When we think about “concrete”, more often than not, we think of strength and solidity. Something set in concrete usually symbolizes permanence and is believed to withstand both natural and artificial adversities. Eventually, the effect on the cement will become visible after some time. Some factors influence the relative rate of degradation that concrete goes through. Carefully studying these factors will inform you how long your cement can hold before it needs repair. In places like Edmonton, special attention is given to a fundamental understanding of these factors, which is why concrete repair Edmonton is done periodically.
Concrete facts
The strength and reliability of your concrete depend on some variables. If you made the concrete with too much water or unclean water with too many chemicals present and impurities, the durability of the cement would be largely affected.
Also, the thickness and size of the structural components in which the cement is applied are determined greatly by the coarseness and size of the cement aggregates. If you want to ensure that your cement is strong and reliable, proper curing is needed.
Artificial or man-made factors that affect the degradation of concrete are often controllable. They are classified into two broad categories; degradation by neglect or because of design deficiencies and degradation in structures that are more than 40 years old. Some structures were built when there wasn’t so much knowledge about concrete, so they weren’t built to standard.
Degradation caused by neglect could range from spilling mild aggressive agents on the concrete to spilling dangerous chemicals on the concrete, which would begin deterioration or worsen an already existing problem. Subjecting that cement structure to high pressure, physical forces like overloading, flexing, repeated impact, and high temperatures will hasten its deterioration process.
The most dangerous cause of chemical degradation of cement is the result of the damage happening internally from the corrosion of the reinforced steel embedded in the structure. The fact that reinforced steel can be found in almost all cement structures proves to be a bigger problem than we realized.
Creating a successful repair
To successfully repair concrete, you would require new materials and some existing materials to form a solid composite structure that will withstand diverse operational processes and environmental adversities, while still providing service for an extended period. Concrete repair Edmonton is first characterized by updating maintenance personnel. Typically, spalling or cracking of the concrete is first seen and then an engineer should be consulted to professionally diagnose the problem.
An average concrete repair team for any project involves the owner, the consulting engineer, a specialty repair contractor, and a material representative.
Different advanced solutions, beyond the average concrete patch, can be implemented to affect a feasible concrete repair program. A fundamental understanding of concepts like; protection, surface repair, stabilization, waterproofing, and strengthening will ensure the selection of the most efficient program suitable for your facility. The determination of the underlying cause and the best solution or cause of action is left for the concrete repair specialist.