Concrete Cancer - What is it?

What does the disease do? It presents itself through innocent enough symptoms, typically as cracks, rust stains, or areas of moisture in the concrete. This can hide something more sinister, as this can reveal rusted and deformed steel reinforcements within the concrete.  Steel acts as the base for concrete, providing it with necessary strength and reinforcement to give it the qualities builders seek. When the steel within concrete degrades, it can warp and begin to show cracks and openings. These cracks and openings exacerbate the issue, as more moisture can enter and the strength can further diminish, the end result being structural failure. 

Concrete cancer is preventable and has sources from where it can come from. Moisture by itself, is not the issue. Concrete is actually permeable, which means it liquid can travel through concrete. Coastal areas experience this issue in much higher rates because of the salts in the air. This combines with the moisture to create an environment for rust. Other known sources include inadequate waterproofing of concrete, excessive weight bearing and insufficient concrete cover on the steel. All of this creates a 'perfect storm' of sorts for concrete cancer, and aligned to this trend, there have been increasing reports for concrete spalling on coastal areas. 

Now builders can take steps to prevent concrete spalling and damage, previously with different building standards in the 1950's, there have been advancements in how to prevent concrete cancer. This includes, primarily through better concreting practices and waterproofing, which for coastal areas has become increasingly important. The older a building is, it does not necessarily make it prone to concrete cancer, as building maintenance by experts that are knowledgeable in the local area is important. As structures naturally age and degrade, they must be kept to maintain the interests of all residents. 

The expense of concrete cancer can also be overwhelming. As once damage is identified, the damaged areas must be removed and restored. Depending on the scale, size and type of building involved, this cost can add up quickly. However, any cost is not comparable to what would happen if the building partially or completely collapsed through structural damage. 

To assess concrete damage, an expert is needed. Consult with a local expert in your area to understand any suspected damage and how to begin the remedial process. An expert such as Solace Building Services can help you diagnose and treat remedial building challenges. 

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