Balconies
Benefits:
- Increase durability
- Protect against rusting and spalling
- Waterproofing performance
- Waterproof at the same time as protecting against corrosion
- Life cycle cost savings
- No need to reapply balcony coatings
- Less rusting means fewer repairs
External balconies are exposed to the weather, and can suffer from water ingress and corrosive salts. Because balconies are generally think slabs for aesthetic purposes, they usually do not have much concrete cover over the reinforcing bar. In marine conditions they corrode very quickly because of salt damage, and in cold areas they are subject to freeze-thaw. They are also damaged in other environments. Laws such as New York City’s Local Law 11 and local requirements in Florida call for protection, inspection, and repair. Building repairs can be expensive – sidewalk scaffolding, access systems, breaking out damaged concrete, replacing damaged rebar, formwork, and pouring new concrete. If your balcony is well protected against corrosion, it can last longer before repair is required.
Other protection systems either shield the reinforcing steel from corrosion or barrier water from coming into the concrete, but not both. Corrosion inhibitors do not protect well against cracked concrete. Rebar coatings do not stop the water from getting into the concrete in the first place, and they can easily be scratched or chipped during construction. Surface coatings do not directly protect against balcony corrosion, and may have to be replaced regularly.
Hycrete waterproofing admixtures protect against water penetration and also against corrosion. They significantly reduce the amount of water that concrete absorbs, producing waterproof concrete. They also protect against corrosion, by (a) reducing the permeability of concrete, so water and corrosive salts are less able to penetrate the concrete, (b) forming a protective layer around rebar, so the corrosive agents are less able to attack it, (c) protecting against freeze-thaw damage, and (d) accelerating self-healing of small cracks, so there is less opportunity for water ingress and corrosion. They also provide superior protection against chloride corrosion when concrete has small cracks. Because the balcony waterproofing is inside the concrete, it is protected by it. It will not wash out. It does not require reapplication. The life cycle cost of your balcony can be significantly reduced by protecting it with Hycrete products.
Contact us to find out more about increasing the life of your balconies and reducing your repair costs.
Hycrete products for Balconies:
Balconies are exposed and subject to corrosion, especially when exposed to salt. Using Hycrete solutions can protect balconies and reduce maintenance costs.