Concrete rot is not always easy to recognize

Concrete rot is most common in homes built with lower-quality concrete than the concrete used today. Concrete rot is most common in homes built between 1950 and 1983. During this period, calcium chloride was used to accelerate the hardening of concrete. This ultimately led to concrete rot. Using calcium chloride to accelerate the hardening of concrete is no longer permitted. Therefore, checking for the presence of concrete rot is especially important if you are considering buying a home built between 1950 and 1983.

Concrete itself doesn't rot, as the name suggests. Within the concrete is a steel structure, also known as the concrete reinforcement. This structure rusts, causing it to expand. This creates more space for rust formation, as moisture can penetrate more easily. Ultimately, the concrete surrounding the structure is pushed away, causing it to crumble. At this point, we call it concrete rot. Concrete rot causes floors to sag, especially because calcium chloride was primarily used to accelerate the hardening of concrete floors.

Concrete rot can be clearly visible in certain cases. For example, if you're looking to buy an apartment with a balcony and there's another balcony above the apartment, look up at the underside of that balcony. You might see brownish-red stains there. These stains are a sign of concrete rot. Concrete rot isn't always easily visible, making it very difficult to detect. Therefore, it's always wise to have a building inspection performed.

In many cases, concrete rot can be repaired. Several methods can be used for this. A specialist can, of course, advise you on the best method for your specific situation. However, in almost all cases, repairing concrete rot is a costly undertaking. That's precisely why it's so important to have a building inspection performed by Homekeur. The building inspection report contains all the information about the property's condition. We offer not only information about the current state of the house but also important advice and cost estimates. This can help you avoid high costs, for example, for repairing concrete rot. Schedule an appointment online or contact us for more information and advice.

The cost of a building inspection (up to 250 m²) is only €489 including VAT. We'll conduct a comprehensive building inspection and you'll receive a building report. Do you have any questions? We're happy to help and can schedule an appointment with an expert inspector right away if you wish!