OAKLEY — Concrete is a great material for improving your yard or landscape. Whether used for a patio, retaining wall or pool deck, it provides optimum strength, longevity and aesthetics. The only downside of concrete is that it will eventually form cracks—it’s just the nature of the material. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize cracks and make the most of your investment. Consider the following tips:
Maximize strength. One of the best ways to minimize cracks with concrete is to use a durable product like 3,000 PSI concrete. You can also ask your contractor to add extra thickness. When pouring concrete, a lot of contractors go with a thickness of two or three inches, but four inches of thickness will provide additional strength and help prevent cracks.
Use expansion joints where applicable. When installing a patio or similar structure, it’s important to use an expansion joint between the new concrete and the existing foundation. Since concrete expands and contracts with changes in weather, if the new concrete is installed right up against the foundation, it could result in cracks soon after. An expansion joint helps prevent this.
Cool it down. A common cause of cracks is when concrete dries too fast, which is most likely to happen in warm weather. To prevent this, water the ground with a garden hose before pouring the concrete. After the concrete begins to set, water it again. This will help keep the concrete cool and slow down the drying process.

By Jose Eduardo Sandoval of {BR} Callado Concrete

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