Concrete is one of the most utilised man-made materials, however it can be susceptible to structural and chemical damage. Luckily there are several modern techniques available to repair these issues without the need for large-scale demolition.
Every concrete remediation situation is unique and will require a different approach. This is because the causes of the damage will be different depending on the physical environment.
Damaged Concrete
Concrete can suffer damage from a number of sources. A typical cause is overloading it beyond its design capacity. When this happens, concrete becomes brittle and the loads it is designed to carry are impeded. It may also be damaged by exposure to chemicals or extreme temperature variations.
A trusted concrete repair contractor Geelong will be able to remedy this by using techniques like slab-jacking or piercing. Both methods involve digging out the existing concrete and replacing it with fresh, new concrete that is reinforced. It can be topped with aggregates such as shells, glass and aluminium oxide for an attractive finish. It is also possible to skim coat the entire surface of the concrete with Sakrete Top ‘N Bond for a uniform appearance.
Delaminated Concrete
Concrete delamination occurs when the paste layer at the surface separates from the slab body. It primarily happens with troweled concrete on a cool subgrade, most commonly in early spring and late fall. It can happen at any time, however, depending on concrete characteristics and finishing practices.
This type of delamination can be identified by sounding the slab with a hammer or dragging a chain over it. The sound changes from a sharp, solid tone to a hollow or dull one when it hits a delaminated surface. Delaminations are also aggravated by traffic or by rust on steel rebar. They can range from a few square inches to several feet in area. They can be repaired by drilling and inserting ports and injecting Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender into the voids.
Cracked Concrete
Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. This can create stress that causes cracks in the concrete. Some types of cracks are caused by changes in temperature, while others can be due to construction and maintenance problems.
Non-structural cracks like drying shrinkage cracks and plastic shrinkage cracks do not have an impact on the structural integrity of a concrete structure but can affect the appearance and reduce its serviceability. These can also allow water, oxygen and minerals into the concrete causing corrosion of reinforcing steel.
Other common cracks include heaving cracks that occur during the freeze/thaw cycle, or in areas with growing tree roots. These cracks can be reduced by paving over ground that drains well and has some “give”, or by using expansion joints made of compressible material, such as tar-impregnated cellulose fibre.
Structural Damage
Concrete is used for a huge range of construction projects. From buildings to footpaths, concrete is tough and built to withstand some serious conditions. However, like all man-made materials, it can suffer from a variety of damage.
One of the most common problems is water damage. This can happen due to leaking pipes or sewers. In addition, it can also be caused by floods and storms.
Structural damage in a building can be quite difficult to fix. While underpinning may be a solution, it is often expensive and disruptive. This is because it imposes rigidity in one part of the building and can cause problems with neighbouring structures. Another option is to conduct remedial work that focuses on the damaged area. This can involve the removal of spalled concrete and the inspection of enforcement steel to identify any corrosion.
Chemical Damage
Often concrete damage after floods is caused by chemicals and is quite difficult to remediate. One of the main reasons for this is that the chemicals used can eat through the concrete, leaving holes that need to be filled in. Rather than pouring new concrete, we can use resin to fill these holes, and this can be done much more quickly.
Mould remediation Geelong
After a flood, wet areas and carpets are a breeding ground for mould. This smells bad, stains surfaces and can affect the health of building occupants. Our mould removal process involves fogging the entire home with a non toxic chemical, which kills any mould spores and leaves surfaces sanitised. Our team also offers high pressure cleaning (Jet wash) to remove oil stains, slippery moss, algae and dirt from external surfaces.
from Total Concrete Geelong https://ift.tt/6arFfv8
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment