ACCEPTABLE CRACK WIDTHS

Not all cracks in concrete are serious enough to require repair. The hairline cracks in this floor were air brushed with brown dye to

achieve a beautiful crackle pattern.

At what width does a crack in concrete become a problem? That question often arises, but unfortunately there is no
definite answer. It can vary from one project to the next. The answer may also change with the persons perspective:
What is acceptable to the contractor, engineer, or architect may not be acceptable to the owner, who must live with
the crack day after day. Even the American Concrete Institute has no standards or recommendations that give a "yes"
or "no" answer as to what cracks need repair based on width and other factors.

In general, cracks wider than a credit card and running through the depth of the concrete are structural in nature and
could be a sign of more serious problems (see Concrete Crack Repair Evaluation). These cracks -- no matter what
the width -- are rarely acceptable. Consult an engineer or concrete repair professional to determine the cause of the
crack and to recommend the best repair solution.

For hairline or non-structural cracks in concrete, the answer as to whats acceptable is less clear. The width at which
they became a problem requiring repair often depends on the following factors:

Is the crack static or is it gradually becoming wider? If you notice movement of the crack, it may continue to
widen if the crack isnt repaired and could indicate a structural problem.

If the crack is in a horizontal surface, such as a floor or slab, is it wide enough to present a tripping hazard?

In foundation walls or slabs, is the crack wide enough to allow moisture seepage? (See Foundation and
Basement Crack Repair.)
 Does the crack trap dirt and present a maintenance or sanitation issue?

Is the crack an eye sore and located in a high-visibility area?

Be aware that if you decide to repair the crack, the repair itself is likely to be visible unless you cover it with an
overlay. However, its often possible to disguise or accentuate a crack through sawcutting, staining and other
techniques. (See Incorporating Cracks in Concrete Floor Design.)

CONCRETE CRACK REPAIR EVALUATION

The typical reason for evaluating concrete is that it is somehow damagedwe seldom evaluate the condition of
perfect concrete but just accept that it is functioning. So what are we looking for when we go out to evaluate damage?
Start by deciding whether the damage is structural or superficial. A large diagonal crack across a concrete beam is
serious and means it is time to call an engineerdon't take on the responsibility of structural work unless you know
what you are doing. Document any structural problems you observe and contact the owner immediately. Just being
there could impart some responsibility to you if there was a failure and you didn't take some action.
This doesn't look so bad on the surface, but the rust tells us that the reinforcing steel is deteriorating. The only solution is to remove

the unsound concrete and replace with new. The Pascoe Group
 Deteriorated concrete and exposed rebar
emphasize the need for immediate repairs. Washington State DOT Ground penetrating radar is used to create an image of the
reinforcement inside the concrete. Interstate Structural Scanning Inc.

If it appears that the concrete structure is not in danger of collapse, evaluate it in a series of steps. The first step is a
simple visual examination:

Is the damage local or widespread?

Is the damage superficial or does it go deeper into the concrete matrix?

Is there damaged (corroded) reinforcing steel?

For cracks, are they still moving?

For surface delamination, can you define it as thin scaling or deeper spalling or is it an overlay
delamination?

What more extensive testing is needed?

Do you have information about the initial construction (mixes, construction drawings, specifications)?

A good tool to have at this point in the investigation is a hammer and some spray paint. Pinging the concrete surface
with the hammer will reveal delaminated areas that can be outlined with the paint. Delaminated areas send back a
dull hollow sound instead of the hard ringing of sound concrete. Also be sure to have a tape measure to determine
the extent of the repairs. Take lots of notes and photoseven video if that would more easily document the problems.

At this point you will begin to get a feeling for the cause of the damage. But if you need more information you might
have to resort to some destructive and nondestructive evaluation techniques. The first step is just to break away any
damaged concrete to determine how deep the damage goes. If you need more information, you can drill core
samples for analysis in the lab or by a petrographer (someone who studies hardened concrete using microscopy).

Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques include radar, infrared thermography, and impact-echo. These can
reveal a lot about the condition of the concrete and any reinforcement without having to open it up.

For a detailed description of how to conduct a condition assessment, get ACI Committee 364's report, Guide for
Evaluation of Concrete Structures before Rehabilitation (ACI 364.1R-07).