Repairing cracks in concrete sidewalk/driveway

[kaneohe]

Any tips for repairing cracks in concrete sidewalk/driveway? Two types:
1)small cracks ---1/16" to hairline
2)larger crack---1/2" wide/deep

Looking at 2 quikrete products (open to others)
1) Concrete crack seal (gray)--a latex emulsion
product already premixed in qt bottle with narrow
spout QUIKRETE® - Concrete Crack Seal (Gray)

2)a dry mix that you have to add water to and then
apply-----seems kind of messy---even handling sealed bags at store to read instruction got hands
filthy w/ fine gray powder. Sand grains felt too
large to go in small cracks so probably suitable only
for the larger crack.

Anyone have experience w/ the first product?

 

[calmloki]

I used the latex in a squirt bottle - it filled the cracks but they now are visible as filled grey lines. Pretty obvious against the exposed aggregate drive. A couple years later there it has pulled away from a few spots - or the cracks are growing. In larger cracks I filled with sand to below the drive surface, then squirted in the latex. Good thing is that it is quick, clean, stops dirt and weed seeds from getting in the cracks and doing more damage. Bad is that you still have a cracked drive. The dry mix will show as a substantially wider crack repair I believe.

Think you see the product used in the big box stores in their floor cracks.

 

[wolf]

your neighbor

Hey Kanohe:

It's your work buddy. I have the same problem. Often wondered about though's same products.

One thing I noticed many years ago, while at our local Costco. I saw a couple of guys patching the concrete ramp that leads up to the store entrance.

If you look closely, you can still see their repairs. Very smooth, patch. Has to be smooth so customers don't trip. The color of the repair is not gray, but you can tell where the patches are. Located on the upramp.

The patches are very good and have been there for years now.

I asked them what kind of patching compound they use?

Here's the secret They said they use "a patching compound that is used around swimming pools".

Makes sense, you want a compound that resists water, and is not slippery.

Let me know what you think.

 

[kaneohe]

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. W......got any brand names?
Maybe OSH will know.

 

[FinallyRetired]

I used the latex stuff that turns gray, and wasn't too happy with it. Biggest problem was that it dried uneven, with a bump across the crack, and then I had to get a power grinder and grind it down to make it even with the concrete. Next time I would even it up before it dried.