When You Need Professional Kerb Repair or Replacement
Posted on: 26 July 2016
Concrete kerbing can crack or otherwise get damaged over the years and when this happens, you may be able to repair sections with a quick concrete repair kit or patching compound. However, there are times when this type of quick fix won't address the real problem with your concrete kerbing, as it may be so damaged that it needs to be repaired by a professional who can fill in the area with new concrete, or replace that kerbing altogether. How do you know when your kerbing needs more than a quick patch or filler? Note a few indications that it's time to call in the pros.
White marks and discoloration
When the edges of kerbing have become discolored, or you see white marks along the tops of the kerbing, this usually means the material has absorbed quite a bit of moisture over time, or they have gone through several freeze-thaw stages that have damaged the concrete. Those white marks on top that resemble spider webs are cracks in the surface of the kerbing, and the discoloration along the edges happen when kerbing gets soft due to water absorption. This much moisture in the kerbing cannot be repaired with a simple patching compound, as the kerbing is not likely to stay firm underneath it; in most cases, the kerbing simply needs to be replaced.
The kerbing is crumbly
While concrete may sometimes form small cracks and you might fill in these holes and pits with patching compound, when the concrete is crumbly around those cracks this usually means it has absorbed so much water that it cannot stay firm and hold any type of patching compound. That compound needs solid concrete to hold it and to keep sections together and crumbled concrete won't work for this. Don't assume you can just move the crumbly section away and patch around it as the surrounding concrete in that section of kerbing should instead be replaced for a long-wearing fix.
Weeds growing up through the kerbing
Once kerbing has cracked so severely that there are weeds growing through it, a patching kit won't be strong enough to repair that damage. Patching kits are not meant to hold two sections of kerbing together and especially when the cracks penetrate from top to bottom, and the sides have become so separated that they allow for vegetation growth. Rather than trying to bandage this damage with a filler or patching mix, you need to have the sections replaced altogether.
Contact a concrete contractor for more information or assistance with kerb repairs.
Share