Concrete Cracks Explained (Why It Happens, When to Worry, and What You Can Do About It)

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What if your concrete driveway or patio cracks?

It's a fair question—because all concrete cracks.

There's actually an old saying in the industry:

"2 things Are Guaranteed With Concrete It Will Get Hard & It Will Crack"

In this article, we're going to quickly break down why cracks happen, what to expect when you see them, and what experienced contractors do to manage them.

The 2 main reasons concrete cracks...

1. The first has to do with what happens as the concrete mix dries.

   When concrete is first poured, it has a lot of water in it to help it flow and settle. As the water evaporates, the concrete naturally pulls in a bit on itself—kind of like a sponge drying out. And when that happens, small hairline cracks can form.

   This is completely normal and just part of how concrete cures and hardens over time.

2. The second reason concrete cracks is due to temperature changes. When it's hot outside, concrete expands. When it’s cold, it tightens up. Over time, that movement puts stress on the slab, and cracks form.

Here’s the truth: you’ll probably see cracks from day one. But in most cases, they’re just cosmetic—not structural.

This is just how concrete behaves.

And because it’s impossible to prevent concrete from cracking entirely, the good news is that experienced contractors—and homeowners—can actually control where most cracks occur.

You’ve probably seen those lines every few feet on sidewalks. Those are called control joints. They’re used to guide where cracks form.

It’s kind of like folding a piece of paper. If you tear it, the rip will most likely follow the crease. That’s exactly what control joints do for concrete.

They give the crack a place to go—so it doesn’t happen somewhere random.

Most of the time, cracks stay inside those joints. But concrete doesn’t always follow the plan. And here in Wisconsin, the harsher the winter, the more cracking you might see.

This is why reinforcement matters.

A properly reinforced driveway keeps everything locked together. So even if cracks appear, they won’t widen, shift, or become a tripping hazard.

The sad reality is some contractors skip reinforcement to save money. That’s when you end up with big, uneven cracks—and those get worse over time. Eventually, they become a real structural issue.

Now, while no one can promise a crack-free driveway, there are three things you and your contractor can do to reduce the chances of random cracks forming (and they tie into what we’ve already talked about).

1. The first is making sure there’s a solid gravel base underneath. If the ground isn’t compact and stable, the concrete can flex under pressure—and that leads to cracks. A properly prepped base helps prevent that.

2. The second is placing control joints in the right locations. The more frequent and intentional they are, the more likely it is that cracks stay within them.

3. And third—and this one’s especially for homeowners—watch out for water. In freezing temps, water can be concrete’s worst enemy. If your downspouts dump water near your driveway, or if your yard slopes toward it, that water can freeze, expand, and put pressure on the slab—raising the risk of cracking.

So here’s the bottom line...

Cracks in concrete are completely normal.

But if your driveway or patio is properly reinforced and installed right, those cracks are almost always cosmetic—not structural.

Hopefully, this clears up some of the confusion around concrete cracking.

If you’re planning a new driveway or patio—and you’re ready to get a free estimate based on your specific needs—just click the link below to book a free 15-minute consultation.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you have a great day!

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