Despite the fact that concrete is the most popular material used in construction, phenomena such as cracking, chipping and other destruction are very popular, especially if it was incorrectly filled in or exploited. Therefore, in this article we will talk about the causes of the destruction of concrete and about one very effective way to repair it.
What are the reasons for the destruction of concrete pavement?
There are a lot of reasons for the destruction of concrete.
Among them:
- Adding too much water during mixing in order to achieve a better flowability of the material. And as we know, the more water is added to the concrete mix, the lower the surface strength will be after drying. If there is insufficient plasticity and fluidity, it is better to add special additives, for example, plasticizers, which will make the mixture more plastic and at the same time more durable.
- Pouring concrete mix under unsuitable weather conditions. You either need to wait for the required air temperature, or again add a special material that will ensure high-quality concrete pouring.
- Neglect of cutting deformation joints when pouring concrete mixture over a large area. After all, it's no secret that concrete is an inelastic material, so such seams must be created to prevent the formation of cracks during operation. Cracks can occur due to changes in weather conditions, due to small fluctuations in the earth, as well as due to different characteristics of the parts of the earth on which the concrete structure is built. After cutting the seams, they must be filled with a special high-strength sealant for expansion joints.
Improper operation of the surface. As we know, concrete gains full strength characteristics 28 days after pouring, so if you start loading it earlier, the destruction of concrete will come very, very quickly. Also, bare concrete itself is quite a sensitive material, so it must be strengthened under heavy loads. It can be concrete varnish, dry or wet topping, special additives and other hardeners.
Of course, concrete can be repaired or covered with a new layer of concrete, but this is all time and money costs, so it's better to do all the work correctly initially.
