Troubleshooting Problems with Concrete

Concrete has many benefits, but the most significant one is its durability, as well as the fact that it is easier to maintain than other construction materials. However, there are specific issues you will encounter in time, especially if you’re not maintaining it properly. Some of the concrete problems will include discolouration, scaling, shrinkage, cracking, other issues.
 
Here are some troubleshooting tips for many of these issues:

• Cracking

Concrete is a strong building material, but cracking is inevitable. Cracking is caused by various factors like thermal contraction, shrinkage, and subgrade settlement, and can be controlled if you act as soon as you see it. Although cracks are acceptable if they are not structural, not too wide, and do not leak water.
 
You can reduce cracking on your concrete surface if you remove the soft spots in the subgrade, organic material, and topsoil. You can also compact loose soil or install concrete joints through forming, tooling, and sawing a groove.
 
Another important thing to do to reduce cracking is to maximise the amount of course aggregate and avoid using retardant admixture because this can easily weaken your concrete so that it becomes prone to cracking.

• Discolouration

This issue often happens when contractors rushed the finishing operations of a concreting project as this will cause sudden and abrupt changes to the cement material. Also, the contractor may add calcium chloride to their mix, which can cause discolouration. But this can be prevented if the contractor uses the correct materials and batch from a ready-mix and they follow the ingredients based on industry standards.
To remedy discolouration, you need to prepare a uniform subgrade and wait until the water evaporates before finishing the process. This will prevent hard trowelling on the surface and ensure the colour is even throughout the concrete.

• Concrete Curling

This issue is often caused by the moisture and temperature of the bottom and top surface of the concrete, and it can lead to damage, especially in the base of the concrete. You can do several things to avoid this issue, like using the proper curling techniques and water-reducing admixtures.

It is essential to talk to your contractor and ensure that they are correctly bonding materials when applying thin topping mixes. They must also use the right amount of steel reinforcement on each concrete slab. Also, concrete must be placed on an absorptive sub-grade to ensure that water will not be pushed on the top of the slab.

• Scaling

Scaling often occurs when the concrete's surface breaks off and peels away, which can be caused by inadequate concrete strength or improper curing procedure. It is important not to use salt or other chemicals that may harm the structure of your concrete during the winter season. You may also want to consider concrete resurfacing if you are encountering a lot of scaling in your concrete.

• Crazing

This issue is considered to be one of the most repeated problems in concrete, and is often seen as an interconnected crack or when cement paste is pushed up to the surface and shrinks. To avoid crazing, you need to properly cure the concrete and don’t be tempted to rush the process. Wait till the water has evaporated before you do the finishing process. You can also sprinkle water over the concrete while finishing it to prevent any cracks and crazing.

Overall, choosing the right concrete for your intended application, maintaining it regularly and repairing it when issues arise, will ensure that you can enjoy your concrete surface for years to come.