People are familiar with the sight of cracks in concrete driveways and parking lots, but most have not heard of another problem known as concrete spall. Workers who provide specialized Concrete Repair Service in Hawaii return areas of reinforced concrete to stable, durable condition. Hawaii’s island environment, surrounded by seawater spraying salty moisture into the air, can lead to corrosion in these types of structures.
How This Damage Occurs
In this kind of deterioration, moisture has permeated the concrete. The surface deteriorates by flaking, peeling and the popping out of small pieces. As the problem expands, the concrete can start to crumble.
The dampness also reaches the reinforcement steel, commonly called rebar. Corrosion begins to occur, which is worsened due to the sea salt content. That undermines the integrity of the structure. If the layer of concrete is thinner than it should have been, the problem is more likely and will also occur sooner.
Salt in Hawaii’s Environment
In parts of the country where road salt is used to prevent icy roads, driveways, stairways and sidewalks, some of that salt gradually becomes distributed to parking garages and other places where people drive and walk. In Hawaii, road salt on vehicles obviously is not the issue. The situation occurs because ocean waves keep spraying salt into the air, onto buildings and onto vehicles. Cars can actually rust more quickly in the Hawaiian islands than in northern Midwestern states, where salt is liberally dumped onto roads throughout the winter.
Resolving Concrete and Rebar Damage
A contractor such as Structural Systems Inc can be called in to resolve the situation. The work should not be delayed too long because the deterioration continues to worsen. Repair work will become more expensive the longer the building owner waits.
Workers providing Concrete Repair Service in Hawaii grind or cut out the area where the spall has developed so they can reach the metal below it. They remove any rust that has accumulated and treat the steel with a corrosion-inhibiting product. A concrete patch is then placed over the top and smoothed so it blends in seamlessly with the existing concrete. You can also visit them on Facebook.
