Spring is finally here, and we hope the worst of the winter weather is behind us, especially after the last series of cold fronts. We’d get snow dumped on us, have it stick around for a week melting, and then when we thought it was finally over another cold front would sweep through leaving us with another half foot of snow. The rapid changes in temperature and precipitation have done a number on the asphalt and concrete in the area. If the unpredictable Maryland weather’s been the source of concrete heaving and winter damage to the concrete on your property PTG Enterprises can help you.
Concrete Heaving
One of the most common types of winter damage to your concrete is concrete heaving. Concrete heaving is when the concrete is shifted in its place by movement in the ground beneath it. This is normally caused by frost heaving. Frost heaving is when the ground expands upwards due to pressure as ice freezes inside of it and expands. This happens when it gets cold enough for the freezing temperatures to sink into the ground and freeze the water held there. This most often happens in cold or temperate climates that have a lot of moisture.
The pressure caused by the expansion of water as it freezes into ice is enough to lift a thick layer of soil a full foot, and it can easily shift concrete. A piece of concrete sidewalk, driveway, or patio can be shifted by a frost heave enough to make a lip, or difference in height, where two concrete surfaces meet. The difference in height where the two surfaces meet present a serious tripping hazard to pedestrians, guests, or customers. If the concrete heaving is extreme enough it may cause the concrete to shatter, leaving the piece broken and uneven. If you have a concrete sidewalk or walkways outside of your home or business that has undergone concrete heaving, it can be a serious liability issue for you and you should see about repairing it right away.
Concrete Heaving Repair Options
Fortunately, concrete repairs are possible, and PTG Enterprises has the means at hand. PTG Enterprises can perform crack repair, fix trip and fall hazards, and seal concrete to reduce the
Grind it down
A piece of sidewalk, concrete walkway, or patio is typically around 4” thick. If a piece of concrete is heaved and the difference in height between one piece and the other is less then 2 ½ inches high, then grinding may be used to fix the problem. A grinder works by using a strong motor and metal disk to grind away heaved surface until it meets the other surface. Grinding the concrete down is a fast and inexpensive solution that keeps the original appearance of the concrete. If the height of the tripping hazard from the heaved concrete is more then 2 ½ inches, or the concrete is shattered, severely cracked all the way through, then a grinder cannot be used. But there is another option.
Remove and Replace
If your concrete is shattered, or the difference in height of the tripping hazard is more then 2 ½ inches PTG Enterprises can repair the problem by removing and replacing the concrete. The procedure begins with shattering and removing the concrete. Once the concrete is removed we then remove the sub grade and replace it with a new compactable material and compact it to make sure it is nice and level. After we have replaced the sub grade we then pour new concrete. The removal and replacement process takes longer and is more expensive then grinding down the concrete, but unfortunately is necessary in many cases.
Concrete Heaving Repairs in Maryland
PTG Enterprises has been in the asphalt paving, concrete, and masonry business for more than a decade. We have seen it all before and we know the telltale warning signs of concrete and pavement failure. And as a member of the Community Association Institute (CAI), National Facilities Management and Technology (NFMT), and Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) we are well-positioned to help you make the right financial decisions for your commercial property or community association.
To learn more about concrete heaving repair, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777,! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Tags: concrete grinding, concrete heaving, Concrete Repairs, concrete replacement, winter damage
