Why Are There Grooves In Concrete Sidewalks?
This is a fantastic question and one we get asked a lot. Why do we, as local concrete contractors, intentionally put grooves in concrete sidewalks and driveways? The answer is to control the inevitable cracking of concrete.
You see, there is no surefire way to prevent concrete from cracking over time. It's basically inevitable. Knowing this, a clever trick was developed years ago to help minimize the cracking and control the direction. By inserting small grooves in the concrete, you force the concrete to crack where the groove is. This may seem silly, but in reality it help tremendously when it's time to replace concrete. |
As much as we wish it were true, concrete doesn't last forever. Sometimes it needs to be repaired or even replaced. Thankfully, the concept of grooves makes a concrete repair a little simpler. Let's take an example.
Say you've got a large 100' sidewalk out on the road. Over the years, the rain and snow here in Wisconsin has pounded one particular 4' section of this sidewalk and caused major damage. But because the sidewalk was installed properly and with grooves, the damage and cracks have mostly been contained within this 4' section. Now, for a repair project, the concrete contractor simply needs to demo this 4' section and replace it instead of redoing the entire 100' area. Trust us, without proper groves, it would be nearly the entire 100' section that would need to be replaced if damage occurred.
So these grooves act as a type of controlled breakage for the concrete. It's to help down the road when a repair needs to happen. Concrete is a beautiful thing when done correctly. It's our passion and we'd love to help with your project!
Say you've got a large 100' sidewalk out on the road. Over the years, the rain and snow here in Wisconsin has pounded one particular 4' section of this sidewalk and caused major damage. But because the sidewalk was installed properly and with grooves, the damage and cracks have mostly been contained within this 4' section. Now, for a repair project, the concrete contractor simply needs to demo this 4' section and replace it instead of redoing the entire 100' area. Trust us, without proper groves, it would be nearly the entire 100' section that would need to be replaced if damage occurred.
So these grooves act as a type of controlled breakage for the concrete. It's to help down the road when a repair needs to happen. Concrete is a beautiful thing when done correctly. It's our passion and we'd love to help with your project!
JJ Enterprises sets the standard for quality workmanship in Wisconsin
JJ Enterprises • 1900 S. 74th St • West Allis, WI 53219
Phone: 414.349.2479 • Fax: 414.525.4163 • email: [email protected]
Phone: 414.349.2479 • Fax: 414.525.4163 • email: [email protected]