Concrete Repair and Maintenance Ideas and Strategies

Bridge preventative maintenance usually leads to closure of some road lanes for a certain duration, and this can disrupt regular vehicular traffic flow. Planned activities usually involve carrying out minor repairs before they can lead to accrued deterioration. This helps to moderate the rate of future wear as a secondary benefit.

While lane closures during concrete bridge repair will inconvenience you as a motorist, it is important to appreciate that the repairs help improve safety and lifetime of the bridge. Therefore, it is important that you tolerate and cooperate with bridge maintenance workers to ensure the work is completed quickly and efficiently.

Here are a couple of preventative maintenance repairs that concrete contractors often provide to help extend the life of a bridge.

Crack sealing

Due to heavy vehicular impact, cracks may form on the surface of concrete bridges over time. Cracking is a sure warning sign of concrete deterioration. When left unattended, minor cracks may become larger and result in more rapid deterioration of the bridge. At the earliest detection of cracking, concrete contractors usually move in to seal any cracks to protect the concrete from load stresses and weathering effects. Some fast-curing crack sealers that are commonly used include urethane, epoxy, and methacrylate with high molecular weight.

Patching

Concrete lanes that have potholes not only look unsightly but they can also expedite tyre wear. If the presence of potholes here and there is ignored, it can lead to costly consequences, as the entire concrete covering will have to be resurfaced entirely. By patching up potholes in advance with a little concrete material and sealant, concrete contractors not only restore the functionality and aesthetic appeal of road surfaces but also increase the longevity of your vehicle tyres.

Deck overlays

Deteriorating decks often suffer from leaking, poor skid resistance, poor drainage, and poor ride quality. Overlays on existing concrete bridge decks are typically made with polymer concrete or polyester concrete to enhance rideability, reduce permeability, and also improve skid resistance. Installation of an overlay may require deteriorated reinforcing steel to be modified or replaced to maintain impact resistance of the concrete slab.

Beam repairs

If the concrete beams are showing signs of deterioration at the expansion and contraction joints, then it will repair. Chemical exposure may lead to corrosion of reinforcing steel and thus weaken the beams. Other causes of deterioration include carbonation and stray electrical current. In order to strengthen the reinforced beams, concrete construction professionals often apply cathodic protection and provide extra concrete cover. Other repairs may involve desalination of the concrete beams. Over time, however, beams that are immensely deteriorated will need to be replaced.