12 Feb Seepage In Car Park – Calthemite Stalactites
What you can see here in the above photo, is that water has been percolating through the concrete from the planter boxes above to the car park below for some time, forming these icicle-shaped calthemite stalactites.
Calthemites is concrete, mortar or lime-derived secondary deposits consisting primarily of calcium carbonate that grow on or under man-made alkaline structures such as concrete, and mimic the shapes and forms of cave speleothems, such as stalactites.
Any water that finds a seepage path through cracks and air voids present in concrete will readily carry minerals such as calcium hydroxide and calcium ion to the underside of the structure. When the leachate solution makes contact with the carbon dioxide in the air, it causes a chemical reaction, which deposits calcium carbonate on the outside of the concrete structure.
Other trace elements such as iron from rusting reinforcing may be transported and deposited by the leachate at the same time as the calcium carbonate. This may give the calthemites an orange or red tint. The sight of calthemite is a visual sign that calcium is being leached from the concrete structure and may indicate that the concrete is gradually degrading.
Good maintenance begins with a proactive approach to maintain, keep, preserve and protect a building.
Remember that seepage/water ingress into areas such as basements, concrete roofs, car parks and retaining walls, should not be ignored – call a remedial waterproofing professional today for an assessment to provide you with the best solution for your situation.
At Waterstop Solutions, we carry out a wide range of remedial works to concrete structures post construction stage.
Equipped with major civil works experience, we can quickly determine the best approach to rectify all seepage and concrete deterioration issues.