Concrete Spalling / Concrete cancer
First Sign’s of Concrete Spalling
Often caused by waterproofing failure allowing water to absorb into the concrete but not limited too.
Concrete Spalling occurs when the steel reinforcement within a concrete slab begins to rust. The rusted steel increases to approximately five times its original size, fracturing the concrete and allows moister to penetrate the concrete slab.
Effervescence is likely to be the first sign’s of spalling in most cases found as identified in the photo below.
Once the concrete is fractured more and more damage occurs as more water can enter the affected area and cause further rusting, thereby speeding up the process and increasing the affected area.
Concrete Cancer or Spalling - Slab faces.Can occur in almost any location within a steel-reinforced structure however it is commonly found on the external edges and surfaces of buildings including balconies, concrete slab edges, external concrete columns, slab soffits where there is often a lesser thickness of protective concrete covering the steel reinforcement.
Concrete Spalling is usually caused by corrosion of the steel reinforcement bars embedded in the concrete matrix but can be caused by other ferrous elements either fully or partially embedded in the structure. Steel frame window systems, handrails, structural I-beams, Under concrete stairs and conduits are among the most common of the damage-causing building components. Corrosion of the reinforcing steel, however, is by far the most common cause of Spalling and splitting in older concrete structures. |  |
 | Concrete Cancer or Spalling Concrete stairsSpalling can occur in almost any location within a steel-reinforced structure however it is commonly found on the external edges and surfaces of buildings including Under external stairs , slab soffits where there is often a lesser thickness of protective concrete covering the steel reinforcement.
Detriment due to Concrete Spalling can be easy to detect however the cause of the damage is not always obvious. Some of the key indicators include cracking or detached concrete, rust staining leaching out of the concrete surface, bulging concrete render and exposed sections of reinforcement in concrete structures.
How to Minimise Concrete SpallingStep 1, Our specialists team will examine the site and identify what’s causing the Concrete Spalling and how we will repair it. Step 2: Repair the areas effected by Concrete Spalling All affected concrete is removed along with any associated brick-work. We then get to the structural level where we grind back any reinforcing steel and remove rust. We will then remove any rusted steel if necessary or if safe to do so, treat the steel with anti-corrosive membranes so that the Spalling Concrete Repair service can start to work. We then work to replace any brickwork and restore the original concrete. Step 3: Apply waterproof membrane to reduce the risk of Concrete Spalling re occurring. |
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Concrete Cancer or Spalling in swimming pools,Spalling can occur in almost any location within a steel-reinforced structure however it is commonly found on the external edges and surfaces of buildings including Under external stairs , slab soffits where there is often a lesser thickness of protective concrete covering the steel reinforcement.
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