Repairing concrete flaking, scaling and spalling

One of the most common complaints building and property managers have is that concrete will begin to flake or spall long before signs of wear and tear typically show.

This most often occurs in areas where there are large swings in temperature. Fast freezing and thawing of any concrete can lead to serious problems. These risks can be mitigated, however, by using the right types of concrete meant to stand up to the elements.

Construction workers can also lower the chances of concrete flaking by making sure the ratio between water and cement remains low, as excess water will keep the material from forming a solid surface, and ultimately lead to chipping and spalling.

Concrete care workers should also hold off using the trowelling machines or any other finishing equipment until there is no more water on the surface. Once a finish has been applied to the concrete, it won't let any extra water out of the mix, resulting in a much less durable product.

These methods are ways to prevent damage from occurring in the first place, however in many instances, contractors will need to makes repairs to concrete that has already fallen apart.

The right tools for concrete repairs

To repair concrete slabs or flooring that has started to spall, you'll need the right tools to make sure the project turns out as best it can be. For surfaces that are extremely rough, you'll need a concrete grinder made with a diamond head.

These products, available from Kennards Hire's Concrete Care, run on a 2 horsepower motor and offer the option of either wet or dry grinding. In addition to leveling uneven concrete surfaces, these products are perfect for getting rid of old glues and epoxies that may have been stuck on for ages.

For more acute projects, tradies may want to get their hands on smaller hand held concrete planers that are perfect for removing old paint, plaster and rubber from concrete, which often will begin to peel if the concrete below starts to fail.

If you don't feel like redoing an entire concrete surface, you can also use these tools to roughen up other parts of the floor so that they may better take a coating, such as paint or rubber.

For more information on how to properly care for and repair concrete, head to Kennards' Concerete Care page, where there are several products and descriptions to help you do the job right.