Concrete cancer is a serious issue that can cause extensive and costly property damage. It occurs when steel reinforcement within a concrete slab begins to rust, causing it to expand and displace the surrounding concrete, making it brittle and prone to cracking. To prevent concrete cancer from happening, it is essential to waterproof concrete surfaces with high-quality options such as Wolfin or Cosmofin membranes. This will minimize the risk of future water damage and keep harsh chemicals from entering through the pores.
It is important to watch for signs of concrete cancer, such as concrete chips, rust spots that seem to leak from inside the concrete, bubbles from concrete plaster, or leaks that appear in raised concrete. If left untreated long enough, it can cause a structure to completely collapse and even put lives at risk. Six common causes of concrete cancer are poor waterproofing, formation of saltwater chlorides in buildings near the sea, construction defects, weather, poor quality concrete and insufficient concrete cover, and ground movement under construction that causes cracking. It is also possible for carbonation of concrete and concrete not covering steel properly to trigger corrosion.
Engineers work to prevent cancer from starting in concrete by designing it appropriately for the surrounding environment and their respective exposure conditions. After repair, waterproofing and integral sealing are important to minimize the risk of recurrence. Projex Group supplies a high-end PVC sheet membrane to achieve this. If you are considering buying a home, make sure that any potential issues with concrete cancer have been identified and addressed before you agree to purchase. Concrete cancer is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly.
