Discoloration of Concrete: Causes, Preventions, and Treatment?

What do you mean by Concrete Discoloration?

Contractors who have placed concrete that turns out to be discoloured know what a hassle and disappointment of concrete discolouration. A concrete discolouration occurs when the original colour is altered.

The concrete discolouration is caused by calcium chloride mixtures, cement alkalis, hard surfaces, inadequate or inadequate curing, wet subsurfaces, and varying proportions of aqueous cement on the surface. The discolouration caused by these causes appears very soon after the concrete has been poured.

A contractor can, however, mitigate the effects of dark patches, strips, and blotchy concrete by taking a few steps. Based on the root of the discolouration, the appropriate treatment method can be selected after the concrete has cured.

Why does concrete to discolour?

The concrete discolouration is caused by a variety of factors, some of which are as follows:

Inconsistent Materials

In order to avoid unfavorable colour issues throughout a project, mixing proportions consistently is crucial. It can be challenging to produce a concrete surface with a consistent hardness when there are differences in the mix delivery from batch to batch.

You should receive a concrete mixture that is homogeneous from your ready-mix supplier. Yet, it is tougher than it seems since each of the several components that make up concrete has a different set of characteristics. interactions between the various components of a batch of concrete, such as cement, additional cementitious materials, sand, stone, water, admixtures, and sometimes fibres, in a consistent manner.

There must be compliance with ASTM standards by all constituent parts of the concrete. The use of high-quality aggregates in concrete is crucial. Sand and stone moisture levels will determine how much-mixed water is needed. The industry may suffer serious repercussions if this is not done.

Change in the colour of the cement

During cement production, cement may change in colour slightly depending on the burning or grinding conditions. If a cement substitution occurs during an ongoing placement or this modified mix is put down right next to concrete made with cement from a different source, a concrete colour shift caused by a change in cement colour can be evident.

If a cement substitution occurs during an ongoing placement or this modified mix is put down right next to concrete made with cement from a different source, a concrete colour shift caused by a change in cement colour can be evident.

Addition of water on the job sites

Adding water on the job site to the concrete makes it easier to work with the concrete. But if the proportion of water becomes more or less there might be a chance of the discolouration of the concrete.

Addition of Calcium Chloride

It is possible for calcium chloride to cause the concrete to take on darker hues when it is used to speed up concrete's setting time, especially at concentrations of 2% or more by weight. A lack of adequate mixing after adding calcium chloride can exacerbate colour irregularities in concrete.

How can you prevent concrete from getting discoloured?

There are some steps that you can take to prevent concrete from getting discoloured, these steps are:

1. In order for concrete to cure evenly, it must be mixed evenly. Sheets can dry unevenly if they are placed on moist surfaces, curing unevenly if they touch in some spots and not in others.

2. A concrete pouring mould you use might also impact the result. The water may either be absorbed or pushed away if you switch them in the middle of the procedure. The colour and moisture content may change as a result.

3. If metal shards are left in the concrete after the trowel burning, it may corrode or discolour it in a different way.

4. The consistency of drying could also be improved by eliminating calcium chloride.

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