The Complete Guide to Steel Remediation

Steel is one of the most durable, workable, cost-effective and abundant minerals on the planet. It is non-flammable and withstands collapsing or bending, so it’s a prime choice for earthquake prone places. Since it’s manufactured, unlike wood, it has uniform quality and strength. Steel defines urban landscapes, coalescing durability, affordability, and sustainability to make for an incomparable construction material. Structural steel works seamlessly in conjunction with concrete to provide reinforcement where slabs, columns and beams fail. All major city skylines constitute a great percentage of steel because steel-framed skyscrapers can handle high winds, hurricanes, earthquakes and so on. Using a steel frame in building construction even often reduces insurance costs. Consequently, steel is extensively used in the construction industry due to its versatility, strength, cost, fabrication, and many other qualities.

Why Remediate Steel?

Despite its many benefits, like all materials, steel has its flaws – corrosion and cracking being the primary two. Steel tends to corrode in most atmospheres. Corrosion is an electrochemical process that occurs due to the presence of moisture and oxygen. The steel oxidises in such atmospheres to produce rust which consumes approximately six times the volume of the steel. Steel can also fracture rapidly at low temperature and can crack during welding, in fatigue or as a result of stress corrosion. Certain fabrication processes such as welding, flame cutting and punching aggravate the risks, especially if the steel is dense. Steel remediation is an effective solution for structural components impacted by corrosion and cracking.

How to Remediate Steel?

The first step is to find the cause which may not be as straightforward as you might think, especially if:

1. there are several factors that could be at work;
2. the corrosion is not at the surface level where it can be easily assessed.

Different defects will produce different consequences requiring different remedies so steel remediation needs the expertise to precisely identify the source. For instance, while all signs may direct to a leaking water pipe, the nearby ocean could be the actual cause for the moisture affecting the steel. Conversely, concrete cancer may be the result of poorly prepped steel reinforcement or it could be because the mix had too high a sand content. In either case, remediation expertise will be able to detect the cause and then work out the most effective solution.

Condition Report

Once the cause has been discerned, all damages need to be uncovered as it’s best to get to the root of the problem to ensure it can be fully addressed and resolved. Often the complexity of the condition cannot be foreseen and can only be fully realized during the process once the work has begun. Therefore, sometimes, exposing the full extent of the corrosion requires unforeseen major construction work.

Repairing the Damage

Once the damage is fully exposed, the corroded steel must be addressed. If its structural integrity has been compromised, then the corroded steel must be replaced with equal or stronger material. However, if the damage is superficial and does not warrant replacement, the steel must be returned to its pre-corrosive state through mechanical or chemical cleaning. It must be what we refer to as ‘bright’ before further remedial work can continue.

Future Proofing

Once the steel is repaired or replaced, corrosion prevention measures must be applied to prevent the same damage from occurring again. There is an array of easy-to-use products dedicated to in situ corrosion prevention. They can be fairly expensive and yet, cost-effective compared to the cost of demolition and reconstruction. This is the right time to coat the steel with such products to minimize similar damage in the future. Once this is complete, further remedial work can continue to return the structure to its original state – concreting, carpentry or cladding, and so on.

Why Choose PERFECT Remediation ?

Due to the complex ways in which steel is used, when it goes askew its remediation necessitates expertise and experience. This is because repeating the mistake could prove to be incredibly expensive. With a detailed approach and extensive skill set, Perfect provides outstanding counsel on the rectification of projects ranging from residential jobs to tier one major structural repairs. Perfect Remediation and Refurbishment can repair and/or replace all sorts of steel components ranging from trim and decorative pieces to major structural components. From building facades and driveways to pool culverts and chemical plant tanks, Perfect has worked on an extensive range of remediation projects. This, in addition to more than a decade of experience in demolition and construction, has equipped us with unparalleled specialised knowledge and experience, in turn, making Perfect one of the best in business. As the city’s leading structural steel remedial contractor, Perfect understands what it takes to properly remediate steel construction errors and defects. With state of the art technology, a dedicated workforce and stellar leadership, Perfect Remediation and Refurbishment can resolve all steel related issues with confidence.

Perfect Remediation and Refurbishment offer an array of steel remediation services including:

• Blast and paint
• Structural steel replacements
• Structural welding
• Bracing
• Fatigue repairs
• Protective coatings