Concrete damage is more than just ugly; it's dangerous too. Cracks and holes in your concrete allow water to seep in, which can erode the soil underneath. During the winter, water can freeze inside the cracks, causing the damage to get worse. Once there is damage, you can injure yourself by tripping over the cracks or holes. In most cases, you can take care of the problems yourself. Here are some tips that will help you repair your damaged concrete.

Caulk

It's not uncommon for small cracks to develop in your concrete. Luckily, if you take care of the small cracks as soon as you find them, they won't have time to develop into bigger cracks. Most small cracks can be repaired with caulk.

Supplies You'll Need

• Gloves
• Wire brush
• Polyurethane caulk
• Putty knife
• Dry concrete mix (optional)

Directions

1. Put your gloves on.
2. Use your wire brush to remove debris from the crack.
3. Apply a generous amount of caulk to the entire crack.
4. Use your putty knife to press the caulk into the crack and smooth the surface.
5. Allow the caulk to dry.
6. To make the repair less noticeable, you can sprinkle a small amount of dry concrete mix to the surface of the wet caulk. Sweep the excess away once the caulk has dried.

Patch

Holes can undermine the integrity of your concrete, especially if the sides of the holes have begun to crumble. Crumbling is a sign that the hole is going to continue increasing in size. You should repair holes as soon as you find them.

Supplies You'll Need

• Gloves
• Wire brush
• Wheelbarrow
• Concrete patch mix
• Water
• Concrete trowel

Directions

1. Put your gloves on.
2. Use your wire brush to clean the debris out from the hole.
3. Pour your dry concrete patch mix into the wheelbarrow.
4. Add water according to the package instructions.
5. Mix the concrete until it's a soft mud consistency.
6. Use your trowel to fill the hole with concrete mix.
7. Pat the concrete down with your trowel to remove air pockets.
8. Use your trowel to smooth down the surface of the concrete.
9. Allow the concrete to dry overnight.

Resurfacing

If your driveways or patios are significantly damaged, you should consider calling a professional concrete company like S&W Concrete. This is particularly true if the entire surface of the concrete has deep cracks or holes. In most instances, severe damage can be repaired using a technique known as resurfacing. With resurfacing, a new layer of concrete is applied directly on top of the old concrete.

Damaged concrete can leave your home looking less than desirable. It can also lead to injuries. Use the techniques described above to repair the damage and get your concrete looking good again.