Do you notice evidence of concrete cancer on your walls or ceiling and wonder if your insurance would cover it? Or perhaps you’re considering purchasing a home with concrete structures and are concerned about this?
Both of your questions are valid, and I’ll do my best to respond to them as completely as possible. Concrete cancer is unsightly and can affect any concrete construction that is exposed to the elements or water.
What is concrete cancer
Let me clarify what concrete cancer is and why it occurs before we discuss whether or not it is covered by insurance. I’ve spent years repairing this type of issue, so I’ve gained some experience with it.
So, how does concrete cancer appear? When you look at concrete structures, they usually have a healthy grey surface that is free of corrosion.
When you look at a concrete cancer-affected wall, you’ll notice rust, extensive fissures, and even bare corroded rebar. Concrete spalling is another name for it.
Concrete cancer causes
So, what causes concrete to deteriorate? The rebar in the concrete is to blame. The rebar’s purpose is to increase tensile strength, however it is also prone to rust.
It’s also one of the reasons why modern reinforced concrete constructions won’t last as long as old concrete structures did.
Is concrete cancer now one of the telltale indications of faulty concrete? It could be or it could not be. The rebar was always too close to the surface when I had to fix this type of damage. It’s only about a half-inch thick.
When you go to a depth higher than that, the rebar is usually in good shape. The corrosion was caused by water on the surface and the fact that the rebar was close enough to be damaged.
Building defect insurance and concrete cancer
It’s now time to get to the point you’re probably most interested in. Is building defect insurance going to cover concrete cancer or spalling? I’m not an expert in this area, but it should be determined by the severity.
As the name implies, building defect insurance usually covers you against building defects. Now, if your concrete cancer is severe enough to compromise structure safety or carrying capacity, it may be covered.
But don’t take my word for it; most warranties offered by contractors and builders are only good for a year, and some don’t even cover concrete spalling.
Now, insurances are normally intended to cover unanticipated damage, so they should have a time limit and a means to determine whether the damage is something the insurance should cover.
In most circumstances, little concrete cancer isn’t hazardous. It could just be a little shard of falling concrete.
When all the rebar is left on the surface to rust or there isn’t enough rebar on the structures for the load they’re required to support, it’s a lot more risky.
Concrete cancer repair
Now it’s time to discuss if concrete cancer may be cured. It’s something that both homeowners and people who work with concrete properties are concerned about.
The answer is that you can fix it, and it’s not that difficult. All you’ll need is some basic tools, such as a hammer drill that you can rent, and the necessary supplies to repair it.
Concrete spalling repairs, however, should be done carefully so that the problem does not recur, and if you think it is too much, you should seek professional help.
Concrete cancer repair products
If you come across a concrete cancer repair kit, see if it contains any of the following items.
Something should be used to cover the rebar so that it does not rust again. Corrosion caused everything, so it shouldn’t happen again, right?
Since I began doing this type of work, times have changed, and corrosion compounds are no longer used with all items. Polymer fiber concrete repair products are becoming increasingly popular, and some of them can handle corrosion without the use of additional products.
One example of a water-resistant concrete product is polymer concrete. It’s utilized in situations where there’s a lot of water and you can’t expect regular concrete to last.
Polymer patching products work in a similar fashion, however they don’t always employ liquid polymer.
The cost of concrete cancer repair will naturally vary depending on whether you employ help, how much you need to fix, and what tools you have.
Concrete cancer repair DIY guide
Last but not least, I’d like to include some instructions on repairing concrete cancer on your own. You should be fine if you use this as a broad guideline.
Step 1: Remove the rebar from the concrete and expose it. Start hammering that concrete around the rebar with your hammer drill with a chisel head.
It should start to come off easily, but getting part of the concrete underneath the rebar off will be difficult. When you mend the sport, you want the patching material to go around the rebar, so get enough off to put your finger under it.
Hammer around the rebar and use the hammer drill to follow it. Expose it 2-4 inches when you detect healthy rebar that appears like typical steel. If it’s deep, you only need to accomplish the bare minimum.
Step 2: Use a wire brush to remove the rust from the rebar. Brush it till the rust is mostly gone.
Step 3: If you have access to a power washer, use it to clean the concrete cancer spot. If you don’t have one, a water hose will suffice to remove the most of the dust.
Remember how porous concrete is? If the pores are clogged with dust, the patching material will adhere only sporadically.
So you can get it as clean as you can with a power washer, but you can also get it very clean with a water hose.
Step 4: Depending on the product, you may or may not need to use a bonding adhesive on the concrete once it has cured.
Although the polymer materials I use do not necessitate this, there are plenty on the market that do. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, in my opinion. They do it for a reason, which is to ensure optimum adhesion and protection when utilizing their products.
Step 5: Now it’s time to mix the repairing material. Follow the manufacturer’s water-to-dry-mix instructions for the best results. Also, pay attention to how the products should be blended; most of them will need to settle for 3-5 minutes before being mixed again.
Step 6: If no bonding adhesive is available, moisten the patch’s surface. It doesn’t have to be dripping wet, just damp enough to convert the hue to moist.
Step 7: Pour the product into the concrete cancer location. If it’s a ceiling, you may need to fill it partially first, then finish the job the next day. If you’re hungry, gravity will drag the patch and the ceiling off the ceiling.
When it comes to walls, stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations for how big of patches you can make with a single fill.
Step 8: After you’ve patched the hole, screed it level with the rest of the surface with your trowel or float to level the edges.
You won’t be able to sand this with paper, so you don’t want to leave it incomplete. Consider sanding concrete; it’d be just as effective.
You can also make the patch’s surface 1/4 inch lower than the rest of the wall or ceiling. This manner, you can apply a finishing product or a patching product with a thinner layer on top and smooth it out with a float.
This is the way I recommend to anyone who is new to concrete mending. Working smart, not hard, is the way to go. If you have to sand every repair you create, you’ll grow to despise life.
Does strata insurance cover concrete cancer?
Strata Building Insurance is commonly misunderstood to cover ordinary maintenance items or building faults such as the repair of leaking shower trays, settlement/movement gaps in walls and ceilings, or concrete cancer; however, this is not the case. Motor vehicle insurance is the easiest comparison to make. You can insurance your vehicle against being involved in an accident, but you can’t cover it against wearing out. Strata Building Insurance follows the same premise.
How is an owner of a lot protected?
Section 83(1) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 mandates that every Owners Corporation insure ‘the building’ against accidental or deliberate damage (the Act).
“the cubic air-space included within the inner surfaces of the boundary walls, the ceiling’s undersurface, and the floor’s upper surface” According to this definition, the lot owner is responsible for the maintenance of the property.
Can concrete cancer be fixed?
While the phrase implies the severity of the damage, concrete cancer can be repaired in some situations. Before you begin, you must first comprehend what concrete cancer is, what you can do about it, the need of seeking professional assistance, and how to prevent it from recurring.
Does homeowners cover concrete?
A crack in the driveway, no matter how minor, can be a concern for homeowners. It’s not just an eyesore, but it can also put people in risk. It could damage your car’s tires or cause a visitor to trip and fall on your property. You’ll want to fix a crack in your driveway as quickly as feasible as a homeowner. Is it possible to seek assistance from your homeowner’s insurance? It is debatable.
If a covered risk, such as a natural disaster or vandalism, caused the fracture in the driveway, home insurance may cover the cost of repair. Assume a storm toppled a massive tree, cracking your driveway. In some circumstances, where an unexpected incident occurs, the homeowner’s insurance policy will cover it. Most driveway cracks, on the other hand, do not look like this. Rather, they occur as the earth underneath us shifts. The dirt beneath your driveway may move or wash away after heavy rains. As a result, the driveway concrete weakens, placing strain on it and breaking. Because this is a long-term condition, most homeowners’ insurance policies will not cover it.
Even so, it’s worth contacting your insurer to see if your homeowners insurance covers it. If a big crack appears, your insurance may be able to dispatch an agent to evaluate the damage and discover the root cause. They can check to see if your homeowner’s insurance will cover it.
Is there such thing as concrete cancer?
You may notice that your building or other structure is beginning to exhibit symptoms of wear and tear as time passes. This is referred to as concrete cancer, and it refers to the rusting of steel reinforcing included within a concrete slab.
When this steel begins to rust, it expands, causing the surrounding concrete to shift. As a result, the material becomes brittle and begins to split, hastening the deterioration process. Concrete spalling (cracks, etc. ), rust stains that appear to be leaking from within the concrete, concrete render bubbling, or leaks in overhead concrete are all symptoms to look for.
It’s crucial to remember that untreated concrete spalling can be dangerous. This is especially true of structures on the outside, which are more exposed to the elements, which can worsen any problems and make them more serious more rapidly. Concrete fragments could begin to fall from the structure, causing property damage and possibly endangering human life.
So, what causes concrete spalling to begin with? There are numerous reasons for this, therefore being careful during the concrete stage is essential. It could be, for example, that the substrate was not correctly poured, allowing moisture to leak in through numerous crevices. It’s also possible that the reinforcing steel wasn’t adequately prepared when the concrete was first poured.
Other common causes include the ends of the reinforcing being too close to the surface, allowing water to soak through when it rains, causing chemical oxidation in the steel. Wear and tear or bearing weight can also generate stress fractures, which means water can infiltrate the concrete and react with the steel.
But what can be done, and how can problems like this be avoided in the first place? Waterproofing is one of the most effective ways to avoid concrete cancer, so invest in high-quality waterproofing membranes to help minimize water leaks. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your structures so you can notice standing water issues early and remedy them before they become a problem. Do the same thing with internal leaks.
If you notice a crack anywhere, address it right away. To guard against water damage and wear and strain, have the concrete sealed on a regular basis. Over time, painting your concrete can also assist to protect it.
How much does it cost to fix concrete cancer?
Concrete cancer repairs range from $900 to $1,200 + GST per square meter (extent of repairs increase 5 percent annually).
Waterproof coatings (which prevent the spread of concrete cancer) cost between $90 and $135 + GST per square meter to supply and install.
As the following statistics show, repairing and preventing concrete cancer is critical for owners in terms of retaining the asset’s value and avoiding future expensive repair expenses.
As nominated, concrete cancer has been observed in many regions and is attributable to / shown by;
Furthermore, exposed regions of steel elements connected to / through concrete, such as steel beams, lintels, and balustrade fixings, are frequently the weakest points in terms of the initiation and progression of concrete cancer in structures. These parts serve as a connection between exposed weathering surface areas and the structural substrate, and it is common for steel elements to rust first, resulting in fine cracks and fractures at the steel-concrete interface. As the rust spreads further into the substrate and attacks the structural reinforcement in the concrete below and adjacent to these spots, the damage becomes worse.
What is covered by strata insurance?
Strata insurance covers the building, common property, and contents as defined in the property’s title. Common areas, garden equipment, wiring, lifts, swimming pools, car parks, walls, windows, gardens, ceilings, and floors are all examples of this. These policies are frequently required to cover shared property that is not covered by a standard homeowner’s policy.
Some of the fixed parts of your unit, such as ducted air conditioning, may be protected under strata insurance, but it will not cover everything. If you own or lease a strata property, you should carefully study the policy to understand what is and is not covered in your unit.
Is concrete cancer a major defect?
I am the treasurer of a little block with concrete Cancer potential. The other office bearers want to just inform the executive committee and postpone any further investigation for four years, rather than informing the external owners.
When does the executive committee stop acting in the best interests of all owners, rather than simply a few members of the executive committee?
Answer: Concrete cancer is classed as a building defect and therefore needs to be disclosed to insurers as part of the owners corporations Duty of Disclosure.
TYRONE: A contract of insurance is a contract based on the utmost good faith, and there is implied in such a contract a provision requiring each party to act with the utmost good faith towards the other party in respect of any matter arising under or in relation to it, according to section 13 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984.
The duty of uttermost good faith, among other things, requires an insured to reveal all facts relevant to the insurer’s decision to accept the risk, and this is part of the insured’s duty of disclosure responsibilities.
Because concrete cancer is considered a construction problem, it must be declared to insurers as part of the owners corporation’s Duty of Disclosure. Failure to notify an insurer of a pre-existing defect such as concrete cancer may entitle the insurer to cancel the contract or reduce liability in respect of a claim to the amount that would place the insurer in the position it would have been in if the failure or misrepresentation had not occurred.
Each situation of disclosure will vary depending on the circumstances and level of knowledge of the problem. For example, there is a significant difference between an owners corporation that has a defect report that reports on defects such as concrete cancer by a qualified professional and an owners corporation that only suspects there is concrete cancer. When there are potential flaws in a property, it is always recommended that the owners seek counsel from a certified insurance professional.
What causes concrete cancer?
When the steel reinforcement within a concrete slab rusts, it causes concrete cancer. As the steel rusts, it expands and displaces the concrete around it, making it brittle and cracking, exacerbating the problem.
How do you get rid of concrete cancer?
When it comes to building repairs, we’ve discovered that there are few problems that can’t be fixed, and concrete cancer is one of them. The term “concrete cancer” has a sinister ring to it, and it is exactly that. Building cancer, like cancer of the body, has the power to spread and cause damage once inside, and will grow swiftly, weakening and eroding other materials as well.
But what are your options? This article will go through the significance of identification, the role of treatments, and other pertinent information.
While there are a few obvious indicators of concrete cancer, it can sometimes be so buried that only a licensed structural engineer can prove it. Having said that, let’s imagine you’ve seen a few concerning symptoms. In this instance, you may be able to independently certify that your building has concrete cancer.
There may be a problem underlying if you notice any chipping, spalling (meaning the render is peeling away), or cracking on the façade, walls, balcony, or other portions of the structure. Peel a section away when you can (it is both safe and will not be glaringly noticeable or cause any other concerns). If you notice rust stains, notice that the problem you’ve discovered appears to be bigger than you first believed, or see the steel itself, it’s a symptom of concrete spalling, and it’s time to get a professional to figure out what’s causing it so you can fix it sooner rather than later.
Although cracking may appear to be a minor external issue that may be quickly remedied by reapplying a fresh layer of concrete, it is usually the result of a serious structural issue.
It’s the result of long-term corrosion of reinforced steel, which occurs when oxygen and moisture permeate the concrete and react with the iron in the rebar. Yes, you’re probably wondering how oxygen and water droplets get that far. Insufficient concrete cover, poor craftsmanship, machine damage to a wall, or concrete carbonation are all possible causes. The difficulty is that as the rusting progresses, the expanding steel forces the surrounding concrete outward, resulting in increased spalling, cracking, and structural deterioration.
If left addressed, the building’s structural integrity may deteriorate, potentially causing damage to the entire structure as well as endangering the residents and valuables.
This is a treatment for concrete cancer that is caused by either a lack of concrete cover or carbonation in the concrete. All of the spalled and cracked concrete is removed in this procedure, revealing the steel beneath, which is subsequently cleaned and free of corrosion using various techniques.
The rebar is then wrapped with a steel primer and a polymer modified material that effectively shields it from corrosion once it has been restored to an almost-new state (or is in fact replaced). It should subsequently be encased in concrete with a thickness of 15-78 mm, as required by AS:3600. After that, the surface is treated with an anti-carbonation protective coating that works as a carbon dioxide barrier.
This treatment begins with the removal of chloride-contaminated concrete, which is sometimes more time-consuming than the preceding one. There are several methods for doing so, but the most frequent ones include water blasting or using power hammers, chisels, concrete saws, and other similar instruments.
After the chloride is removed, protective coatings are applied to the rebar to make it corrosion-resistant. A surface treatment in the form of a cathodic system is applied to strengthen the protection against chloride contamination.
It’s simple to isolate a mild instance of concrete cancer and replace the problematic region, but if the problem is systemic, a large-scale removal and replacement may be required. However, determining the best method for the rectification procedure is a challenge. You cannot anticipate a long-term remedy if you merely rely on a handyman, unless that person genuinely understands how each of the concrete cancer symptoms is linked to other probable structural difficulties. They may treat the symptoms, but they do not address the root of the problem. It’s like getting a new veneer for your teeth when a root canal is actually what you need.
Give our offices a call and ask for us to come out and visit you on-site now to learn more about how we cure concrete cancer and what preventative measures we can put in place to save your structure before it’s too late.
Is Sinking concrete covered by insurance?
When an insurer first gets into a contract with you, they assume that your home will remain in essentially the same condition as it was at the time of the contract. A normal insurance policy, for example, does not cover shifting soil or structural issues. The foundation of your home, as well as any concrete structures attached to it, is assumed to be stable and sturdy.
The damage to your concrete foundation or porch will not be covered by your insurance company if it sinks due to settling or incorrect installation. If the problem is caused by an installation failure, it will be considered a pre-existing condition. In the case of a settling foundation, it may be specifically excluded.