WHAT’S LURKING BENEATH THE EDENDALE HOSPITAL

WHAT’S LURKING BENEATH THE EDENDALE HOSPITAL

Lurking beneath the Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, are subterranean basements, that are crumbling, leading to the structural integrity being undermined. Dr Shepstone laid the foundation stone in 1951 and the hospital was completed in 1954. It was designed with a maze of plinths, underlying the basements. These areas are closed off with little or no…

SPALLING: WHAT IS IT, REALLY?

SPALLING: WHAT IS IT, REALLY?

WHAT IS SPALLING? The condition shown in the image below is common in older buildings, bridges, and other concrete structures. Buildings on the KZN coast, are particularly susceptible to spalling, due to the extreme coastal weather conditions. The term “spalling” is used to describe this condition and specifically refers to the delaminating or fragmenting of…

WATERPROOFING: TORCH-ON VS. LIQUID APPLIED MEMBRANE

WATERPROOFING: TORCH-ON VS. LIQUID APPLIED MEMBRANE

Torch-on or liquid applied membrane? This is a question frequently being asked by engineers, building managers contractors and even homeowners. They both have their benefits but what is the difference really? Below we have discussed the differences between the two and some of the benefits they can bring you. Bitumen torch-on waterproofing is a blend…

PROPERTY OWNERS: BEWARE THE DANGERS OF SPALLING

PROPERTY OWNERS: BEWARE THE DANGERS OF SPALLING

The importance of spalling is often overlooked and is often left untreated. Sometimes the delay of repairing spalling can result in major structural damage, excessive repair costs, damage to property and it can even put lives at risk from the falling of loose concrete. Areas with high moisture levels, especially along South Africa’s Indian Ocean,…

SPALLING: THE CONCRETE DISEASE

SPALLING: THE CONCRETE DISEASE

Concrete cancer or spalling – This building disease has multiple names. Its first symptom is surface staining, followed by concrete separation from the surface of the affected areas, with a commonly held misconception being, that it is caused by the weathering process. Concrete spalling is caused when steel reinforcement within a concrete slab begins rusting….