Quick Concrete Fixes

Q: My concrete driveway runs right up next to the house. I noticed yesterday a crack running from where the driveway meets the corner of the house. How can I fix this? I'm worried that water will seep through the crack into the basement. -- Carl in Trenton, N.J.

A: If the crack is not very wide -- less than 1/8 inch -- and you don't see any water seeping into the basement from that corner, patch the crack with concrete caulk or a concrete patching compound on a dry day.

A wider crack can be temporarily patched by brushing out debris, then filling the crack with sand and covering with waterproof tape. This will stop water seepage for a few days, at least, until you can make the time to permanently patch the driveway.

On a dry day, uncover and brush the sand out of the crack. Using a small chisel and hammer, smooth the inside walls of the crack and angle them slightly so that the crack is slightly wider at the bottom than at the top. Mix up a batch of concrete -- just enough to fill the crack, plus a little extra. Spray a little water from a handheld spray bottle into the crack, then use a trowel to smooth the concrete into the crack. Pack the concrete in firmly until it mounds over the surface; then smooth it even.

Allow the patch to air-dry for a couple of hours. Then, cover the patched surface with plastic sheeting to prevent any moisture from getting in. The patch must cure for about five days.

HOME TIP: When purchasing concrete, buy only what you need for the job, as it doesn't store well and is very susceptible to moisture.

Send questions or home-repair tips to homeguru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

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