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“Worth our salt” – Structural Repairs and BBC News back on the concrete balconies of Brighton.

Structural Repairs were recently invited to to take a closer look at the current state of the Brent Cross Flyover by the BBC?

Spoiler alert…

It wasn’t pretty.

We discovered a lot of exposed reinforcement that should have been repaired years ago.

Also we discovered very low levels of concrete cover under the bridge which will lead to further exposure of the reinforcements.

Along with the exposed steel, we even found bits of concrete flaking off as we filmed.

It seems our concrete scanning kit sparked the BBC’s imagination.  A call came into the team asking us to pop down to Brighton for another meet up.

So Roger and Calum packed their sunscreen and went to look at concrete balconies.

They do like to be beside the seaside with the BBC.

You can see the report HERE

The encouraging thing here is that the owner of the block of flats in question is very proactive in their approach.

They were keen to identify and address any problems before they really become a threat to the building and indeed, the residents and the pedestrians below.

They have a major challenge down on the coast which makes concrete deterioration even swifter – the salty sea air.

A “birth certificate” for concrete

Roger and Calum popped down to Marlborough Court to take a closer look.

Using Structural Repairs sophisticated scanning equipment the chaps were able to scan the building’s balconies.

This effectively giving the concrete a “birth certificate” and the owner peace of mind and a plan for proper maintenance.

Subsequently, we proceeded to the seafront where, yet again, our actions may have potentially strained our relationship with the local council.

This was due to our discovery of the detrimental effect of the ocean breeze on the Victorian sea wall.

It is visibly crumbling, much to the dismay of local residents.

The council secured funding to initiate repairs, but our ultrasound pulse echo revealed voiding and significant signs of wear and tear.

The neglectful attitude towards the structure has caused it to deteriorate and crumble over time.

The council took action to secure the site in crucial areas, which is commendable. However, the damage accumulated over the years cannot be undone.

The key to protecting similar concrete structures is a proactive approach.

The team at Marlborough Court have made this call.

If you have any questions regarding any possible problems with your concrete balconies please contact us