the industry standard. Only cracks greater than 3/8 of an inch (height or gap) may be warrantied.
FLAKED or POPPED CONCRETE
We may repair a section of flaked or popped concrete IF more than 20% of the total area is affected (this is per industry standard). We DO NOT warranty a popped or flaked driveway approach. The driveway approach area is subject to salt overspray during the winter months, which is out of our control.