Resurfacing can cover small, stable cracks, but it usually cannot stop cracks that are still moving from showing through again. Whether resurfacing will hide cracks depends on what caused them, how much they move and how they are treated before the new surface goes on.
Many homeowners hope a new surface will make cracks disappear for good. Sometimes it does a good job. Other times, the crack comes back in the same spot, because the movement underneath never stopped.
Stable Cracks vs Active Cracks
A stable crack formed once and hasn’t changed. Many shrinkage cracks fall into this group. When these cracks are properly repaired before resurfacing, the new layer can often cover them well.
An active crack keeps opening, closing or shifting. Temperature changes, settling soil or heavy loads can all keep a crack moving. A thin overlay bonded on top tends to follow that movement, and the crack may reappear through the new surface. This is often called reflective cracking.
Watching a crack for a few months can help. If it looks the same after a change of season, it is more likely to be stable. If it grows wider or longer, something is still moving.
What Happens Before Resurfacing
Cracks are usually cleaned and repaired before an overlay is applied. The method depends on the crack’s width, depth and movement. Joints that were designed into the slab should generally be kept, since covering them can lead to new, random cracks.
If a crack is uneven, with one side higher than the other, that often signals settlement. Resurfacing won’t level a slab, so that issue needs to be handled separately first. Our concrete leveling page explains when lifting a settled slab may be possible.
Even with careful preparation, it helps to expect that a crack may eventually show as a faint line in the new surface. That does not always mean the resurfacing failed, but it is worth discussing before work begins.
When Resurfacing Isn’t the Right Answer
Resurfacing is designed to improve the surface of concrete that is basically sound. It is usually not a good fit when:
- cracks run through large parts of the slab,
- sections are sinking or heaving,
- the concrete is crumbling or breaking apart, or
- water regularly flows under the slab.
In those cases, repair or replacement of the damaged areas may be more practical. A new surface over failing concrete may look good at first but often won’t last.
Getting the Assessment Right
The key is matching the solution to the cause. A careful look at the cracks, the slab’s support and drainage helps decide whether resurfacing makes sense or whether another step should come first. North Carolina’s wet seasons can make drainage a big part of that picture.
Our concrete resurfacing team evaluates cracks before recommending a new surface. If cracked concrete at your Burlington property is bothering you, we can take a look and explain whether resurfacing is likely to help.
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