Concrete is a foundational material in construction, but it’s far from perfect. It cracks—often. And in high-heat regions like Texas, those cracks can appear sooner and with greater severity. At Otto Cement, we partner with trusted construction chemicals manufacturers to offer performance-based solutions that reduce the risk of cracking and extend the lifespan of concrete structures. Understanding the causes of cracks, and how specialized products address them, is key to building long-lasting projects.
Why Concrete Cracks
Concrete offers excellent compressive strength, making it suitable for bearing heavy loads. However, it is inherently weak in tension. When tensile stresses exceed the material’s capacity, cracks develop. These stresses can originate from natural drying, temperature changes, environmental conditions, or internal chemical reactions.
Types and Causes of Cracking
- Plastic Shrinkage Cracks: Occur when moisture evaporates too quickly from the surface of freshly poured concrete—especially common in hot, dry climates like Texas.
- Restrained Drying Shrinkage: As concrete dries and shrinks, resistance from adjacent structures or subgrade friction can result in tension that leads to cracking.
- Freeze/Thaw Stresses: Although less common in Texas, areas with cold nights and seasonal changes may still experience freeze/thaw cycles that expand trapped moisture within the concrete.
- Expansive Chemical Reactions: Sulfate attack and alkali-silica reaction (ASR) both cause internal expansion that cracks the concrete from within.
- Reinforcement Corrosion: Rusting rebar expands and pushes outward, breaking the concrete’s surrounding structure.
- Structural Overload: Excessive or unexpected loads may cause cracks in structural components, sometimes requiring engineering evaluation.
Solutions from Construction Chemicals Manufacturers
- Shrinkage-reducing admixtures that limit volume changes during curing.
- Air-entraining agents that introduce microscopic air bubbles to protect against freeze/thaw damage.
- ASR mitigation additives that prevent reactive gel formation in concrete.
- Corrosion inhibitors and protective coatings that guard embedded steel from moisture and chloride intrusion.
- Microfibers and macro fibers that help control crack propagation and improve post-crack load capacity.
- Flexible joint sealants and polymer repairs that accommodate movement without failing.
Concrete Performance in Texas Heat
Texas presents unique challenges. Intense heat accelerates water evaporation during curing, increasing the risk of plastic shrinkage cracking. To combat this contractors employ high-performance products such as evaporation retarders, fogging systems, and temperature-tolerant admixtures that improve workability and strength development in hot weather. Proper placement timing and curing strategies are essential for heat-resilient concrete performance.
Why Otto Cement
Our product line is more than a catalog, it’s a toolkit for durable construction. We collaborate with expert construction chemicals manufacturers to ensure our offerings address real-world issues like cracking, shrinkage, and thermal stress. Whether you’re building in urban Houston or rural West Texas, we help you meet local challenges with confidence and long-term performance.
If your concrete is cracking, contact us today!
Cracking may be a common characteristic of concrete, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. With the right materials and application methods, concrete can perform well even under the intense heat and stress of Texas conditions.
Otto Cement is committed to helping professionals choose the right solutions for the job. Learn more by contacting us online today.