Concrete cancer, also known as concrete detachment, is a serious problem that can cause structural damage to buildings. It occurs when water contacts structural steel rebar and causes rust, leading to cracks, chips, and other damage to the concrete. While the term hints at the seriousness of this type of damage, it is possible to correct the particular cancer in some cases. In this article, we'll discuss what concrete cancer is, what you can do about it, the importance of getting expert help, and how you can prevent it from happening again. To understand what concrete cancer is and how it can be treated, it's important to first understand what causes it.
Water is the main culprit when it comes to concrete cancer. When water enters the concrete through cracks or other damage, it reacts with the steel rebar inside and causes rust. This rust then weakens the concrete and leads to cracks, chips, and other damage. If the damage caused by concrete cancer is moderate, you may be able to remove damaged concrete, clean and replace oxidized and exposed steel, and fill in cracks.
Once the underlying steel and concrete have been repaired, you will need to cure them properly with specialized coatings. Waterproofing is one of the remedies to stop concrete detachment and Projex Group supplies high-end PVC sheet membranes to achieve this. Another preventive treatment for concrete cancer is to repair minor cracks and other damage to the concrete as soon as you notice them. This is especially important for concrete in exposed areas, as water entering the concrete through the cracks will cause the problem to worsen quickly.
Concrete cancer treatment may be possible and much cheaper if the problem is detected early. If the damage is too severe, the concrete may need to be removed and replaced. There is no fixed cost for the specific treatment of cancer, as it depends on the size of the surface that needs to be treated and the severity of the damage. Repairing severely damaged concrete can cost thousands of dollars, so it may not be cost-effective compared to replacing it. Chemical water repellency can be added to the concrete surface itself by applying Resistain, a waterproofing sealant for concrete. If it's a case of chloride contamination in a building near the ocean, you may need specialized repair work to treat concrete cancer. Like any problem, it is necessary to understand the specific causes of cancer before appropriate treatment can be applied.
The simplest treatment of cancer with concrete is to repair the areas of concrete that are damaged, rather than completely removing the concrete and having to replace the entire wall. Stress fractures can also be caused by wear or bearing weight, which means that water can penetrate the concrete and therefore react with the steel. You can be assured of quality workmanship and a specialized solution that covers structural remediation of concrete, steel or wood. While chipped concrete looks terrible, it can also be dangerous, as concrete pieces can fall and hit people underneath. If you suspect that your building has been affected by concrete cancer, be sure to have it checked by a professional (such as repair site builders or waterproofing contractors) to find out what type of repair work needs to be done. Most importantly, they can be a danger to people and other property if large chunks of concrete break down and fall from a building. Sometimes experts may recommend the use of additional reinforcing steel anodes before applying new concrete, or the steel could be replaced in severe cases. It is immersed in concrete to a depth of 10 mm, attaches to the concrete structure at the molecular level and forms a water repellent barrier.
