Our Services

STRUCTURAL CONCRETE REPAIRS

Commercial and Infrastructure Concrete Repairs

Cracks, rust staining and sections of concrete breaking away are often signs that more is happening beneath the surface. Once moisture reaches the steel reinforcement inside concrete, corrosion can begin. As the steel expands, pressure builds around it, causing the surrounding concrete to crack, delaminate or spall.

Entekra carries out structural concrete repairs on commercial buildings, industrial facilities and infrastructure throughout South East Queensland and surrounding areas. Our work includes repairs to concrete beams, columns, walls, slabs, balconies, car parks, bridges and water infrastructure.

The repair method depends on what has caused the damage, how far it has progressed and the role the affected concrete plays within the structure.

What Causes Structural Concrete Damage?

Concrete can remain in service for many years, but it is not maintenance-free. Small defects can allow moisture, salts and other contaminants to move through the concrete and reach the internal reinforcement.

Some of the issues we commonly encounter include:

Water entering through cracks, joints or porous concrete
Corroding steel reinforcement
Carbonation reducing the alkalinity of the concrete
Chloride contamination
Cracking caused by movement, loading or settlement
Poorly completed earlier repairs
Concrete spalling and delamination
Chemical exposure in industrial environments
General deterioration from age and weather exposure

The visible damage does not always show the full extent of the problem. A small area of cracking, for example, may be connected to a larger section of delaminated concrete or corrosion around the reinforcement.

For this reason, the affected area needs to be properly assessed before the repair work begins.

Our Approach to Structural Concrete Repairs

A lasting repair starts with finding out why the concrete has failed. Covering a damaged area with new mortar without dealing with corrosion, moisture or movement may only hide the problem temporarily.

We begin by inspecting the affected concrete and identifying areas that are cracked, loose, delaminated or otherwise unsound. Damaged concrete is then removed to expose a suitable surface for repair.

Where steel reinforcement has corroded, it is cleaned and treated before the concrete is reinstated. Compatible repair mortars are then used to rebuild the damaged section and restore its original profile.

Depending on the condition of the structure, the work may also include:

Epoxy or polyurethane crack injection
Replacement or treatment of damaged reinforcement
Expansion-joint repairs
Joint sealing
Concrete patch repairs
Protective concrete coatings
Penetrating concrete treatments
Corrosion-control systems

No single repair method is right for every project. Materials and application methods are selected according to the condition of the concrete, the surrounding environment and the intended use of the structure.

Concrete Beams, Columns and Slabs

Beams, columns and suspended slabs are critical parts of a concrete structure. Cracking, exposed reinforcement or spalling in these areas should not be treated as a cosmetic issue.

Entekra repairs deteriorated structural elements in commercial and industrial buildings, car parks and infrastructure assets. This may involve removing unsound concrete, treating the reinforcement and rebuilding the damaged area with a suitable structural repair mortar.

Cracks may also require injection where there is a need to bond the separated concrete or stop water from moving through the structure.

Concrete Spalling and Reinforcement Corrosion

Spalling occurs when sections of the concrete surface crack, delaminate or break away. Rust stains, hollow-sounding concrete and exposed reinforcement can all indicate that corrosion is taking place inside the structure.

Simply filling the broken area may not stop the damage. The corroded reinforcement and the factors allowing moisture into the concrete must also be addressed.

Our repair process removes the deteriorated material, exposes the affected steel and allows it to be properly treated before the concrete is rebuilt. Where appropriate, a protective treatment or coating can then be applied to reduce further moisture and contaminant ingress.

Structural Crack Repairs

Not all concrete cracks are the same. Some are caused by shrinkage as the concrete cures, while others result from settlement, movement, changing loads or corrosion of the embedded reinforcement.

The correct repair depends on whether the crack is active or dormant, whether water is passing through it and whether it affects the structural performance of the concrete.

Epoxy injection can be used where a strong bond is needed between the cracked concrete faces. Polyurethane injection may be more suitable for certain water leaks or cracks where some movement is expected. Other cracks may require sealing or further investigation before a repair method can be selected.

Where We Carry Out Structural Concrete Repairs

Entekra undertakes concrete repair work across a range of structures and environments, including:

Commercial buildings
Industrial facilities
Multilevel car parks
Balconies and suspended slabs
Bridges and transport infrastructure
Water reservoirs
Concrete tanks and water infrastructure
Concrete walls, beams and columns
External structures exposed to weather

We understand that many of these assets need to remain operational while repairs are completed. The work is planned around site access, safety requirements and the need to limit disruption wherever practical.

Why Choose Entekra?

Structural concrete repair requires more than patching the visible damage. The repair must be compatible with the existing concrete and suited to the cause of the deterioration.

Entekra has experience across concrete remediation, corrosion prevention, protective coatings, crack injection and infrastructure repair. This allows us to consider the condition of the whole repair area rather than treating each symptom separately.

We work with commercial property owners, facility managers, contractors, councils and infrastructure operators to develop practical repair solutions for deteriorated concrete assets.

Talk to Entekra About Your Concrete Repairs

BENEFITS OF STRUCTURAL CONCRETE REPAIR

01 DEAL WITH THE CAUSE

Water ingress is a the leading cause of most concrete related issues it leads to internal reinforcement deterioation which in turn causes spalling or as some call it concrete cancer. It is extremely important to halt water ingress within concrete as it acts as a carrying agent for many impurities as it draws deeper into the concrete structure. As the groundwater puts gravitational pressure on the structure from the water table on the outside of the structure, water finds its way into the structure via any small crack and also porosities within the concrete. Porosities in concrete occur when the concrete initially cured. To halt or slow water ingress we use a concrete treatment system that eliminates the problem from the negative side. The system works its way through the concrete filling the concrete pores which in turn halts or slows the groundwater seeping into the structure.

02 KEEP DAMAGE FROM SPREADING

Internal reinforcement corrosion occurs because of water ingress. Corrosion of steel reinforcement is the leading cause of deterioration in concrete structures. As the steel embedded in the concrete corrodes, it expands causing damage to the concrete structure. Moisture travelling in and out of the capillary pores in the concrete draw in contaminates which cause the steel reinforcing to corrode within the structure. To prevent the corrosion from progressing, we must apply a concrete treatment that enters the pores, reacts with the calcium causing a hydrogel, this blocks moisture from entering the concrete structure, and deals with the moisture within the structure. The hydrogel on its own is not always the complete solution to the situation, in cases where the corrosion has advanced, and the structure has deteriorated significantly, then other methods will be needed to repair the structure before the treating can take place.

03 PROTECT PEOPLE AND PROPERTY

Spalling or Concrete Cancer is caused when the steel reinforcing is subject to water ingress, when the reinforcing rusts it expands putting pressure on the concrete until it eventually gives way and cracks. Spalling is the deterioration of steel reinforced concrete, often appearing as cracks, and red rust blooms. In some situations whole sections of concrete can delaminate and fall away from the reinforcing steel work. Spalling is often referred to as concrete cancer, as the problem is not obvious initially. As the problem increases, the treatment becomes more difficult and costly. Concrete spalling, if left untreated, can progress, becoming much worse, and can cause the concrete structure to become unstable. The most common cause of concrete spalling is carbonation. This is a chemical reaction between the carbon dioxide(CO2) in the air and the calcium in the concrete, causing the steel reinforcing to corrode. As the steel reinforcing corrodes, it can expand up to ten times its original volume exerting stress on the concrete around it. Treating concrete spalling depends on the extent of the damage, and can range from surface reconstruction to simply a liquid applied penetrating sealer if it is caught soon enough.

04 AVOID UNNECESSARY REPLACEMENT

Repairing damaged sections and reducing further moisture entry can keep existing concrete structures performing for longer.

05 EXTEND THE WORKING LIFE OF THE ASSET

Concrete carbonation is a complex physical and chemical reaction between hydration products of cements and CO2. Concrete carbonation results in a decrease of the pH within the concrete structure, decomposition of hydration products, depassivation of deactivated film of reinforcing bar and cracking of the concrete cover. Therefore, concrete carbonation is a serious problem for the durability of concrete structures. To stop the carbonation, we need to eliminate the moisture movement within the structure. We use a spray applied concrete treatment that reactively progresses through the concrete structure, forming a hydrogel that blocks and fills the capillary pores in the concrete.

06 PLAN THE WORK AROUND THE SITE

Where possible, repairs can be staged to accommodate access requirements and keep businesses, facilities and infrastructure operating while work is completed.

A CONCRETE REMEDIATION PROJECT

Mount Charlton Water Reservoir

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CONTACT US

For any enquiries or to discuss your concrete and steel remediation needs, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Fill out the form below.

07 4670 9898

INFO@ENTEKRA.COM.AU