uplifted concrete floor in masonnete with rusting steel rods

bookduck

Here is the problem, my maisonette has a concrete floor bathroom. Under the vinyl tiles there is a lump size of a mouse, but much longer.

What happened is that the water has overflowed, rusted the iron screen in the cement. When iron rust it expands and has forced the now concrete upwards breaking of a channel in the process.

(1) how do I flatten the floor again so it stays solid?
(2) how do I stop water from going onto the bathroom floor and rusting more metal or exacerbate the existing problem?

Canucklehead

Hi

Do you know where your gas meter is? Is the bathroom between the meter and the kitchen?
It's either a gas or water pipe.
Make sure you know how to turn your gas off before you dig around.

Corgi Guy.

bookduck

Hi, I've got no meter or gas upstairs. The gas only supples the stove/over as it is communal heating.

The water pipes com in via another route, but not sure where from? The metal looks like quarter inch round steel

Canucklehead

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

Do you know where your gas meter is? Is the bathroom between the meter and the kitchen?
It's either a gas or water pipe.
Make sure you know how to turn your gas off before you dig around.

Corgi Guy.

Or should I say 'Maybe it's gas or water' !
Corgi Guy.

adaze

You can get a self levelling screed that you could fill the hole with. First things first though, you need to stop the water getting to the floor and causing the problem. Then you need to replace the pipe, but as canukle says you need to be sure of what the pipe is before you cut it out!, once cut out make good and fill the hole with concrete or screed, depending on size.

t_r

The problem I think you have got is the steel reinforcing in the concrete is rusting. (I wouldn't know if it is reinforcing bars or not but stcik with me here) If it is steel regardless of you preventing any more water getting to this'rod' it is not going to stop oxidising and will continue to affect the floor. You might be able to treat it but I don't know how. I think i have read somewhere that the reinforcing in concrete is to prevent it cracking not to make it stronger.

I would look to get expert advice before you take any action because it might be sign of a much more serious problem.

Toiletduck

t_r wrote: »

The problem I think you have got is the steel reinforcing in the concrete is rusting. (I wouldn't know if it is reinforcing bars or not but stcik with me here) If it is steel regardless of you preventing any more water getting to this'rod' it is not going to stop oxidising and will continue to affect the floor. You might be able to treat it but I don't know how. I think i have read somewhere that the reinforcing in concrete is to prevent it cracking not to make it stronger.

I would look to get expert advice before you take any action because it might be sign of a much more serious problem.

The reinfocement rods are to give concrete tensile strength, the high pH of good condition concrete will prevent corrosion of the rebar encased inside, its could just be the bit sticking out thats rusting due to the damp.

Andy

Canucklehead

Hi

The method of constructing buildings with concrete floors would usually have a sharp sand /cement screed as the finished floor level. Within this screed pipework for gas/water/central heating and electrical conduit can be run.The only addition would be chicken wire to give it a bit of strength. The concrete floor below the screed would have reinforcing within it . That would be something like 6 to 9 inches below finished floor level.
I'm sure there are some instances that deviate from this.

Corgi Guy.

bookduck

Thank you all. I thought it was a reinforcing mesh, but there is just not enough rust for a gas/water pipe, so gave it a gentle beating and a red wire became visible. the rust was caused by the bath continuously overflowing

So will chase the crack and then fill it. What would you recommend?

adaze

Still sounds strange, a rusting cable?!? Any idea what it could be supplying? Cement will gradually eat away at a normal moden electic cable (PVC?). When it has been installed it should have been run through conduit so it could easily be replaced. To save money and time, try and work out what it could be supplying, if it still seems to be in OK condition then you could wrap it in a small bit of damp proof membrane (or something that won't rot) and then fill and finish the hole. Really I guess the part of cable should be replaced, but that sounds like it would make a lot of work, just make safe and finish off properly. You certainly don't want water any where near it :eek:

squarehead99

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

Do you know where your gas meter is? Is the bathroom between the meter and the kitchen?
It's either a gas or water pipe.
Make sure you know how to turn your gas off before you dig around.

Corgi Guy.

But water and gas pipes dont rust