If you have a sidewalk that is cracked, you need to make sure you get it repaired. If you do not, someone could trip and fall over the cracks. The cracks will also become much worse over time and may even end up turning into large holes. A concrete contractor should be contacted to repair the sidewalk. Below is information on different methods they can use. 

Patch the Cracks

If the cracks are not very large or if there is not a lot of them, the contractor may choose to patch them. They do this by mixing the patch, which is generally made of cement, sand, and vinyl. Once mixed, the patch is poured over the cracks to fill them in. Once the patch mix is dry, the concrete contractor may suggest they place a sealant over this area. 

One thing with patching the cracks is this may not last forever and will need a more permanent fix over time. You should also know the patching mix is not the same color as the sidewalk in most cases, so it is easily seen by people. 

Grind the Concrete

If the cracks are very large, the concrete contractor may choose to grind the concrete to repair the sidewalk. They use special equipment to do this. The contractor grinds the sidewalk down enough so the cracks disappear. The top layer is removed, and the aggregate material is exposed. 

Grinding concrete works well, but your sidewalk will have a different slope in most cases after they finish. This can cause problems if the slope is bad enough that water will pool in this area when it rains. The concrete contractor will make sure this does not happen. 

Level the Concrete Sidewalk

Another option to repair the cracks is to level the concrete sidewalk. This will also take care of any uneven areas on the sidewalk. To do this, the concrete contractor uses a special drill to put holes into the uneven areas or near the cracks. A slurry made of cement, water, and crushed limestone is mixed and injected into the holes. This causes the concrete to rise, and when dry, the sidewalk will be even and the cracks will be gone. 

This process can generally be done in one day depending on how large the sidewalk is and how much of it is damaged.

If none of these options work, the concrete contractor will suggest they replace the concrete. 

Contact a contractor for more information about sidewalk concrete paving repair.