Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Cracks in new concrete pond.
I have just hired someone to install a pond/waterfall feature. They
used a liner (unsure of thickness) and the concrete was poured yesterday (it looks like a min. of 3" thick), reinforced with chicken wire. I noticed this morning that 3-4 (or more)cracks have formed. Should I be concerned about these cracks? I know that concrete cracks, but I am a little concerned that the cracks appeared so soon. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Cracks in new concrete pond.
Concrete cracks due to drying out, or due to other stresses like settlement,
thermal expansion and contraction, over loads, and numerous chemical attacks that occur years down the road. I suspect the cracks that you are seeing are caused by the concrete drying out before it has the strength to resist cracking. Curing is the word used in concrete language for keeping the concrete moist and the temperature favorable for the hydration reaction to occur. The cement in the concrete reacts with water chemically to develop strength, water tightness, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, hardness, etc. The longer the reaction goes on the better the concrete is. If the concrete is allowed to dry out, then the reaction will slow to a stop and never really get going again. Find a way to cover the concrete with wet towels, burlap, or similar material, cover with plastic sheeting and rewet the cloth at least daily to prevent it from drying. Cure for a minimum of 7 days, though 30 days is much better, but not always feasible. You didn't describe where the concrete is in your system. If it is in the stream, the cracks could be a big problem allowing water to leak out of the streambed and into the underlying soil, which could cause the soil to settle, making the cracks worse. If it is over or under the liner to support the pond edge, and the water does not go higher than the liner, then no problem. If it down in the pond, with a liner under the concrete, then the cracks may self heal. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "Robert" wrote in message om... I have just hired someone to install a pond/waterfall feature. They used a liner (unsure of thickness) and the concrete was poured yesterday (it looks like a min. of 3" thick), reinforced with chicken wire. I noticed this morning that 3-4 (or more)cracks have formed. Should I be concerned about these cracks? I know that concrete cracks, but I am a little concerned that the cracks appeared so soon. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Cracks in new concrete pond.
Concrete cracks due to drying out, or due to other stresses like settlement,
thermal expansion and contraction, over loads, and numerous chemical attacks that occur years down the road. I suspect the cracks that you are seeing are caused by the concrete drying out before it has the strength to resist cracking. Curing is the word used in concrete language for keeping the concrete moist and the temperature favorable for the hydration reaction to occur. The cement in the concrete reacts with water chemically to develop strength, water tightness, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, hardness, etc. The longer the reaction goes on the better the concrete is. If the concrete is allowed to dry out, then the reaction will slow to a stop and never really get going again. Find a way to cover the concrete with wet towels, burlap, or similar material, cover with plastic sheeting and rewet the cloth at least daily to prevent it from drying. Cure for a minimum of 7 days, though 30 days is much better, but not always feasible. You didn't describe where the concrete is in your system. If it is in the stream, the cracks could be a big problem allowing water to leak out of the streambed and into the underlying soil, which could cause the soil to settle, making the cracks worse. If it is over or under the liner to support the pond edge, and the water does not go higher than the liner, then no problem. If it down in the pond, with a liner under the concrete, then the cracks may self heal. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "Robert" wrote in message om... I have just hired someone to install a pond/waterfall feature. They used a liner (unsure of thickness) and the concrete was poured yesterday (it looks like a min. of 3" thick), reinforced with chicken wire. I noticed this morning that 3-4 (or more)cracks have formed. Should I be concerned about these cracks? I know that concrete cracks, but I am a little concerned that the cracks appeared so soon. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Small fissures/cracks in pond liner | Ponds | |||
Cracks in new concrete pond. | Ponds | |||
Now home to hyacinths (was:Concrete pond cracks~ links, can you help?) | Ponds | |||
Concrete pond cracks~ links, can you help? | Ponds | |||
What can I grow in my cracks? | United Kingdom |