Get matched with top concrete wall service pros in Baker, MT

Unfortunately, concrete cracks happen, so there’s no surefire way to avoid them long-term. To slow down the cracking, apply a sealant every two to three years and use sand rather than salt to melt snow or ice. Using salt speeds up the freeze-thaw cycle, which may increase the likelihood of cracking. Additionally, keep vehicles and heavy machinery off of your concrete, as the weight can lead to more cracking.

Any bowing in a basement wall indicates a problem that needs to be addressed by a professional. If your basement wall bows more than 1 inch, it's time for an inspection. Generally, a wall can bow up to 30% of its thickness (around 2.5 inches for an 8-inch-thick wall) before it becomes an urgent situation. Bowing of 2 to 4 inches is more straightforward to fix than bowing of more than 4 inches, which will require significant repairs. If the bowing is more than 6 inches, the wall will likely need to be replaced. The sooner you address the problem, the easier and less expensive the repair will be.

Labor and pouring adds between $8 and $18 per square foot to your total for concrete delivery. Especially for larger projects, it’s usually a good idea to hire a professional concrete delivery company when it comes to installing concrete surfaces even though it will undoubtedly cost more to hire a pro to do the work for you.

Concrete houses cost 10% to 20% more to build than stick-built homes, and maintenance on home systems is more invasive and expensive due to pipes and wires being buried in concrete. Concrete homes can also look more industrial and less comfortable if you don’t cover the concrete with finishing materials. It’s also more challenging to make changes to concrete, so reframing doors and windows or building home additions will cost more. Concrete needs time to cure, too, so the timeline to build a house out of concrete is a bit longer.