How To Avoid Failing Concrete

Common Concrete Pitfalls

Residences or businesses with concrete structures might make structural mistakes or neglect regular maintenance, ultimately causing weaknesses in structural integrity. To avoid costly concrete repairs, do what the professionals do and avoid common mistakes. Learn more about common pitfalls that lead to substantial failure and how a concrete contractor in Santa Rosa can help.



Weak Supports

Be sure the concrete you add to your home is constructed using high-quality and durable materials. It helps, as well, if the underlayment was installed in a way that is both strong and durable. Other people often neglect following these steps, leading to the falling apart of items over time. Stay alert when this happens and start addressing the damaged items.

Ensuring your slabs are wholly supported, and solid is crucial to prevent devastating surface damage. You need to quickly receive the support you need to keep your structure secure and prevent harmful cracks and other surface issues.

In addition to the slabs which overhang, you'll want to add on supports for other slabs. The process may involve strengthening balconies by including columns to support construction materials.

Weather Toll 

Cement and other materials are generally subject to drastic temperature controls and weather changes, making them highly susceptible to damage. Being informed about weather problems and how they can pose a risk to one's property is vital for preventing minor damages from getting worse.

Concrete can be excessively affected by cold weather; to reduce impact, use a sealant that can prevent concrete from expanding and contracting and impedes any moisture or ice entry. Make sure you also remove snow, frost, and any water, as this can damage the surface of cement in more than one unfortunate way.

Intensive treatment might be required, depending on the climate in your area, such as attempting to remove different stains from the cement and eliminating the mold. These procedures help protect against extreme temperatures, harmful conditions, and snow on your cement surface.

Miscellaneous Impacts

People may not recognize how damaging a small quantity of physical damage can be to their slabs if they leave them without proper servicing—concrete cracks and crumbles due to structural damage spreading throughout it. The sun's heat can impact even a component that has been warmed up if it's allowed on the surface for an extended period. In that case, the cement will expand, heat up, and could begin to crack in different regions.

Rarer Instances 

Other less frequent damage to the concrete to watch for include blast damage, impact damage, and seismic problems. Though these problems tend to be quite rare, they can still alter a concrete slab. And as soon as you detect imperfections in the slabs, make it a priority to address them as quickly as possible.

Heavy Loads

Concrete or cement surface builders may assume they can add just about anything to them without any consequences. In some cases, this is accurate. However, it often will not stay that way. While concrete slabs can easily support a great deal of weight, uneven pressure might lead to cracks.

Most slabs must be able to support more than a ton of weight all over their surface area. However, if excess weight is concentrated on one particular point, it could quickly lead to severe cracks and other damage to the slab's surface. This problem is most common for businesses that have many heavy vehicles. It is highly beneficial to move the cars around and take good care of them to prevent excessive weight-related damage.

While commercial operations are the most damaging, careless homeowners can still cause damage to the underlying surface. It is vital to note the importance of ensuring that the concrete surface can hold a substantial amount of weight. Inevitably, with uneven pressure, it will form cracks that give it a diminishable strength. Don't forget that pounds should always be safely supported on the surface but may also damage the surface if proper preparation is not used.

Concrete structures can be prone to mistakes and neglect, leading to structural weaknesses. It is essential to be aware of these risks and take steps to avoid them, such as regular maintenance and simple precautions. If you are concerned about any structural integrity of a concrete structure on your property, consult with the professionals at RTS Construction today.