Why Concrete Scaling Happens in Your Building
What exactly is concrete scaling and why does it happen?
At one point or another, all concrete will break down. It’s in the nature of the material, despite its incredible lifespan and durability. One sign that something might have gone wrong is when it begins to scale. What exactly is concrete scaling? What are some of the reasons that concrete scaling occurs? Read on to learn more!
Air Entrainment Problems
Air entrainment is simply a technical way to describe how air is fully injected into workable concrete. This technique is required for further protection against the entire freeze-thaw cycle. Even on the coolest of days, that would not sound like an issue in the summertime. However, you have to think beyond the current time frame for concrete. What will it look like in a couple of months? Will it last very long? These are answers you usually won’t know. That is why monitoring and maintaining concrete is so crucial.
Subpar Concrete Finishing
Another problem may arise from the finishing process. Bleed water should not get into the concrete mix. This will create a higher water and cement ratio. Although this doesn’t sound too bad, it can get ugly. The surface will then be weak and lack the proper durability. That is the exact opposite of what you want the concrete to do. The concrete cannot be overworked either, and this is as bad as it sounds. This means that there is not as much air content in the surface layer. It could make the concrete much more rough and brittle and thus prone to breaking or cracking in the hot summer heat or scaling in the bitter wintertime cold. One final issue has to do with how much curing time the concrete had right before it set.
Not Enough Time for Curing
No matter what it is actually used for, concrete needs plenty of time to cure. Without it, the concrete may not be as solid or stable as you’d expect it to be. One of the top reasons why concrete scaling may become an issue is simple: it did not have enough time to cure. There will be weaker surface skin, which will lead to several different issues that can be a pain during the summer and even worse around the winter. This is because the freeze-thaw cycle can exacerbate matters. Luckily, there are around six months to go before you need to think about this issue.
Revitalize Your Business with G&M Services
G&M Services is proud of our employees and the dedication they have for safety in the workplace. We reward our employees for displaying positive safety practices. We incorporate weekly and monthly discussions and meetings to ensure that all involved know how to handle equipment and potentially risky situations during a project. We offer services in the way of concrete core-drilling and sawing, concrete scanning, Air Barriers, Firestop, and BIM Project Management and Coordination. To get started with us, call today at 410-787-8828 or visit our contact page. Follow the official company page today on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
