Looking for concrete cancer? Concrete is one of the most durable, strong, and fire retardant materials. For this reason, it’s mostly used within the construction industry. However, like any other construction material, it has its own set of weaknesses. One problem with it is known as concrete cancer, degradation of finished concrete components caused by natural elements like contaminants, rain, and pollutants.
Besides this concrete degradation, rebars may also rust adding to the problem. You can address concrete degradation but not in all affected structures. When the level of damage is significant, you’ll have to replace rebars, which can’t be successful without causing damage to the surrounding components.
So, the solution would be to raze the house and rebuild it. With that in mind, it’s important to solve the concrete degradation problem as soon as possible. 
Solving Concrete Cancer
Quick-fix solutions such as rendering on top of the concrete don’t work as corrosive rebars will only keep on rusting and spreading. You’ll likely experience the same problem when you replace rusted rebars without first taking care of the seepage of water in the surrounding. Concrete degradation should be best handled by professionals.
The breakdown appears to happen where you may not imagine such as basements and foundations. And even when the damage is visible, sometimes the spoilage could go deeper. Using special tools and technical skills is important in rooting out the issue and resolving it. Instead of specialized methods, solutions involve finding the root cause of cancer. That mostly water and installing a waterproof membrane around the area may be a suitable solution and preventive measure.
You can also redirect water flow by constructing drains to lead away from foundations. An even more effective solution would be the application of these methods before construction. They may not prevent concrete degradation entirely but will keep your house free from it at least for decades.
After addressing the cause, repair work begins by getting rid of flaking concrete and drummy to allow access to the rebars. Removal of rust is the next cause of action and replacement where possible. Rebars will be treated using anti-corrosive solutions and then concrete rendering to obtain the original look.
Conclusion
Statics shows that concrete cancer is becoming a frequent issue, particularly with new concrete structures. Lack of enough waterproofing and trying to cut corners when it comes to waterproofing membranes is one of the common causes of the problem. Call a professional to inspect any signs of the problem. For more information visit our website!