I'd say road salt...but your in Calgary and I know you don't salt out there.

Trapped moisture, freeze, expand, POP!

Knowing your weather you get one chance to pour concrete without frost as an issue...July

 

It's called concrete scaling, it could be caused by many factors, but most common, could be a bad concrete mix, poor finishing work, or to much water in the mix. When they poured the concrete they could have diluted the amount of cement in the mix and concrete became weak.

 

Thanks Greg... When this was poured it was still very warm out side and very dry...

Is there anything that can be done to make this look any better?

Cheers

 

Trying to fix it makes it look worse, cut it out and redo it

 

What Greg said, and if they worked it too much that brings too much fine aggregate to the surface. This can cause this spalling.

To repair this - get a product from Ardex. They make a couple of different products so ask them what the right one is for this job.

They make an excellent concrete topping, used it and it's quite easy.

Clean the surface. Mix up the Ardex as per their instructions and fill in the areas and trowel finish. It's really not too hard to do.

Stay away from the HD brands. Ardex is THE product to use.

 

Do you find these work? I have never had success making it work, look good and last for any period of time on exterior concrete. I can get 2 out of the 3.

 

It froze.

 

Yes it did..... 2 months after it was poured....

 

:thumbup::thumbup::clap:

 

Ardex is the only way to go. For larger sq jobs, use the CP. For smaller jobs or jobs that need to come out EXTRA good, use the CD Fine. Small bag, twice as much, but its worth it.

 

I see scaling on the old concentrate as well. Does water sit on this thing? If so tear it out and correct the drainage.

I am not there to see it in person, but I noticed the scaling on the old concrete matches up with the scaling on the new.

 

There is a bit of scaling on the old concrete but most (95%) of what you see in that pic is dirt and dust. there is a slope of about 15% on this driveway.... there is no water sitting.

 

Did he get on it and start troweling it too soon?

 

I do not know..... I wasn't there to see it in person.

 

we had a rash of driveways north of calgary that are a mess.

(my house included)


It looks exactly like yours


We are going to get the whole thing sandblasted so it (sort of ) look like exposed concrete. I've seen a few like this and it does not look too bad.


The concrete supplier claims it is one of the chemical that they used was faulty?

My driveway was poured on a HOT day though, I think it was overworked, and maybe had water added

 

Maybe too much fly ash and definitely looks of poor finish, steel troweled wet perhaps.

 

Looks like the contractor never gave the bleedwater a chance .. sealed it with a steel too soon me thinks .. trapped the water ..

I saw a standard 5 sack mix do this once that was poured at a 6 slump .. too much water, not enough cement.

Usually, anything north of Denver or St Louis, I'll use a 6 sack or higher, and not over a 4" slump

 

spalling aka scalling driveways

Hey Mad,
I've blasted a couple driveways here in the Calgary area using my Geoblaster. It's a wet abrasive blaster that mixes water and abrasive together that suppresses the airborne dust.

If the neighbourhood puts up with it..they are being blasted dry too.

Best to get the surface back to the "exposed look" and then sealed it.

Calgary's boom may have something to do with the bad poured driveway issues. Could be the gallons of ice melter sitting on it all winter too...

Geo

 

What was the concrete mix design??? Was it air entrained??? The spalling occurs when there aren't any areas where water can expand when frozen thus popping, scaling or spalling the top. Air entrained concrete cures with microscopic bubbles that allow trapped water to expand when frozen. That my dear friends is pure elementary!

 

I always use Tamms Patch II or Rapid Set..both are light colored so they match "new-concrete" and I have never had a problem with de-lam. Rapid set is just that..FAST, so if your not skilled, you will have issues. Tamms Patch, I can feather edge, so if there is a low spot I can fix it just as easy. The key is time and prep. Most de-lam issues I've been called to fix was due to improper prep. (p.s..I'm a waterproofer..not a concrete guy...lol) But I do have experience in floor coatings and toppings, guess thats why we do so many of them.

 

Did you fix it?

I have made so much money in the past from repairing this issue.

As others said, it could be caused by many things but woops there it is regardless..

If you have addressed it and fixed it, how did it come out?

If not, I will walk you through it if you want me to.

Not being stingy, but it's a long process for me to explain...if you need me to I will.:thumbup:

Steve

 

I have made so much money in the past from repairing this issue.

As others said, it could be caused by many things but woops there it is regardless..

If you have addressed it and fixed it, how did it come out?

If not, I will walk you through it if you want me to.

Not being stingy, but it's a long process for me to explain...if you need me to I will.:thumbup:

Steve

Thanks for the offer Steve..... This is my neighbors place and I think they are having it sprayed..... I will post pics when thay finish.

 

Was that a overlay on exsisting concrete?

 

Answer



Yes it is an overlay.

Regardless of the why it was caused, I have fixed many much worse without having to tear out and replace. Their product even sticks to glass!

Steve:thumbsup:

 

:thumbsup:

Right!

All that is in link I submitted.

PH test?

I ran across that years ago and ran it up the flagpole...got laughed at by lots of product developers....?

Really think it's necessary?

Steve

 

Yes it is, if there is alot of moisture in the existing concrete the overlay will fail.

 

H2o

My experience has been that the substrate has to be moist to apply overlay...I have used a few dozen...The issue that causes de-lamination, is water that keeps on pushing up from below causing this.

This is a rare occurence that happens in a basement or some type of hydralic pressure source.

The other issue is standing water which can be addressed by proper parging.

Howsomever chasing standing water is NO FUN!!!

Steve:thumbsup:

 

My experience has been that the substrate has to be moist to apply overlay...I have used a few dozen...The issue that causes de-lamination, is water that keeps on pushing up from below causing this.

This is a rare occurence that happens in a basement or some type of hydralic pressure source.

The other issue is standing water which can be addressed by proper parging.

Howsomever chasing standing water is NO FUN!!!

Steve:thumbsup:

I like using the ardex products, the technology comes from germany. I have had great results and the tech support is one of the best in the world. If you are happy with the products that you are using and you are making money with them, stick to them. Its about quality and reputation. I am sure you have both.

 

Products

Cool Bud!:thumbsup:

Yes you should stick with the one that brought you to the dance.

I did, for a long time then decided to try Concrete Solutions. They have a $100.00 try us package that is 100% refunded if you don't like em deal.

Their product base, i.e. resin/polymer is imported from Belgium.

European concrete products are 200 years ahead of us, as they build with stone and masonry products built to last 200 or 300 years and are so much older a country than us.

Steve:thumbsup:

 

Cool Bud!:thumbsup:

Yes you should stick with the one that brought you to the dance.

I did, for a long time then decided to try Concrete Solutions. They have a $100.00 try us package that is 100% refunded if you don't like em deal.

Their product base, i.e. resin/polymer is imported from Belgium.

European concrete products are 200 years ahead of us, as they build with stone and masonry products built to last 200 or 300 years and are so much older a country than us.

Steve:thumbsup:

:thumbsup: