Concrete is one of the most popular materials in the construction industry. It is hard, rigid and very durable. But there are a number of rapid myths about concrete spreading out there. Knowing about such myths will assist you in properly maintaining your concrete. Additionally, if you want to repair a concrete floor, or you're making a choice about one, then these are the things you need to know about. Here are some of the major concrete myths debunked.

Adding water is the only way to increase slump.

Slump is simply a measure of the consistency of concrete. It generally describes the ease of the flow of the fresh concrete. Adding water increases slump, but there are other more efficient techniques of doing so. Excess water weakens the concrete and reduces its resistance to freeze and thaw cycles. This can lead to the formation of cracks due to increased drying. So if you find that the slump is less than you expected, add superplasticizers and water reducers instead. These products increase the slump and still maintain the cement to water ratio.

Concrete is impermeable.

Without any additives, concrete is slightly porous to fluids. However, the porosity depends on its density. At high densities, concrete is a lot more impermeable. Additionally, to reduce concrete's permeability, you can mix it up with chemical admixtures such as superplasticizers. Sealers and membranes added onto its surface can also reduce its permeability.

Concrete that's reinforced can't crack.

Reinforcing concrete is not really a measure to prevent cracking. All it does is keep the concrete together even after it's cracked, so you wouldn't even notice. Cracking normally occurs due to volume changes in the concrete, and the increased tension causes the crack. In fact, when not properly done, the steel reinforcement contributes to the increased tension. However, reinforcing concrete with steel does a great duty of enabling it to withstand greater loads.

Epoxy injection is the best crack repair option

Epoxy injection is a technique of repairing cracks in concrete by injecting the cracks with epoxy. The epoxy normally hardens and restores the concrete back to its original condition. In most cases, the epoxy in the crack causes it to be much harder than the adjacent concrete. But crack injection isn't necessarily the most effective method. The efficiency varies depending on the situation. This technique is not suitable for active cracks (show movement and gradually increase). Using them for such cracks can form another crack somewhere close to the injected one. Routing and sealing can take care of active cracks better.

For more information, contact a company that specializes in concrete crack injection and other concrete repairs. 

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