If the cause of the cracks cannot be removed, then two options are available. One is to rout and seal the crack, thus treating it as a joint, or, establish a joint that will accommodate the movement and then inject the crack with epoxy or other suitable material.
Concrete caulk or filler is best for cracks no wider than 1/2 inch. This thick material is injected into the crack with a caulk gun or by directly squeezing it out of the tube. You can use concrete caulk on both vertical or horizontal cracks. Our top pick is Sikaflex Pro Select Self-Leveling Sealant.
Epoxy resins (EP) may be a solution for dry passive concrete crack repair. Polyurethane (PU/PUR/SPUR) may be useful for active cracks or to stop water ingress. Acrylate / acrylic to cure concrete leaks from cracks. Slurries, Cement and injection mortar could also be an option sometimes.
For a bond strength that beats any standard repair concrete, the Damtite vinyl concrete patch is the best it gets. It is a self-bonding vinyl concrete that can be used on most concrete cracks, is able to build up the corner of steps, and will bond other materials such as tile and stone.
Wide cracks in concrete are best patched and sealed with a concrete patching compound. Smaller cracks, less than 1/4 inch wide, can be repaired with a concrete caulk or liquid filler. Patching compounds typically are mixed with water and applied with a trowel.
High density (HD) polyurethane concrete lifting foam helps fix sinking, moving and cracking concrete—making it an ideal way to repair uneven surfaces and eliminate tripping hazards.
The two most common causes of failure are carbonation and chloride contamination of the concrete. Both of these lead to corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcement and as the steel corrodes it expands and exerts pressure on the concrete so that, eventually, the concrete cracks and spalls.
Caulk: Generally made of flexible acrylic, mastic caulk has a smooth plastic type texture. Best used for filling gaps between skirting boards, doorframes or the edges of shelves and the wall.
Flex Seal Liquid is a helpful resource for fixing driveway damage. The product can be easily poured into cracks and crevices for repair. It's important to note that we do not recommend sealing large areas that receive a lot of foot traffic because the liquid can become slippery when wet.
According to HomeAdvisor, a driveway repair professional will charge as little as $300 to fix minor concrete driveway cracks, but most homeowners can do the job on their own with a rubber or synthetic crack filler. This costs about $0.10 to $0.15 per linear foot—but watch out if cracks are larger than 1/8 of an inch.
Fill the crack with urethane caulk, similar to what you would use for driveway caulk. It works perfectly as a concrete expansion joint sealant. Snip the opening of the tube at a 30-degree angle, making the opening the same size as your gap.
Tools & Materials Needed For Concrete Crack Repair
We recommend a flexible polyurethane caulk.