Sidewalks: How do I fix it and make it abide by the city’s standards?

Rohan Mathew

A property looks appealing and inviting with having a perfect curb. Does yours have a well-maintained driveway, frontways, and sidewalk? 

If you put enough effort and budget into your interiors, the same goes with your properties’ exterior. Isn’t it intriguing for you when you see exquisite facades of LA’s upper crust properties? No matter how old a house gets, reinventing its curb makes a big difference. If you have observed that something looks not right on your property, maybe it is time for a sidewalk repair in Los Angeles. Do you know that you can do something about the lingering cracks on your sidewalk?

Today’s article guides you to practical steps and tips which are easy to follow that give attention to your driveways.

What does your city say about sidewalk maintenance?

Sidewalks are public properties. Basically, it is the role of the local government to upkeep the public spaces outside your properties.

But if you have no idea about private sidewalks, then good thing you come across this post. 

Here are some of the things you have control over regarding the walkways treading around your property lines.

  • Cleaning the sidewalks on a regular basis
  • Maintaining the curb of private sidewalks next to your home
  • Repairing cracks on the private sidewalk to provide safety
  • Private housing development maintains and repairs the private sidewalk to avoid accidents to its clients and members
  • Tree and shrubs trimming to avoid chaotic curb and messy facade.
  • Concrete crack filling and concrete sidewalk resurfacing for an appealing curb.

How to fix cracks in the sidewalk?

The number one role of a homeowner is to fix the cracks and maintain clean concrete flooring on the sidewalks. If you are inside a housing development, your association or housing developers should notice the issues outside your doors.

Here are the main problems that need fixing when you step outside your home.

  • Debris from crumbling concrete or residue from the streets stains and cause distraction on the sidewalk.
  • Snow filing up the steps during winter seasons.
  • Excessive leaves are scattered from the trees and shrubs.
  • Loose slabs began to appear on the sidewalks or walkways.
  • Rainy seasons cause the sidewalks to be too slippery, which means the footsteps and the private entry need repair.

Steps to Fix Shallow Holes on Concrete Sidewalk

Often your driveway is adjacent to a private sidewalk separated by a plot of grassy outdoor surfacing. The two spots in these areas of your property may have different requirements. A concrete driveways Minneapolis repairs thicker measures of slabs when the concrete is made for heavy vehicle traffic. 

It may require you a different treatment when it comes to repairing sidewalk cracks. You can DIY the shallow hair-thin holes. Here’s what to do:

  • Schedule a suitable time to repair the sidewalks and ensure that no one will get distracted with the ongoing repairs.
  • Start by cleaning the sidewalk concrete with pressurized water.
  • Use a hose to spray out the dirt that exists in the cracks.
  • Use a stiff broom to remove excessive dirt. Be sure to clear it out from any debris, sand, or dead leaves that may clog the shallow gaps.
  • You can DIY repair a lease than a ¼ inch cement crack. A premixed concrete filler will suffice.
  • Use a caulk gun to help you fill the gaps. 
  • After filling, let the filler set and smoothen the surface for any excess of the filling paste.

Steps for Fixing Large Cracks

For fixing large cracks, the same steps above apply. There are a few additional steps, though. Here’s what to do:

Stage One- Flooring Prep and Materials

Start with essential steps: floor prep, prepare concrete filler, mix with the right consistency, and clean.

Stage Two- Inverted V SHape

After preparing the floor with pressure washing the surface, use the chisel to widen cracks.

It is essential to see the extent of the damage to the cement or concrete flooring. One way to test the severity of the cracks is to use a chisel and a hammer. Tap the surface. By doing this, the loose edges of the concrete cracks will reveal the extent of the damage.

This process aims to achieve an inverted V shape where the bottom of the cracks widens. Doing so will provide the new filler a larger surface area to hold on to. The broad base of the cracks is also the part where you will apply a concrete adhesive for full support and stable filling.

Stage Three- Filling The Large Cracks

There are various methods to fill large cracks along the sidewalks or your private walkways. Here are the common ones depending on the cause of the damage:

  • Concrete leveling for cracks due to uneven concrete
  • Mudjacking for sinking concrete walkways
  • Gap filling using 2 part epoxy coatings for more than 3-inch horizontal gaps on the walkways or sidewalk
  • Replacing loosely attached flagstone – the loose slabs need resurfacing with a stamped overlay so you can replicate the flagstone patterns.