Concrete is a popular building material with numerous applications, but one of the most common ways it's used is in flooring. Builders love using concrete for flooring because it's resilient, easy to clean and maintain, and it can be coated with a variety of finishes. However, despite its high level of durability, even concrete can crack, pit, or spall over time. When concrete cracks, wears out, or otherwise shows signs of wear, homeowners are faced with a decision: should they repair it or replace it?
While replacing your concrete floor may seem like a good idea if you're facing extensive damage, it takes a lot of time and money to remove the old concrete, clean up any debris, and pour new concrete into the same area. Instead, here are three reasons you should repair your concrete rather than replacing it.
1. Repairs are cheaper
Repairs, even when extensive, are almost always cheaper than a new concrete replacement. The cost of repairing concrete will depend on the amount of damage and type of damage. For example, crumbled concrete will cost more money to repair than pitted concrete because of the amount of work required. However, since repairing concrete doesn't require removing the old flooring, it's always less time-intensive than replacement.
2. Repairs are more eco-friendly
Concrete removal and replacement both involve a lot of steps, most of which can be damaging to the environment. For example, when removing concrete slabs, contractors use jackhammers and other power tools to break up the slab into small enough pieces that can be easily removed from the site, and these tools use a lot of energy. Furthermore, concrete that is removed from the site must be trucked away for disposal, and removal trucks emit a lot of pollution into the air. Even the curing process requires a significant amount of heat, which also impacts the environment. Since repairs can usually be completed without the use of tools and there's less concrete to cure than there would be in a replacement scenario, repairing concrete is a lot more eco-friendly.
3. Repairs are less disruptive
One of the worst parts about having a concrete floor replaces is how long it takes to complete the project. The target room in your home will likely be out of action for weeks while everything is taken care of, which can be a nuisance to deal with. Repairs, on the other hand, can be completed in a shorter time period, causing less disruption to your daily life.
Reach out to a professional for concrete repairs.