Concrete Repair FAQ's
We’re on hand to help you learn more about common concrete repair problems and provide an introduction to the key phrases and basic principles that underpin our range of structural repair services. We hope that our list of frequently asked questions will help make the process of beginning to deal with structural repair problems as simple as possible.
- What’s important to keep in mind when deciding upon an appropriate concrete repair strategy?
- Make sure that your contractor has thoroughly diagnosed the reason/s for and extent of concrete failure. There are a number of tests depending on the likely cause: hammer test, half-cell potential tests , cover meter survey, chloride analysis and depth of carbonation. Any proposed concrete repair strategy should be based on the findings of such investigations. Also, be wary of cheap cosmetic repairs that do not address the cause of the structural problem. Most legitimate concrete repair contractors should guarantee their repairs for specific periods. Consider how long you intend to use the structure and how this fits in with the price you’ve been quoted.
- How much will it cost?
- This depends on the size and depth of the defective area, and as sometimes the extent of damage is not always immediately visible, the average cost of a suitable concrete repair may be more than you would originally anticipate. Bear in mind that a significant proportion of the costs may be for preparatory works such as access, scaffolding, removal of defective concrete and the thorough abrasive cleaning of steel reinforcement before any repair is applied.
- What causes previous concrete repairs to fail?
- The most common failures of concrete repairs are poor maintenance and incorrect initial diagnosis.
- When a waterproofing detail is poor allowing moisture to penetrate, then corrosion of the steel reinforcement is probable. Also, where steel reinforcement is not properly cleaned or areas of the defective concrete have not been fully removed before a repair is applied, then concrete failure is likely.
- In instances where carbonation or chloride levels are too high, failure of previous concrete repairs is also likely due to a phenomenon known as the insipient anode effect. Concrete repairs may also fail where the properties of repair materials aren’t properly matched to those of the concrete in question.
This page belongs to our Concrete Repair & Coatings section.
