The use of reinforced concrete elements within a structure continues to be one of the most common and economically viable methods of construction within Sydney’s diverse built environment.

However, like you would service your car, concrete too, requires maintenance to prolong its working life. Increasing levels of pollution and Sydney’s salt and moisture rich coastal environment pose serious structural and safety issues for buildings due to the corrosive effects of such elements. When the steel reinforcement of a concrete structure comes into contact with moisture over an extended period of time it corrodes and expands. This can lead to concrete cracks and corrosion induced spalling, issues that may significantly compromise the strength of the overall structure.

Cracks and spalling within concrete needs to be repaired by experienced remedial tradespeople in order to guarantee the performance and value of an asset. As specialists in building repair, RM Watson combines the skills and expertise of our team with extensive knowledge of, and access to, materials from around the world to tailor-make solutions to suit every problem. By taking a long-term view, such solutions don’t simply address the problem in hand, but ensure the guaranteed performance of every repair.

Carbon fibre strengthening has become an increasingly common method of structural reinforcement used throughout the concrete repair industry. This is due to its ability to address the structural deficits caused by aging concrete members and external corrosive factors on existing building and bridges.

In situations where building structures require increased structural reinforcement, carbon fibre strengthening is a highly effective measure that can be used. The weaved bonding of carbon fibre material provides a greater strength to mass ratio and increased flexibility. Thus serving as far superior method of structural support compared to that of structural steel reinforcement.

Additionally, carbon fibre strengthening is a cost effective approach to structural reinforcement as it poses little disturbance to the pre-existing services of the building during instalment. As a material less subject to the implications of corrosion, carbon fibre is a durable, long-term approach to structural reinforcement.

One of the overarching goals in all remedial building services is to prolong the life of a building or structure by ensuring that it is structurally sound and well maintained. The application of protective coatings, aims to achieve just that.

The accelerated deterioration of a building is often the consequence of interaction with the elements, an occurrence largely beyond human control. Protective coatings act as a barrier limiting the impact that atmospheric pollutants, salt and a moisture rich climate can have on a structure.

Such a service not only maintains the exterior appearance of a building, it guarantees a level of insurance against more pressing structural issues that can develop over time.

Waterproofing is one of the most pressing issues faced by the modern day building owners. The penetration of water into buildings and other structures compromises the life and performance of the asset and can lead to a number of large scale problems. Water ingress can have WHS implications for occupants of damp spaces as well as affecting the structural performance of concrete and masonry structures.  

RM Watson is committed to providing superior waterproofing solutions for both residential and commercial structures. Our expertise in structural diagnostics ensures that we are able to ascertain the reasons for water ingress and suggest the most practical waterproofing systems that will prevent further damage.  Our waterproofing services include:

• Liquid membranes
• Torch on membranes
• Loose laid sheet membranes
• Hypalon bandages
• Polyurethane sealants

Throughout our 50 year experience in the building repair industry, RM Watson has developed an extensive set of skills necessary to carry out large-scale heritage restoration projects of the highest of quality. We have refined how the success of heritage restoration projects can be measured, that is, through what the eye does not see. As pillars of historical and national importance, it is important to maintain the architectural integrity of heritage sites, therefore, the less obtrusive the repairs, the greater our satisfaction with the final result.

Our expertise in façade repair stems from the belief that a true restoration project must incorporate both the desire to conserve the original appearance of the building, and to improve the safety of the structure itself. Not only is our work aesthetically pleasing it is also strong and durable.

A prime example of this is our work on The Astor Building, 123 Macquarie Street, Sydney,  a project which required the replacement of the original steel windows. As Australia’s first high-rise apartment building, the Astor is an important piece of national history therefore the aim of the project was to maintain the original appearance of the unique site yet ensure the site remains a workable site for years to come.

Cathodic Protection

Cathodic protection is concrete repair technique that uses electrochemical currents to prevent the corrosion of concrete. The purpose of cathodic protection is to prevent the process of corrosion by converting all of the anodic (active) sites on a metal surface of a building to cathodic (passive) sites by supplying an electrical current from an alternate source. Cathodic protection is an effective measure to adopt in instances where owners are looking for a long term solution to their corrosion related issues.  

Crack Injection – Concrete Repair

Cracking within concrete is caused by a number of different factors including shrinkage during curing, thermal shock and the installation of inappropriate construction joints. Crack injection is a preventative building repair technique that can be used to moderate the structural discrepancies that cracking can have.

Crack injection is widely regarded as a superior method of building repairs due to the affordable and timely nature of the work. Crack injection is the process whereby a structural binging agent, such as low viscosity epoxy resin, is injected into a crack present within a concrete unit. The injection of the resin prevents the penetration of moisture into the cracks of the concrete element, therefore improving the durability and structural integrity of the element. Such a technique is primarily used when cracks compromise the strength and reliability of an asset.