Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Information Pertaining Concrete Sidewalk Repair

By Essie Craft


Concrete sidewalk repair becomes necessary when a path is filled with potholes and it is no longer comfortable to use. The surface of a pavement may rumble due to effects of tree roots penetrating underneath it. This will initially be noted as cracks and as the roots widen, wide faults will appear. Within a short period, the image of the footpath will have deteriorated and it will also not be safe to walk on such a path.

The need to restore a footpath will arise if it is accidentally damaged by external forces such as machinery used by road constructors. It can also be defaced during water pipe and sewerage channel repair. Whatever the reason that makes your path not sound to use, you will be required to seek the services of a reliable contractor to work on it.

It is required that the contractor hired to undertake the repair finds an alternative route to be used by pedestrians as he works on the damaged one. This is crucial as it ensures that the normal activities being undertaken in a given property are not disrupted. It is not economical for passersby to remain stranded till the contractor is through with his work.

The law requires that the repairer demarcates the site of work with the recommended standard materials. This will bar passersby from entering the area of work as they will be exposed to the risk of accidents if they do so. If the path is placed against the road, it will be crucial to put warning signs so as to alert motorists of the repair work going on.

Each and every contractor must stick to the requirements stated in the international construction codes handout. It is against the law for anyone to use materials that do not meet the strength described in this handbook. These restrictions have been set to ensure that all structures put in place are durable and safe for human use.

The components of concrete include water, cement, fine and coarse aggregates. The ratio applied in mixing these elements will depend on the required strength. The quantity and quality of each of them will affect the properties of the concrete once it dries. The components must be mixed well so that it gives a rigid as well as a durable structure once it hardens. This will only be possible if the appropriate equipment is applied when doing the mixing.

The initial design used in the construction of the sidewalk is what will guide the contractor in carrying out the restoration duty. In case it is not available, a redesign should be done at least for the faulty part. If the client wish amendments be done so that the renewed structure assumes a new image, then he must pass his views to the designer.

Once the concrete sidewalk repair is complete, it is crucial to put the correct measures in place so as to ensure that the incident that resulted to the damage does not occur again. This will involve excavating all roots protruding towards the pavement. Metal guards will also be useful to discourage motorists from stepping on the path as this will expose excess weight on the surface which results to cracking.




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