đź•‘ Reading time: 1 minute
Routing and sealing of cracks in concrete can be used for dormant cracks not involving the restoration of tensile strength. In this method the crack is enlarged along its exposed face to form a V-shaped groove up to a minimum width of 6 mm and a depth of 6 to 25 mm. The groove thus formed is filled and sealed with suitable material. For relatively lower performance of repair but to get quicker work, the routing operation can be omitted. The surface of the repair material can be higher than that of the adjacent concrete decreasing the level of aesthetic appearance. This method is commonly used for both fine pattern cracks and large isolated but dormant cracks. On roadway pavements, pouring hot tar within the cracks is a simple and inexpensive method. When hot-poured joint sealants are used, it is made sure that they bond with the concrete and do not melt and flow under operating conditions. In pavements, the grade of the sealant must be such that it can bear the moving traffic without any damage. The groove over the crack may be made with hand-held tools, concrete saw or pneumatic tools, which is then cleaned by air blasting, sandblasting, or water-jetting to remove grease, oil or dirt. After cleaning with water, the surface must be dried before the application of the sealant.![](https://test.theconstructor.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/routing-sealing-cracks-in-concrete.jpg)