Chipping is a term used to describe areas of concrete that have cracked and delaminated from the substrate. There are several reasons why husking occurs, including freeze-thaw cycles, the expansive effects of the alkaline silica reaction, or exposure to fire. These external factors, such as chloride corrosion from salt water (near the ocean) or extreme weather, can sometimes play a role. Flat roofs are more prone to these conditions.
At other times, problems arise from the initial stage of construction. Descaling is generally due to cold winter climates that subject concrete to freeze-thaw cycles. Water settles on the garage floor and makes its way to the capillaries of the concrete. When water freezes, it expands and causes microscopic damage to the surrounding concrete. To prevent this, cover the concrete with a damp cloth or keep a sprinkler on for a few days so that it does not dry out too quickly.
An anticarbonation coating or other specialized coating may be applied to reinforce and preserve the concrete. Different atmospheric conditions such as moisture content, temperature rise and corrosion can also lead to concrete flaking. When concrete is placed, it is required that its steel reinforcement be properly positioned within that concrete member. A slow process occurs when carbon dioxide from the air enters concrete and is opposed by hydroxides, such as calcium hydroxide, to form carbonates. More importantly, chipping can be a hazard to people and other property should large pieces of concrete break and fall from a building. The Quikrete concrete resurfacing (No.
113) is one of the best resurfacing materials available on the market. Robson Forensic offers in-house experts across the country who can apply first-hand knowledge and experience around chipping issues in their specific geographic region. An additional consideration is that both delamination and descaling offer greater access of air and water to the reinforcing steel within that member; thus creating a corrosion cycle and increased access for corrosive elements that exacerbate the process with each subsequent cycle. Chipping is the deterioration of concrete or masonry around your home as a result of water entering the brick, concrete or natural stone and causes the base to be pushed out, peeled and peeled off. What is not acceptable and can be avoided is surface cracking, called “shrinkage cracking”, and chipping due to poor design, placement and finishing of the mixture. The decomposition of the products of the hydration reaction leads to a reduction in the strength of concrete and, in doing so, causes flaking. When a source of water enters the solid structure at the base of the concrete structure, it begins to leach deeper and deeper, causing cracks in the structure.
These variations in coverage recognize the fact that concrete is porous and that greater concrete cover will significantly decrease the rate of corrosion of steel and subsequent degradation of concrete. The environment in which the concrete element is placed has a significant effect on its performance in relation to durability. This type of surface failure, known as chipping or flaking, is more common in colder climates where freeze-thaw cycles and thawing chemicals are prevalent.
