Common Concrete Problems and Their Solutions

Concreting Melbourne is a key building material in modern society. However, its presence brings with it some challenges.

Common concrete issues include cracking, discoloration, surface scaling and segregation. Each issue can be addressed individually – for instance avoiding rapid drying times using set retardant admixtures and spraying water onto concrete to slow its drying time are some solutions available to address them effectively.

Cracked Surfaces

Cracked concrete structures are one of the primary contributors to their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. Non-structural cracks don’t usually compromise safety; however, they may allow water, oxygen and minerals to enter which may result in corrosion of reinforcement steel as well as other issues.

Plastic shrinkage cracking refers to nearly parallel surface cracks in concrete that form due to fast curing rates, usually appearing shortly after placing concrete and limited to its exterior surfaces due to higher surface drying rates compared with interior concretes.

Surface Cracking: Surface cracking occurs when water evaporates faster than it can be replaced, such as due to extreme surface temperatures or hot weather, or by adding accelerating admixtures into a mix. It is commonly found on thick concrete elements like dams, tunnels, bridge abutments and retaining walls, while it poses major difficulties during cantilever construction projects.

Discolored Concrete

A quality concrete contractor understands that discolored, blotchy concrete can ruin the overall appearance of a slab and be quite unattractive to anyone who looks upon it – as well as being disappointing to all involved parties who worked so hard on producing an outstanding finished product.

Solutions depend on what has caused discoloration. If it was trowel burning that resulted in discoloration, it may not be possible to fully correct without redoing all the concrete surfaces involved. There are however techniques which can help reduce discoloration on flatwork surfaces such as flushing it with hot water and scrubbing it regularly.

Color of concrete can vary significantly depending on its components and proportions, such as cement type or mineral additives like fly ash, fumed silica or metakaolin in concrete mixes. Staining can help make differences less noticeable as darker-hued stains will more effectively hide any disparities between materials used to form it.

Difficulty in Demoulding

Concrete is one of the most frequently used building materials, yet its fragility makes it vulnerable to improper processes or environmental conditions. Luckily, there are solutions available to preserve its appearance and durability of structures constructed using this material.

Problems in demoulding are typically caused by improper concrete mixing and handling, or improper mold design. To solve this, adjust your mix ratio so as to reduce viscosity of concrete, optimize mold design accordingly, and use proper release agents that ensure an even distribution of de-molding force.

Crazing, or surface cracking, occurs when concrete develops an array of fine cracks on its surface. This may be caused by several factors including early surface drying, poor concrete finishing and an excessive vibration during placement; or through penetrations made for service lines or z-bars being installed simultaneously or multiple batches being laid simultaneously.

Surface Cracks

Concrete is a versatile material used in many building projects due to its cost-effectiveness, strength, durability and timeless aesthetics. Unfortunately, however, like any construction material it does come with its share of issues that can diminish both its appearance and longevity of structures.

Surface cracks are an extremely common occurrence during curing processes or from standard weathering conditions, often necessitating professional engineering services in order to determine an appropriate repair solution.

Curling and warping corners are another surface issue, which often occur when pipes, drains, or manhole castings are improperly poured around them. Their round shapes cause concrete to shrink differently from surrounding concrete which causes its corners to break off prematurely. To minimize such damages and keep costs under control this damage can be prevented through using central plants for mixing concrete mixes as well as vibrating it during pouring.