Do you have a concrete structure that has become cracked or damaged? It's a common problem, but one that can be easily fixed if you arrange for a concrete repair rather than letting it deteriorate further until the only solution is to replace the whole structure.
How does concrete become damaged?
There are several ways that concrete can become damaged. Sometimes concrete structures can be hit by vehicles or other large objects and suffer physical impact damage but they can also be damaged when they experience chemical exposure or begin to leach water. Sometimes it is not the concrete that is the source of the problem but the corroding steel inside the reinforced concrete that begins to cause spalling and cracking.
Whatever has caused the damage to your concrete, you must decide on the most appropriate concrete repair to get your structure looking great again and properly fulfilling its function.
What type of concrete repair do you need?
There are four types of concrete repair that are commonly used. Your repair company will be able to advise on the most suitable repair for your situation. You could opt for:
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Concrete Repair Mortars
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Bonding Bridges
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Steel Reinforcement Primers
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Levelling Mortars
Each one of these repairs will be used in a different situation. Concrete mortar repairs can be applied in a range of ways including hand applied mortars, poured mortars, and machine sprayed mortars. They are applied so that they align with the existing concrete profile.
For situations where you need the improve the adhesion of a mortar repair, a bonding bridge is sometimes used to fill the troughs in your concrete substrate.
Reinforcement primers are most commonly employed to afford extra protection and to act as a barrier against further water penetration which would cause greater steel corrosion. Before applying the primer the exposed steel is blasted clean and all the contaminants are removed. The primer is then added to repair the damaged concrete.
Once any needed localised concrete patches have been completed, then levelling mortars can be applied to level any remaining defects. If the defects were left unfilled they might permit the entrance of water and allow the concrete to become damaged again.
Whichever type of concrete repair you need, you must ensure that you discuss your requirements with a concrete specialist who will be able to explain exactly what is needed to restore your concrete to good condition again.
