Large sidewalk gaps over an inch and irregular in shape are not only annoying to look at, they also pose a serious threat especially for kids and two wheeled machines.
Even an adult could trip and twist an ankle when out for that morning run.
These large cracks need to be repaired, and you don’t need the help of a construction crew to do it.
Let Everyday Home Repairs guide you with an easy DIY tutorial that will have that sidewalk crack sealed in no time.
A crack could be along a public sidewalk in front of your home, or along your driveway, but either way they shouldn’t be left alone since they usually get bigger over time.
Weeds and grass will grow in between and eventually come up.
You will need the following to do this job:
- Nylon Cup Brush (For Drill)
- Tremco Vulkem 45 SSL
- Pool Noodles
- 1″ Backer Rod (25′)
- 3/4″ Backer Rod (20′)
- 5/8″ Backer Rod (20′)
- 1/2 Backer Rod (20′)
Clean off the edges of the cracks using the drill with a nylon cup brush.
That will remove all the dirt and debris so the seal will bond without any issues.
Use backer rods to measure out the gap between the smoothed out cracks.
Not all of them will fit snugly so pool noodles will come in handy since you can cut out custom sizes for uneven spacing in those cracks.
If a backer rod fits right, then go ahead and follow the steps in the video.
He fills up the gap with sand then squeezes the backer rod into it.
You can customize too if the spacing is really uneven.
Cut out pool noodles to fill the harder to fill spots but make sure every space is sealed or else the seal won’t do much for you.
Seal off the ends with duct tape, and ensure the backer rod or pool noodle is snug and level just below the surface of the crack.
For best results, use a vacuum cleaner to suck out all the dirt again.
You don’t want debris mixing with the sealant.
Go ahead and seal off the crack.
Gently squeeze over the rod, filling every space with sealant, going back and forth to double check on the sealing properties.
A gap could open up when it rains and ruin your work.
Those uneven cracks may be a little harder to fill with sealant so go about it slowly.
Duct tapes on the end will stop the sealant from leaking out as you wait for it to dry.
It will take around ten minutes for the sealant to set, so sprinkle some sand on it to allow the space to blend in with the sidewalk.
That will also keep out all those bugs, twigs, and leaves on those windy days.
Just look at how awesome that looks once it’s done.
And you did it yourself so go ahead and enjoy that drink!
Check out this tutorial video below then subscribe to his channel for more DIY videos!
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