This is my guide to concrete. Concrete may not seem like a very sexy subject to write about but I hope that by the time you reach the end of this blog, you will have been inspired to use concrete to improve your home. Concrete isn't just for driveways and walls. You can use concrete in a lot of pretty creative ways around your home. I discovered this when I hired a team of concrete contractors. They were really great guys and while they were completing work around my home they taught me lots of cool things about working with concrete. I hope you enjoy this blog!
A structure is only as strong as its weakest part, and concrete structures are no exception. When building with concrete, it's crucial to make sure that any defects are detected and corrected as soon as possible. Faults can get worse over time, and if they're not dealt with early, you could find yourself with serious and costly damage later down the line.
Of course, it's impossible to detect defects inside opaque concrete with the naked eye. That's where concrete scanning comes in. Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) devices, concrete scanners can 'see' inside your structure to spot faults that need correcting. Here are a few of the most common problems you can spot by hiring a concrete scanning service.
1. Concrete Delamination
Delamination is when the surface of your concrete structure separates from the base in thin layers. This happens when the finishing process (specifically trowelling) begins too early. If the concrete doesn't set properly before it's loaded, bleeding water and air become trapped beneath the surface, creating voids that delaminate over time. A small amount of delamination is not much to worry about, but widespread delamination can be a serious problem. That's why it's a good idea to have your concrete scanned, especially if you've already noticed some delamination.
2. Reinforcement Debonding
Reinforcement bars (also known as rebar) are essential if you need your concrete to withstand strong tension. Of course, they only increase tensile strength when they're bonded to the concrete surrounding it. Unfortunately, debonding can happen if the bars move even slightly during the setting process, and there are many ways that can happen. Bars can become dislodged if tradesmen walk on the steel mesh while pouring, if vibration machinery is being operated nearby or even if the wind blows while pouring. Thankfully, debonding can be detected with a concrete scanner.
3. Concrete Honeycombing
When the concrete takes on a coarse and stony texture, it's referred to as honeycombing. Honeycombing can be caused by a number of mistakes during the construction process, such as an imbalanced aggregate mix or mortar leakage. This is a problem that is both unsightly and dangerous, weakening the durability and strength of your structure. While honeycombing can sometimes be seen on the surface of the concrete, don't make the mistake of thinking you're safe from honeycombing just because you can't see it. The full extent of the defect is usually hidden beneath the surface.
For more information on concrete scanning, contact a concrete contractor.
Share16 August 2019
