Concrete Repair and Maintenance

Many water systems contain structures built with concrete. Some concrete may last 100 years without any need for repair, while other concrete may need repair as soon as the forms are removed. It is often said (but too often forgotten) that the best material for concrete repair is concrete. New concrete used for repairs will usually be more compatible with the old concrete in strength, thermal expansion, modulus of elasticity, and permeability than other repair materials. Modern, more expensive materials should be used only after it has been determined that ordinary Portland cement concrete will not be an effective repair material; this decision requires knowledge of repair materials and their strengths and limitations.