Over the years, a building may get some external wear and tear, cracks, and seepage. But if the building was not planned well, or there was some negligence on the part of the workers during the construction, it can lead to severe repercussions. These usually involve what is known as concrete cancer.
Is Concrete Cancer a Serious Problem?
Cancer is a word dreaded in human civilization. Therefore, if a concrete structure has a condition named after it, it must be taken very seriously. A concrete structure derives its strength from the iron, steel or meshes installed within. The mesh made from solid metals acts like its bone skeleton. Concrete cancer is when this iron skeleton gets weakened, finds rust, or generates cracks from deep within, or the concrete gets carbonated due to poor structural integrity.
Before discussing the signs, let us get a brief idea of the reasons behind the occurrence of concrete cancer.
Reasons for Concrete Cancer
1. Waterproofing done inefficiently
2. Bad-quality metal mesh used
3. Poor quality cement, concrete etc.
4. Water used in the construction having higher salt content leading to oxidation of the mesh
5. Movement of the tectonic plates beneath the building causing cracks
Concrete cancer is, therefore, a severe threat to concrete buildings. This must be catered to as soon as the signs are noticed.
Following are the signs you must look for Concrete Cancer
Although a civil engineer will be a more skillful person to judge for signs of concrete cancer, there are sure signs that can indicate substantial damage. These can be constant leakage, rust that seems to originate within the concrete, concrete bits falling off the ceiling, expansion of the wall or ceiling outwardly, etc.
Possible Solutions to Concrete Cancer
The first step to restoring your building from concrete cancer is to find a good construction contractor. Hiring a highly skilled contractor will make sure that the building structure becomes as good as new by using state-of-the-art techniques and products.
1. Polymer-modified Repair Solution
This method is for scenarios when the concrete carbonation or exposed concrete is the root cause of cancer. The engineer would mostly apply a polymer-modified repair solution after removing the carbonated concrete. The steel mesh is also primed for extra protection.
2. Electrochemical Treatment
An electrochemical treatment such as cathodic protection is done in case of chlorination of the concrete structure. This generally happens near the ocean.
3. Replacement
One of the most effective methods is replacing the part of the concrete or steel body. This way, the rust or carbonation does not spread, and the concrete cancer is contained. This is much easier when the cancer is in its initial stages.
Excellent waterproofing is the best way to prevent concrete cancer from happening to your commercial building. Waterproofing ensures that the concrete used is enough to keep the steel or iron rods safe from rusting whilst also steering clear of concrete carbonation.
Contact us today to work with an excellent remedial building construction company in Sydney. We provide several construction services as well as maintenance work such as treatment against concrete cancer.
