The UK has experienced record temperatures in May this year, with maximum temperatures exceeding 30 degrees C in many locations around the country over the second May bank holiday weekend.
As a result, you may want to check any concrete structures for signs of cracks, as the heat can place stress on concrete. This could be the ideal time to carry out a concrete condition survey, so that you catch any problems quickly and can rectify them.
If you were laying concrete during this period, it’s especially important that you revisit your work and make sure that cracks haven’t developed.
This is because the heat causes the water in the concrete to evaporate more quickly while it’s drying, which can result in cracks that reduce the overall strength of your structure.
What’s more, if you were laying concrete ahead of the bank holiday weekend and left it to cure in the heat, the more rapid evaporation of moisture can mean that the concrete is now more porous.
Therefore, when it does rain, more water may make its way into your structure and this could damage any steel bars or reinforcement in your structure over time.
What effect does heat have on existing concrete structures?
But even concrete structures that have been standing for years can be impacted by hot weather. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight – and therefore UV radiation – has been found to break down the chemical bonds in the material.
This can mean that such concrete structures degrade more quickly and therefore lose their structural integrity. One of the telltale signs are surface cracks, so these should not be ignored if you, or a professional inspector, notices them.
One study highlighted that this can be a particular issue for what’s known as fair-faced concrete. In architectural terms, this is a concrete that is designed to have a uniform appearance and smooth surface, therefore not requiring additional painting.