How to repair a balcony plate

Although fixing a balcony plate might seem like a difficult undertaking, you can certainly do it yourself with some help. Because they are outside, balconies may eventually develop cracks and other damage. Don’t panic if you’ve noticed any problems with your balcony. Early intervention can stop more serious damage and end up saving you a significant amount of money.

Assessing the damage is the first step in repairing a balcony plate. Do you see minor cracks or more extensive structural damage? Determining the optimal repair strategy will be made easier if you are aware of the scope of the issue. You might only need a basic patch for small cracks. You may need to put in a little more work for more complicated problems, but with the right techniques, it’s doable.

It’s time to gather your materials after you’ve determined what damage there is. Some basic tools, such as a wire brush, chisel, and concrete patching compound, are required. In case the damage is severe, a drill and anchors might be required as well. Be sure the materials you select are of a high caliber, resistant to weather, and capable of providing a long-lasting solution.

Once you have your supplies and tools ready, begin by thoroughly cleaning the damaged area. To guarantee that the patching compound adheres properly, remove any loose concrete and debris. Make sure the repair material is smoothed out and blended in with the existing surface by applying it in accordance with the instructions. Before utilizing the balcony once more, allow it enough time to cure and solidify.

Balcony plate repair doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking. If you have the correct equipment and a little perseverance, you can get your balcony back to how it was. Your balcony can last longer and remain secure for many years if you keep an eye out for small problems and take quick action to fix them.

There are a few simple steps involved in repairing a balcony plate to guarantee a sturdy and secure surface. Prior to doing anything else, you should thoroughly clean the area, look for any damage, and remove any loose or deteriorated concrete. Use an appropriate repair mix and smooth it out after surface preparation, being careful to adhere to the recommended curing procedures. You can maintain the appearance and functionality of your balcony for a longer period of time by carefully following these steps.

Negative factors affecting the life of the balcony slab

Natural "aging" and other elements that have a detrimental and destructive effect on the balcony plate cause it to gradually lose its constructive strength. To start with, this is:

• Water penetrating into the structure with a violation of the external waterproofing layer. It is the cause of the corrosion “corroding” of the reinforcing frame, and the numerous cycles of its freezing/thawing also contribute to the process of destroying the concrete foundation.
• Ice and snow (if they are not regularly removed from the surface of the plate) increase the weight load, which negatively affects the service life.

• Sudden changes in the surrounding temperatures.

Crucial! Balcony glazing doesn’t fix the issue; on the contrary, it makes it worse because heavy metal constructions put a lot more strain on the stove and run the risk of sending it into an early emergency.

External signs indicating the need for repair work

The following are the primary indicators that a concrete balcony slab requires emergency restoration and repair:

• spots of rust appearing on the surface of the concrete;
• cracks and chips;
• pieces of concrete that have fallen off from the inner or outer surface;
• exposed elements of the reinforcement frame;
• a gap that has formed between the balcony slab and the wall of the building.

Types of balcony slab repair

To restore the strength of the balcony slab, one of four main types of repair will be necessary, depending on the extent of damage:

• Minor. If shallow cracks or small chips appear on the surface.
• Medium. It will have to be done if the reinforced concrete product has significant potholes and exposed elements of the reinforcing frame are visible (but they themselves have minor corrosion damage).
• Capital. The slab has significant damage, but it is possible to restore it by installing special reinforcing elements (metal channels, profile pipes or angles) and installing a new reinforcement frame.
• Emergency. It is performed when it is necessary to completely dismantle the slab from the load-bearing wall of the building and install a new reinforced concrete product.

It is possible to finish the first two categories of restoration and repair work entirely on your own. However, for the remainder, the employment of trained experts and specialized tools (such as a crane, high-rise cradle, and welding equipment) will be necessary.

The main mistake when repairing a balcony slab yourself

It is a grave error to apply a traditional sand-cement screed (with reinforcing mesh) over a severely damaged concrete balcony base. Such "restoration" does not strengthen the reinforced concrete structure; rather, it merely adds extra weight and increases the load on the already defective base. Experts view this as a purely cosmetic measure.

In this case, what can be done to strengthen the slab’s durability:

• Install a temporary supporting structure on which the outer edge of your concrete slab will rest. Naturally, this can only be done with the permission of the owners of the balcony below, and only if it is in good condition and can withstand the additional load during the repair work.
• Using a hammer and chisel, remove loose parts of concrete from the surface of the slab.
• Along the entire length of the junction of the balcony base to the load-bearing wall, chisel out a narrow depression.
• Attach formwork along the perimeter of the slab.
• Mount a reinforcement frame over the entire surface, entering the arranged gap.
• Clean the surface of the slab from dirt and dust.
• Apply a special compound (betonokontakt) to it, increasing adhesion.
• We arrange a screed from a solution prepared from a special frost-resistant repair compound.
• After it has completely dried and gained the necessary strength (the time is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging), we dismantle the formwork and temporary supporting structure.
• Apply a layer of waterproofing to the surface.

Minor repair of concrete balcony slab

If cracks have formed in the balcony slab, and you paid attention to them in a timely manner, then the repair can be successfully carried out independently. First you need to make sure that the damage is not end-to-end. To do this, take a narrow, flat and flexible metal probe and forcefully push it into the gap formed. If it enters the crack only to a depth of 20÷30 mm, then most likely the damage to the slab is superficial, and you can easily get rid of it. What to do:

• Using improvised means (wire, thin brush, awl, etc.) and a vacuum cleaner, we clean the gap from dirt and dust.
• We treat it with a special compound (for better adhesion).
• Fill the gap with a special non-shrinking repair compound. Ready-made mixtures (one- or two-component) for its preparation are produced both Russian (Lakhta, Whitemix, Alit, Consolit, SpetsRemSmes) and foreign (Basf, Mapei, Sika ) manufacturers.

• After complete drying, treat the surface with waterproofing.

Speaking of which, Paying for an expert assessment is preferable if you are unsure about the findings of your own slab damage inspection. Qualified specialists use specialized equipment to conduct this assessment. They will advise you on the necessary repair work for the identified defects in the concrete balcony slab based on the examination’s results.

Medium repair of a balcony slab with your own hands

The slab can still be "saved" from further destruction if the balcony’s concrete base has potholes that expose the reinforcement frame but the metal elements themselves are still in good condition. To carry out this:

• We remove all loose concrete mechanically (to the layer with normal strength).
• We clean the exposed parts of the reinforcement frame from rust. To do this, first use a metal brush, and then apply an anti-corrosion compound.
• We remove dirt and dust from the surface of the slab.
• We apply a compound that increases adhesion (for example, Ceresit CD30) to the areas to be repaired and the exposed reinforcement bars.
• We seal the potholes with a special shrinkage-free repair mortar designed for structural restoration of the strength of concrete and reinforced concrete products (for example, MasterEmaco T 1100 TIX).

• After complete drying, we waterproof the entire surface of the repaired balcony slab (preferably using liquid penetrating agents).

Restoring the edges of the balcony slab

Typically, the concrete balcony slab deterioration starts at the edges. It is possible to stop additional base destruction and the exposure of the reinforcement frame (along with all the negative effects that come with it) if they are repaired promptly. Even if your balcony is located at a very high altitude, you can still do it yourself. The following is the work algorithm:

• we make formwork, which is two boards fastened at an angle of 90ᵒ;

• we clean the damaged parts of the edges from dirt and dust;
• we treat them with concrete contact;
• we fasten the manufactured formwork to the balcony slab using clamps;
• we fill it with sand-cement or special repair mortar;

• after complete hardening, we remove the formwork;
• we treat the surfaces with a waterproofing compound.

Major repairs

This kind of restoration of a concrete slab’s strength characteristics is nearly impossible to accomplish on your own. Because the management company is in charge of overseeing the technical condition of these kinds of structures, you should write a statement to the chief engineer in the event that the base of the balcony sustains significant damage. You will receive an act in the appropriate form following an expert examination (should the structure be determined to be unfit for continued safe use) and will have to wait for the necessary work to be completed on the major repairs of the concrete slab.

Installation of a new balcony slab "on site"

Major repairs are completed by companies that specialize in this kind of work. Making a new concrete base in the following configuration is one of its options:

• dismantling the remains of the old balcony slab;
• making supporting elements of the structure (metal consoles) and installing them in the wall with subsequent concreting;
• welding a channel along the perimeter;

• attaching permanent formwork made of profiled sheet to the lower part of the manufactured metal structure;
• installing reinforcement over the entire internal area;
• concreting the slab with frost-resistant mortar of increased strength (based on M500 concrete).

Although fixing a balcony plate can appear difficult, it is actually fairly doable if you take the proper approach. Examine the damage carefully to determine what needs to be fixed first. The extent of the issue will determine how best to proceed with repairs, whether they are related to spalling, cracks, or other problems. For the fix to last, it’s critical to use high-quality materials and adhere to the right protocols.

The secret is to prepare. Make sure the area is completely clean to get rid of any debris and loose concrete before beginning any repairs. This guarantees a smoother finish and improves the adhesion of the repair materials. It might be necessary to reinforce the area in order to support the new concrete if you’re dealing with significant damage.

It’s important to apply the repair material correctly. For optimal results, mix and apply according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure there are no gaps or air bubbles as you carefully smooth out the surface and fill in any cracks. A professionally done repair prolongs the life of your balcony plate in addition to improving its appearance.

Lastly, give the repair time to fully cure. It will help the repair bond well and avoid future issues if you don’t use the balcony until the concrete is fully set. By performing routine maintenance, you can ensure that your balcony stays in good condition for many years to come by identifying any minor issues early on.

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