Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials, but like all materials it requires care and protection to preserve its beauty and durability. Thankfully, most problems associated with concrete can be easily avoided using proper processes and maintenance practices.

Common concrete problems include discoloration, cracking and voids in the soil underneath your slab. All of these issues can be solved with help from a skilled concrete contractor.

Scaling

Concrete house slabs Melbourne provides strength and resilience, but even this hardy material can succumb to certain conditions that compromise its appearance and lifespan. Luckily, most common concrete issues have straightforward solutions.

Scaling refers to the process by which concrete surfaces peel away, revealing coarse aggregate particles underneath. Scaling can occur from exposure to harsh freeze-thaw cycles, deicing chemicals or poor finishing practices; as well as from being subjected to harsh freeze-thaw cycles.

Preventing this problem requires making sure your concrete is designed, mixed, placed, finished and cured properly. Deicing products high in salt or chloride content must also be avoided for best results. Among the many solutions to consider: choosing an appropriate design mix concrete mixture for the project at hand as well as forgoing vibrators during mixing processes to avoid segregation from occurring and increase durability of your concrete.

Discoloration

Concrete has long been revered as a strong and maintenance-free building material, but even this resilient building material can succumb to damage over time. Luckily, professional concrete contractors can assist in rectifying many of these issues and restore your concrete's strength and appearance.

Discoloration of concrete flatwork is an all-too-common problem, often manifesting itself in dark blotches or as general hue changes. Discoloration may be caused by additives, environmental conditions, poor curing practices or inadequate finishing work - all factors which must be considered before it occurs.

To reduce discoloration, all parties involved with the concrete materials supplier, mixing plant, and flatwork company must agree on a consistent batching process. A meeting to discuss this issue prior to beginning any construction project is also highly recommended. Chemical staining can also help mask color deviations; darker hues tend to do this more efficiently than lighter ones. If your concrete has become discolored you could try using commercial sodium bisulfate cleaner as a solution.

Cracks

Concrete is an extremely resilient material, but even it can crack over time. To assess its severity, size and location play an essential role. Cracks may also be classified as active or dormant depending on whether their width, direction or depth have changed over time.

Cracked concrete often containing hairline cracks less than 1 millimeter wide is an expected result of its plastic phase, before drying occurs. Plastic shrinkage cracks caused by rapid moisture loss are another common complication with concrete.

Other types of concrete cracks include crazing, which resembles fine surface-level striations patterns caused by improper finishing, map cracking (which looks similar to road map cracking) due to curing processes, wide cracks (typically found in slabs but can extend through walls or pavement), form movement during concrete placement or vibration, improper use of vibrators or subgrade subsidence as sources.

Bugholes

Bug holes, surface voids that form in hardened concrete structures, are an ongoing concern in concrete construction. Although they don't pose a significant threat to stability, their appearance does diminish visual appeal of finished products.

Bug holes are generally easy to repair using various techniques; however, whenever possible they should be avoided in order to prevent future issues and maintain the integrity of a concrete structure.

Bug holes occur when air trapped within fresh concrete migrates to its surface and is released uncontrollably, such as through nonpermeable forms or inadequate vibration during concrete placement. To reduce their likelihood, contractors should employ permeable forms with workable mixtures that flow and can be compacted effectively by high-amplitude vibration, as well as ensure proper consolidation is conducted between lifts to ensure any trapped air is expelled efficiently from the concrete. To combat bug holes effectively, contractors should utilize permeable forms, workable mixtures that flow and can be compacted efficiently with high amplitude vibration and ensure proper consolidation between lifts to ensure expulsion of trapped air from concrete and ensure this entrapment is expelled effectively from concrete.