The cabanas at this luxury high rise were deteriorate due to the close proximity to the ocean. Wind, salt, and rain cause damages to the durability of concrete structures. As wind, salt, and rain get introduce to the concrete surface, the salt and water will start to penetrate the concrete structure causing hairline cracks. The salt will get introduce making its way through the cracks until it reaches the reinforcing bars also known as rebars. Rebar corrodes most readily when it is exposed to water and dissolved chlorides (salt). Concrete structures exposed to the outside environments and close to the ocean are highly at risk. Once the salt makes its way through the concrete it will corrode the steel reinforcement. When the steel reinforcement bars corrode, it will create iron oxide that expand inside of the concrete. This expansion is what creates what is known as concrete spalling.
In order to solve the problem, the damaged areas were assessed: the size and severity of the damage. The solution was to jack hammer or saw cut the concrete to expose the damaged reinforcement bars. Once the damaged reinforcement bars were exposed it was decided whether the reinforcement bars will need to be replaced or reinforced. In order to have a satisfactory concrete repair, the damaged and loose concrete was demolished till the stable concrete was reached. The repair concrete materials must be able to bond with the stable concrete. The reinforcement steel was cleaned and prep. A bonding agent was applied on the concrete surface in order to have a perfect bond between the existing stable concrete and the new concrete that was applied.
Moreover, the new application of concrete was applied after the cleaning, prep, and bonding was conducted. The new concrete was cured under certain condition in order for the structure to gain its required strength.
