The Effects Of Sulfate In Concrete Sulfate is one of the most dangerous forms of deterioration that concrete faces. It infiltrates the concrete through cracks and begins to destroy the cement paste that holds it together. Once in the concrete, sulfate dissolves into water that is present and begins to draw it in. This excess water corrodes the anchor bolts that hold your home’s foundation in place, which can cause significant damage and loss of value. How Sulfate Damages Concrete Sulphate attacks concrete by chemically breaking down cement paste, causing it to expand and crumble. Sulfate-containing salts like sodium sulfate and... View Article
We all know the devastation fires cause on siding, roofs, walls and other wooden parts of a home, but we don’t always think of what those flames can do to a concrete foundation or a concrete structure in general. After all, concrete should be tough enough to handle anything, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. This post will cover what fire does to concrete and how we conduct a fire-damaged concrete assessment: Spalling: Concrete contains water, and that water turns to steam as the temperature of concrete rises in a fire. If the evaporation rate is high enough and the... View Article
Pouring concrete is particularly difficult in cold weather, but it’s not impossible. The key is to prevent the concrete from freezing before it cures. In cold temperatures, the water content in the concrete will freeze and damage its structural integrity. You can pour concrete at temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but once the temperature starts dropping below 20 degrees, it’s best to wait until the weather warms back up. Temperatures of 20 degrees and below are too cold to keep the concrete warm enough to cure properly, even with insulation and other techniques. Here’s what you need to... View Article
