Concrete Cancer Repairs in Gwelup

AMS Seal recently completed specialist concrete cancer repairs to a residential balcony in Gwelup, Perth, as part of the renovation of an older home.

The property was undergoing a makeover, with the owners looking to modernise the home while retaining its existing character. However, sections of the concrete balcony had deteriorated, requiring remedial repairs before the renovation could progress.

Our team removed damaged and drummy concrete, treated affected steel reinforcement and reinstated the balcony’s damaged concrete sections using specialist repair materials.

Project Details

Project: Residential Balcony Concrete Cancer Repairs
Location: Gwelup, Perth, Western Australia
Property: Established residential home
Services: Concrete cancer remediation, balcony concrete repairs and reinforcement treatment
Scope: Removal of deteriorated concrete, treatment of affected reinforcement and reinstatement of damaged balcony sections

Concrete Cancer in the Existing Balcony

The existing balcony showed visible signs of concrete deterioration, particularly along its exposed edges and corners.

Sections of concrete had cracked, broken away or become drummy, indicating areas where the concrete had lost its soundness or bond with the underlying material.

The damage had also exposed steel reinforcement in parts of the balcony.

Concrete cancer is commonly associated with corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement. As reinforcement corrodes, the expanding corrosion products can cause surrounding concrete to crack, delaminate and eventually break away.

For this Gwelup property, the affected sections required specialist remediation rather than simply covering the damaged areas with a surface coating.

Scope of Concrete Repair Works

AMS Seal carried out a combination of concrete breakout, reinforcement remediation and concrete reinstatement.

The works included:

•  Removing damaged, loose and drummy concrete from affected balcony sections
•  Addressing areas of exposed or deteriorated steel reinforcement
•  Reinstating reinforcement where required
•  Applying specialist corrosion protection to treated reinforcement
•  Forming and rebuilding damaged balcony edges and corners
•  Reinstating larger sections using specialist concrete repair materials
•  Completing smaller concrete patch repairs
•  Applying finishing products to improve the consistency of repaired surfaces

Particular attention was given to the damaged balcony edge, where concrete deterioration had affected a substantial section of the exposed face and corner.

Repairing the Balcony Edge and Concrete Spalling

One of the main areas of work involved rebuilding damaged concrete along the balcony’s outer edge.

The existing concrete had deteriorated to the point where sections required removal and reinstatement.

AMS Seal completed the necessary reinforcement remediation before rebuilding the affected concrete profile.

Specialist repair materials were used to reinstate the damaged sections, including the balcony corner and exposed face.

The repaired areas were subsequently finished to provide a more consistent surface suitable for the property’s ongoing renovation.

Steel Reinforcement Treatment

Where concrete cancer has exposed or affected embedded reinforcement, treating the steel is an important part of the remediation process.

At the Gwelup property, AMS Seal addressed affected reinforcement within the balcony repair areas, including the treatment of exposed steel and replacement of damaged reinforcement where required.

The work was undertaken to address the identified corrosion-related deterioration and support the durability of the repaired concrete.

Specialist Concrete Repair Products

The project incorporated several specialist Mapei repair materials selected for different aspects of the remediation.

These included:

•  Mapei Adesilex PG4 – used in connection with reinforcement reinstatement
•  Mapei Mapefer 1K – corrosion protection treatment for reinforcement
•  Mapei Mapefill 05 – micro-concrete used to reinstate larger damaged sections
•  Mapei Planitop Fine Finish – finishing material for repaired concrete surfaces
•  Mapei Planitop Smooth & Repair R4 – repair mortar for smaller concrete patch repairs

Using different repair materials for the relevant applications allowed AMS Seal to address both substantial concrete deterioration and smaller areas requiring remediation.

Preserving the Character of an Older Perth Home

An important consideration for this project was the property’s existing character.

Rather than replacing the entire balcony, the works focused on remediating the identified damaged sections while retaining the original balcony structure and appearance wherever practical.

The repairs formed part of the broader renovation of the Gwelup home, allowing the existing balcony to be retained while addressing the concrete deterioration.

Why Concrete Cancer Should Be Addressed

Concrete cancer can progressively affect reinforced concrete structures when the underlying causes of deterioration remain unresolved.

Common warning signs include:

•  Cracking along concrete edges or faces
•  Rust staining on concrete surfaces
•  Concrete breaking away or spalling
•  Exposed or corroded reinforcement
•  Hollow or drummy concrete
•  Deterioration around balcony edges and corners

Balconies are particularly important areas to assess because they are elevated structures exposed to environmental conditions.

Where deterioration is significant, an appropriately qualified structural engineer may need to assess the structure and determine the required repair scope.

Concrete Cancer and Balcony Repairs in Perth

AMS Seal provides specialist concrete repair and remediation services throughout Perth and Western Australia.

Our work includes concrete spalling repairs, reinforcement corrosion treatment, concrete crack remediation and repairs to deteriorated concrete in residential, strata, commercial and industrial properties.

With more than 40 years of combined industry experience, AMS Seal undertakes concrete remediation projects using specialist repair systems suited to the condition and requirements of each project.

Related Services

AMS Seal also provides Concrete Repairs, Joint Sealing and Commercial Grouting for residential, strata, commercial and industrial projects across Western Australia.

FAQs

What is concrete cancer in a balcony?

Concrete cancer commonly refers to deterioration of reinforced concrete associated with corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement. Corrosion can cause surrounding concrete to crack, delaminate or break away.

Can concrete cancer in a balcony be repaired?

Yes. Depending on the extent of deterioration and the structural condition of the balcony, affected concrete may be removed, reinforcement treated or replaced where required, and damaged sections reinstated using specialist repair materials.

What does drummy concrete mean?

Drummy concrete describes areas that produce a hollow sound when tapped, potentially indicating delamination or separation within the concrete. These areas may require further assessment and remediation.

Does a balcony with concrete cancer need replacing?

Not necessarily. Some balconies can be repaired by addressing localised deterioration and reinstating affected concrete. More extensive damage may require structural assessment and a different repair approach.

Does AMS Seal undertake concrete cancer repairs in Perth?

Yes. AMS Seal undertakes concrete cancer remediation, concrete spalling repairs, reinforcement treatment and other specialist concrete repairs throughout Perth and Western Australia.

Contact our team today to discuss your project requirements.

Call us on 0422 070 305.

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