The 5 Most Common Concrete Problems

Concrete is one of the most popular materials often used by design/build companies in construction. This is because it’s easy to manage, accessible and can be used easily with the right amount of experience. However, if the concrete isn’t well maintained or improperly poured, it can cause numerous problems. Keep in mind that while it’s possible for you to repair concrete yourself, it’s always best to hire professional with the adequate experience to conduct the repairs or install the concrete for you.

Read on as PJ Sullivan Construction discusses the five common problems that concrete often faces and how you can solve them.

1. Discoloration – Concrete should have color if made with the correct batch and materials. However, it’s surprisingly prone to discoloration, especially if there are sudden changes to the cement material, such as rushed operations or calcium chloride. To rectify concrete discoloration, you have to prepare a uniform subgrade, wait until all the water has evaporated before completing the concrete, or avoid troweling hard on the exterior surface.

1. Scaling – Scaling is another problem that is often seen in concrete. This is when the surface breaks and peels away and can occur if a non-air entrained concrete is constantly exposed to freeze-thaw cycles, inadequate strength or poor curing procedures. Avoid this by using a low slump-air in the entrained mix and avoid using salt or other chemicals during the winter.

1. Crazing – Any residential construction company will inform you that crazing is a recurring problem in concrete. This occurs when there are several interconnected fine cracks on the surface. Solutions to crazing include curing the concrete in a timely manner, avoid dust drying the cement while water is present, and avoiding finishing the concrete until the water has evaporated.

1. Cracking – Every homeowner knows that concrete can easily crack. While this problem is unpreventable, it can be controlled. The common causes of cracking are poor construction, drying shrinkage, thermal contraction and other possible mistakes. One of the few ways you can solve cracking include removing organic materials from the subgrade, compacting loose soil beneath the slab and avoid overworking the concrete surface.

1. Curling – Curling on your concrete occurs whenever there’s a difference in the temperature and moisture of the top and bottom surfaces. This causes the slab to become unsupported from the base. Proper curling techniques, correct placement of the concrete joints and using low water content are the few ways you can avoid curling.

To make your search for roofing replacement companies easier, simply turn to PJ Sullivan Construction. We are the area’s number one provider of luxury exteriors and home maintenance services. Give us a call at (862) 420-9283 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve homeowners in Scarsdale, Paramus and other nearby areas in NJ.