In one form or another, concrete has been used for many centuries in various construction projects. Most people know that the Romans made extensive use of concrete for many of their roads, aqueducts, and public buildings, but they were far from the first civilization to recognize the value of concrete for floors, cisterns, and other projects. When mixed and installed correctly, concrete has exceptional load-bearing properties that make it ideal for sidewalks. Concrete sidewalks can last for many decades with very little care, but there are a few things that you need to know.
What Should I Know About Concrete Sidewalks?
Whether you need sidewalks for your city, office park, shopping center, educational facility, or other property, you want to make sure that you hire a reputable contractor with the experience and tools to do the job right. You should also keep the following points in mind.
- The thickness of your concrete slabs must be sufficient to support the weights to which they will be subjected. For example, in residential neighborhoods, driveways may cross the sidewalk, so the slabs should be thicker than those used on sidewalks that are only used by pedestrians.
- Tree roots can push concrete slabs out of their horizontal alignment, or they can lift the slabs vertically. This can create a safety hazard, so you will need to have repairs made as quickly as possible. If you are planning to plant trees, keep them well away from your sidewalk.
- In some areas, concrete can be installed without a base, but it is typically better to place a base layer between the ground and the concrete when constructing sidewalks in the Austin area. Many sites have soil that contains a lot of clay, and clay will shrink during dry conditions and expand when wet. This can lead to subsidence or uplifts that can make your sidewalk hazardous.
How Do You Repair Concrete Sidewalks?
The repair method will depend on the nature of the issue or damage that the sidewalk is or has experienced.
- Cracks in a concrete sidewalk can often be repaired by filling or patching them.
- If spalling is no more than a quarter of an inch deep and only affects a few spots, a concrete patch may solve the problem
- Sunken slabs can sometimes be leveled by pumping a foam or mud beneath the slab to lift it back into position.
- Uplifted, misaligned, or severely cracked slabs typically need to be removed and replaced.
Let RDC Paving Help With Your Concrete Sidewalks Needs in Austin, TX
RDC Paving offers an extensive range of concrete paving and repair services, including the construction of concrete sidewalks, concrete parking lots, concrete driveways, concrete ramps, concrete ADA assistance, and concrete wheel stops. We also offer parking lot striping, driveway paving, asphalt repair, asphalt overlays, asphalt paving, asphalt milling, asphalt crack repairs, parking lot maintenance programs, and asphalt sealcoating. We are known for our superb workmanship, outstanding customer service, consistent dependability, and professional integrity. If you are interested in receiving a free quote, you can submit our online request form, or you can call 512-920-9155.