Update: I thought that new 'self-healing' concrete additive was a total scam

A supplier in Phoenix kept pushing this liquid mix that supposedly seals small cracks on its own. I was sure it was just overpriced junk, but we had a small patio job for a picky client last month and decided to try it. We mixed it in like the bottle said, about 4 ounces per bag. The pour went fine, nothing special. Then, two weeks later, the client sent me a picture. A tiny hairline crack from a settling corner had literally filled itself in and vanished. I drove over to see it myself and couldn't believe it. The patch was smooth and the same color. Has anyone else tested this stuff on a bigger slab or in colder weather? I'm curious if it holds up.

3 comments

3 Comments

brown.susan3mo ago

That's the best feeling when something actually works like they said it would. We've all been burned by miracle products before, so it's a huge relief. I had the same doubt about a waterproofing sealer last year, but it saved a basement job. Makes you want to try it on a bigger pour just to see.

betty_fisher514d ago

That 5 ounces per bag ratio is actually way too low in my experience. I tried the same brand on a concrete patio last fall and followed the directions exactly, and the crack from my driveway settling just got worse over the winter. Idk maybe my climate is different, but a tree root closing up a crack sounds like luck more than the product doing anything special. I've had better luck just patching cracks with a vinyl concrete patch and calling it a day.

bailey.sandra3mo ago

We used that same stuff on a driveway apron last spring. It was the brand from that big box store, about 5 ounces per bag. A month later a crack from a tree root closed up almost completely. I'm a total believer now.