Filling concrete cracks

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Needed to fill some cracks in the slab before constructing the paint shop. Did a lot of research but it was dad911 who recommended this product.

I won't know for months or years how well it works but I liked that it's a 2-part epoxy and they sell a complete kit with great instructions. Finally got a chance to do it today, I think the two best parts for me are that it's very thin so it goes right down hairline cracks and then it expands. Going to leave the patches proud until I epoxy the floor.

Thrilled to be able to start building the shop soon.

Slab Crack Repair Instructions

[rfuerst911sc]

Enjoyed the video thanks for sharing .

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks Shaun.
I've got some cracks that could use that treatment.
How easy is it to work with?
Do a small part of the crack at a time for longer cracks?
$?

[flatbutt]

I need that, thanks Shaun.

edit...not at HD or Lowes...Amazon has a kit for $180

[pmax]

Assuming it's just cosmetic which that fix appears to be indicating, isn't the epoxy later doing the same job ?

[unclebilly]

I did something similar on the foundation in our rental house 2 years ago… still good.






Now that the cement has cured, you can’t even see the patch.

[unclebilly]

To do this again, I would not buy the kit. I would instead just buy PU expanding foam.

Squirt water in first, inject the foam, finish with cement, wait 30 mins and finish with a sponge.

[rfuerst911sc]

Serious question , could you use conventional two part epoxy like JB Weld ? Other than the container size being too small you could spread it with a putty knife and push it into the crack . Feather it and let dry it could then be sanded flush . Just thinking out loud .

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Thanks Shaun.
I've got some cracks that could use that treatment.
How easy is it to work with?
Do a small part of the crack at a time for longer cracks?
$?

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I need that, thanks Shaun.

edit...not at HD or Lowes...Amazon has a kit for $180

Hey Scott and FB, I got the kit directly from the mfg. It was $115 with the sand.

Emecole Metro Small-Sized Slab Crack Repair Kit

it is very easy to work with. it does require 4-6 minutes of shaking but I have a paint shaker so just threw it in that. The video above shows how easy it is. I worked quickly as the epoxy can set in the mixing tube but didn't have any problems. I did two big cracks and one small. I did each crack at a time filling them up. I like the sand which is supposed to make the fix stronger.

I like that it's not a HD or Lowes product, more of a contractor product, and structural. If at HD/L am sure there would be a lot of customer service returns and complaints because most people wouldn't watch the video or have any idea how to work with this.

I used only half of the one of the tubes. It can keep once opened.

I may try sanding it away next weekend, will report back.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Serious question , could you use conventional two part epoxy like JB Weld ? Other than the container size being too small you could spread it with a putty knife and push it into the crack . Feather it and let dry it could then be sanded flush . Just thinking out loud .

I don't see why you couldn't. I don't like JB Weld in general for repairs since it has a high durometer (100 or off the scale) and fractures easily. That wouldn't be an issue filling in concrete though unless the slab sections moved. What does google say?

[Scott Douglas]

Our cracks have been growing wider over the years. I think the gophers we used to have excavated a lot of dirt from under the driveway slab that is cracking. It almost sounds like it's hollow if you hit with a shovel handle just right. This epoxy says it's stronger than the concrete it bonds to, which I don't doubt one bit, but what happens once the two sides of the divide keep moving?
Will new cracks develop right next to the repair?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I would call them Scott.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I did something similar on the foundation in our rental house 2 years ago… still good.

Now that the cement has cured, you can’t even see the patch.

How does one know when it isn't just cosmetic and to call the pros ?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I just took a putty knife to the edges and tried to lift it up. I'm very impressed. With no surface prep, I couldn't get the knife under the epoxy. Given that you clean out the crack with a grinder creating a clean new surface with a lot of surface area (SA is everything in bonding things, same with DNA too), I would say this is a permanent solution.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by pmax

How does one know when it isn't just cosmetic and to call the pros ?

Well my brother and I who own that house are both professional engineers. We called the professionals and all they do is exactly what we did. The guy seemed pretty scammy and we decided to do it ourselves.

We made a structural repair by injecting the polymer into the crack until it came out like in the video. I then cleaned it up and applied the cement for cosmetic purposes.

We also fixed the drainage issue the year before (if you don’t do that first, it doesn’t matter what system you use, how much you shake the can, it won’t work).

[pmax]

^^^ I hear you. Doing it yourself might even be better in terms of the final product.

Amazing how much can be done by us DIYers these days with some help from the Interwebs. We installed hardwood flooring, repainted the interior etc over the last year and a half.

That polymer is just epoxy, isn't it ?

[unclebilly]

Polyurethane.