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As is common in coastal locations, the reinforced concrete elements of the building had suffered severe deterioration, including spalling to the concrete of private balconies and to ring beams. More critically, the ring beams supporting the outer brick skins of the flank walls had suffered serious structural damage, with an imminent risk of failure of the brick cladding.
The main contractor Ellis Builders of Eastbourne appointed Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete Repairs Limited to undertake over £100,000 worth of specialist remedial repairs.
Before commencement of the repair works, Cemplas undertook a cover meter survey, carbonation testing was carried out and because of the seafront location, The chloride content of the concrete was measured.
Cemplas began the extensive remedial work by removing all the brickwork to the building’s outer skin and cutting off the ring beams.
The ring beams were replaced with Ancon steel shelf support anchors, resin fixed to the remainder of the concrete ring beams, to provide support for the new outer skin of brickwork.
The concrete balconies were treated by shot blasting to remove the previous coatings. Several products from Ronacrete’s Concrete Repair & Protection range were then used to repair the concrete and to protect it from further damage.
Repairs to the concrete were made using Ronabond HB40 high build repair mortar. Ronabond Cover Plus 150 was used to provide additional protection to the steel reinforcement and final protection was provided by application of Ronabond Joltec waterproof, elastomeric anti-carbonation coating to the vertical concrete surfaces and Ronabond Zolpacryl anti-carbonation coating to balcony soffits.
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