Environmental Impact on Vancouver Concrete Structures

Concrete is everywhere. From the bridges to the Skytrain line to office buildings and factories, we use concrete on almost every building site in the Lower Mainland. You can’t walk 20 feet without seeing a concrete structure.

But we tend not to think about what effect the environment has on those concrete structures. We trust that the concrete will stay strong and don’t think about how the weather, the pollution, or just the day-to-day use affects it.

The Weather

Vancouver is one of the rainiest places in the world and this moisture can cause problems with concrete structures. Vancouver has many post-tension structures and if moisture levels are high or water actually enters the post-tension ducts, the structure can use strength due to corrosion and failure of the tendons.

On other concrete structures, the moisture along with carbonated concrete (due to carbon dioxide exposure) or chloride exposure from saltwater, or deicing salts corrodes the metal reinforcing the concrete. The water comes into contact with the metal, causing rust, which causes cracking and let’s more moisture and chloride into the structure and the process can rapidly continue and weaken the whole structure.

Day-to-Day Use

Cars driving over it, machinery moving on it – these are all things that can damage the concrete over time, making it weaker and/or causing cracks.

This is where a concrete restoration company such as Vector Construction can help. We offer concrete resurfacing in industrial and commercial applications. We repair and restore damaged concrete, making the structure stronger and safer. In addition to Vancouver, Vector services North America from its offices in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Fargo, Cedar Rapids, and Southern Illinois.