Should I Replace Cracked Concrete?
Years ago, the only option for repairing seriously damaged or sunken concrete, whether it was a slab or a full property foundation, was to replace it. This has some notable drawbacks and issues that are fairly obvious and replacement is now a very last resort.
Replacement
The benefits of replacing damaged concrete are few unless you already deal with the underlying cause of damage. The most obvious is that the replacement concrete is smooth, flawless, and consistent in its strength. This is something that even the best repairs cannot offer to the same degree. However, this is a time-consuming and costly process.
The main downside, aside from the time and cost of the process, is the fact that replacing concrete does not actually fix the issue with your property. You will need to undertake additional work to protect the new concrete surface or the damage will simply recur at a later date. This adds to the cost and disruption. If the concrete in question is a part of your property’s foundation, this can cost literally thousands of dollars.
Repair
These days, there are many effective concrete lifting and repair methods for surfaces and structures of all kinds that are both relatively quick and fairly cost-effective. For foundations, for example, there are foundation piers, while single concrete slabs and small stairways can often be lifted and repaired with products like PolyRenewal foam.
The benefits of repair are many. First and foremost, repair methods are designed to address the underlying cause as well as the cosmetic damage to a concrete surface. This makes them far preferable to many people. The only downside is that they have a cutoff point. There are still some concrete surfaces that are simply beyond repair. For these surfaces, replacement is the only option. This is why it is best to act quickly when you see signs of damage.