Concrete Basics

What is Concrete Made of

Pouring Concrete

Concrete Mix Designs

Aggregates in Ready-Mix Concrete

Building Concrete Slabs

Concrete Testing

Seasonal Pouring Tips

Repairing Concrete

Concrete Repair

Fixing Decorative Concrete

Applications

Staining Concrete

Stamped Concrete

Concrete Countertops

Concrete Patios

Concrete Floors

Commercial Concrete

How to Investigate Problems with Hardened Concrete

If you work in the concrete industry, there is a good chance you will encounter a problem or defect that will require testing. Before conducting repairs, follow these steps to identify the cause and come up with the appropriate solution.

Approaching the Problem

Examining Defects in Concrete

Hardened Concrete Tests to Consider

Quiz on Testing Hardened Concrete

A new concrete driveway you saw being placed a few months ago got your attention again as you drove by today. You see a meeting taking place on that driveway with what appears to be the homeowner, contractor and a couple of guys in suits with pads of paper taking notes. In the background, you notice a worker drilling into the driveway. Putting holes in a brand new driveway? What's going on?

The meeting you witnessed may be due to a homeowner who is dissatisfied with his final product. The source of dissatisfaction could be almost anything. Typical complaints include flaking or scaling of the surface, uncontrolled cracking, discoloration and popouts.

Projects of all sizes can encounter problems. Most are small enough that they can be quickly and economically resolved by contractors wanting to keep customers happy. However, some issues can be significant in terms of cost and time, involving an entire project or even a whole subdivision. Such defects should be examined to find the cause so that the proper repair is administered. This process, although inconvenient, allows the parties involved to discover the cause of the defect and learn how to avoid it in the future.

Here are the general steps involved in examining a defect and some common practices and tests typically used to search for the cause. Remember that each situation is unique, and the specific issue encountered on your project may require different tests to obtain the needed information. Discuss the testing program with an experienced professional to set up a sampling/testing plan appropriate for the actual defect you might encounter.