Concrete joint sealing and crack repair
Keep snowmelt, rain and salty water from getting under your concrete, which is where most settling starts.
Driveways, walks and patios are cut into sections with control joints, and the seams between slabs and along the house are open paths for water. Around St. Cloud that water goes through months of freezing and thawing, and in sandy soil it can carry the base away with it. A flexible sealant in those joints and cracks slows the whole process down.
Where sealing does the most good
- The seam where a patio, stoop or driveway meets the house
- Control joints in driveways and garage aprons
- Cracks that opened up after a slab moved
- Drill holes and joints after a leveling job
What sealing won't do
Sealant won't raise a slab that has already dropped, and it won't stop the surface flaking that salt causes. Think of it as maintenance that helps leveling and new concrete last longer.
Crack filling vs. joint sealing
Hairline cracks that aren't moving are mostly cosmetic. Cracks that have opened, or that have one side higher than the other, usually mean the slab has moved and may need leveling first. Joints are meant to move a little, so they need a flexible sealant, often over a foam backer rod in deeper joints.
How often should it be done?
Flexible sealants wear out from sun, traffic and movement. Walk your concrete each spring after the thaw and reseal anything that has split, shrunk or pulled loose. Doing it in late spring or summer, when the concrete is dry, gives the sealant the best chance to bond.
Pricing is set by the contractor after an on-site look, once they know how big the void is and what caused it. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the slab is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I seal joints myself?
Small joints, yes, with a self-leveling concrete sealant from a hardware store. Long runs of joints, wide gaps, and sealing after a leveling job are often worth handing to a contractor.
When's the best time to seal joints in St. Cloud?
On dry days from late spring through early fall, when the concrete is clean and dry and nights are well above freezing.
Related services
- Concrete leveling (mudjacking and foam)
- Sidewalk repair and trip hazards
- Driveway and garage apron repair
- Steps, stoops and patios
More background: St. Cloud concrete repair guide.
Slab dropped over the winter? Walk turned into a trip hazard?
Call and a local concrete contractor will come look at it and quote the fix.