There is not a singular cause for all the cracks that are bound to happen on your concrete, however, there are some that can be avoided.
- Too much water in the concrete mixture will reduce your concretes strength. As concrete dries, it also begins to shrink this means, the more water that is in your concrete mixture, the more water will be evaporated as it dries and the more it will shrink.
- Drying your concrete too quickly will cause cracks to form on its surface. There is an important chemical reaction that takes place when concrete goes from a liquid to a solid and if this is sped up, it throws the reaction off balance.
- Some concrete needs to be installed at differing degrees of strength. This is an important reason why it is wise to hire a professional.
- As the weather becomes colder your concrete will shrink and as it warms your concrete will expand. This is something that is not under your control, so you will have to be observant and repair cracks as they happen.
- Outdoor concrete cracks not only with the freeze-thaw cycle but as tree roots begin to grow, they will damage the concrete from the bottom up. Again, this is not under your control and will need to be repaired accordingly.
- Indoor concrete in facilities and garages can begin to crack if it is overloaded with pressure.