Weather a factor in Concrete Restoration Edmonton Projects

Residents of Edmonton, Alberta are always talking about the weather. A running joke among the inhabitants of the city is, “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes!” While long term Edmonton dwellers are used to the rapidly changing weather patterns that includes snow in May and plus 8°C in December, the constant freeze/thaw cycle keeps concrete restoration Edmonton contractors busy.

From parkades to sidewalks, everywhere you look in the city you will see concrete. If you are a commercial building owner, on a condo board, or a property manager, you are well aware of the necessity of hiring concrete restoration Edmonton experts to keep your structures and pathways safe.

How often should you be calling your favourite concrete restoration Edmonton contractor? That depends on the concrete itself. All concrete has a lifespan, however some compositions last longer than others. The time to dial up concrete restoration Edmonton contractors is when you see early signs of deterioration. These signs include:

•    Cracking: Cracking in concrete leads to moisture entry and loss of structural integrity.

•    Delamination: Delamination occurs when the concrete separates from the rebar. Water entry into the void causes the rebar to rust.

•    Spalling: Snow, freezing rain and ice make Edmonton’s sidewalks treacherous during the winter months. Salt is commonly used to melt the ice, however the chlorides eat away at the mortar. This condition, spalling, leaves the aggregate (the stones in the concrete) exposed which increases the rate of deterioration. The exception to this is where exposed aggregate is used for decorative purposes. In those cases, however, the surface is glazed and sealed.

While all concrete should be looked at by concrete restoration Edmonton experts when cracking, delaminating and or spalling occurs, there is a clear urgency when deterioration is seen in structures such as parkades. Any concrete structure evidencing signs of deterioration should be immediately assessed as the condition may be or may quickly become a safety hazard.

You can call in a concrete restoration Edmonton contractor to fix your concrete problems, however large concrete projects can be confusing and expensive. If you are a property manager, own a commercial building or are on a condo board, consider hiring an engineering consulting firm to oversee your concrete restoration Edmonton project(s). These consultants will assess the level of deterioration in the concrete, write a specification for repair and/or replacement, tender the job to several qualified industry professionals, assist you in selecting the best contractor for the job, and routinely obverse and inspect the work in progress. An engineering consulting firm can keep you informed and educated about the details of your project and will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Due to the nature and complexity of concrete restoration projects, any property manager, condo board, or building owner would be very wise to engage the services of an engineering consulting firm.

Concrete restoration Edmonton projects are always on the go, due in part to the temperamental Alberta climate. When you notice your concrete deteriorating, do not put off having it assessed and fixed. Maintenance and repair is vital in maintaining safe concrete structures and preventing even larger problems down the road.

About the Author

We have inspected over 1 billion square feet of roofing across Canada, overseen high-profile concrete restoration Edmonton and building

envelope projects and have completed over 700 Reserve Fund Studies. Annually, hundreds of maintenance, repair and replacements are

specified and supervised by our highly qualified team.

Author (Nick). Submitted on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 Time: 10:34 AM

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