structural repairs
Concrete and steel are today’s primary choice in terms of building materials due to their strength and versatility. However, what many people don't realise is. that if reinforcing steel is poorly encapsulated, and allows moisture ingress, then steel and concrete and not a good combination. Furthermore, whilst concrete is strong, over time and through exposure to the elements, age or structural damage due to heavy traffic, it is susceptible to deterioration. Of primary concern is concrete spalling (commonly known as concrete cancer) which can be a safety hazard.
Concrete spalling is the phenomenon which occurs when the steel in the slab is exposed to moisture. In this instance, a chemical reaction between the lime of the concrete, the water and the steel takes place. The result is the rusting of the steel reinforcing. As the steel rusts, it expands -possibly up to 7 times its original size - and pushes the concrete around it out. Ultimately, over time, this causes the concrete the crack and become brittle. Where this occurs on the facade of a building, the result can be large chunks of concrete falling to the ground below. Where it occurs on the horizontal surfaces, the result can be ingress of water into the building and property damage.
Not only is concrete cancer an eyesore, but left untreated over extended periods of time, it can cause extensive structural problems to the building itself. Ultimately, the underlying causes of concrete decay should be treated as soon as possible, to protect your building, as studies have shown that delayed or periodic maintenance costs significantly more than rectifying the problem first time.
For more information on the effects of spalling, or to arrange for a representative to come and discuss your concrete repair in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or other major cities, please contact us today. Alternatively, have a look at our glossary of structural repair terms to better understand the terms used in structural repair and what we can do.
