The Main Causes of Concrete Cancer in a Commercial Building

Concrete cancer is one of the most complex structural issues of any construction building. A construction where the structural integrity of the building is hindered due to poor workmanship can easily lead to concrete cancer. 

 

Any building requires a properly made steel mesh to provide shape and strength to the structure. This process is very intricate work and needs a high level of proficiency. Even establishments built with the best labourers sometimes develop minor cracks and water leakage. But only a lack of technique and expertise can lead to concrete cancer.

We bring to you the leading causes of concrete cancer in commercial buildings.

1. Moisture getting in 

When wet concrete is poured into the slab during construction, it sometimes leaves bubbles within it. This results from the wrong technique allowing gaps to form inside the walls or ceilings. This allows the water from different sources to seep in and cause concrete cancer.

2. Very little gap between the steel and the surface

When there is a very thin layer of concrete between the steel mesh and the external surface of the ceiling, rainwater can quickly get in contact with the steel and damage the concrete in the long run.

3. Stress factors

When stress factors cause the slab to form cracks after years, water often glides into those cracks and reacts with the steel. This causes issues within the concrete. The stress is sometimes because of the general age of the building or the plates moving beneath the surface of the earth, causing minor disturbances. 

4. Metal Reactions

The metals that are used in the construction of a building come from many different chemical compositions. Therefore these metals should have a safe distance from each other. The proximity between these metal rods can cause reactions between them and create gaps. After a while, the cracks can absorb water and create concrete-related problems like leakage and, in worse cases, concrete cancer.  

5. Salinity of the water

In cities close to the oceans, the salinity of the water is high. When it reaches the insides of a concrete structure, this hard water with carbonates and lime compounds causes many kinds of disruptions over time. One of those issues is concrete cancer.

6. Steel Rod Quality

Sometimes, building contractors try to cut their costs in unethical ways. One of these ways is buying lower-quality metal rods. This rod finds rust quickly without much interaction with water. Also, the concrete used can be of low quality that does not hold its strength.  

Additionally, on-site workers may give less time to prepare the metal rod in the initial stages when the wet concrete is poured. These factors lead to the gradual deterioration of the concrete and, by extension, the building. 

Contact us today to find a building construction company in Sydney that provides the best services.

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