posted 13 hours ago
For me, the collapse of the Surfside Condo in Miami, FL started an industry wide focus on the susceptibility and degradation in moisture rich and salt laden environments of our modern concrete. Contrast this with some of the Roman structures that have survived hundreds of years and there is now a big focus on concrete admixtures that increase the strength, create some self repairability, and make it completely impermeable and waterproof such that there should be zero degradation over time. The major problem that is causing concern is the sometimes 25 to 35 year lifespan for major hi-rise and commercial buildings... same as smaller residential structures. The government has already studied and determined almost that any expense is worth building bridges that dont collapse with age. I personally have been adding the "latex" admixtures that tile layers use for their portland cement when they make shower walls and floors .... to my concrete mortar mix when I make outside steps and porches with bricks. I also have found cheap mis colored Home Depot paint mixed with Portland cement and painted on top of some old outbuilding asphalt roofs to be life extending ( so far for 14 years ) The point is that there is a big science right now in admixtures being added to cement to dramatically increase the lifespan and or strength and or water proofing etc. Think about the shot crete walls of swimming pools? Why cant we have that kind of waterproofing in foundations ? I dont think a homeowner should ever be told that their house is now depreciating instead of appreciating because cheap building components. What do you think ?
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