Concrete cancer and spalling? Repaired properly, at the source.
Cracked, crumbling, or rust-stained concrete means the steel inside is corroding. AWS Services stops it spreading: we remove the damaged concrete, treat the reinforcement, and rebuild the section for strata buildings, commercial sites, and civil assets across Victoria and Western Australia.
- The cause is found and fixed before the concrete is patched
- Rust treatment, high build mortars, and structural grouts to manufacturer specification
- Scaffolding, elevated work platforms, and traffic management arranged for you
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Tell us what is happening and our team will get back to you.
Free quotes and advice.
- Federation Square
- Royal Children's Hospital
- Palais Theatre
- Westfield
- M80 Freeway
- Darebin & Glen Eira councils
The damage is usually worse than it looks
Rust can grow to several times the size of the original steel, which pushes the concrete off and lets more water in.
Cracks along slab edges and beams
Cracks that follow the line of the reinforcement are a classic sign of rusting steel.
Crumbling or flaking concrete
Spalling exposes more steel, so the damage speeds up once it starts.
Rust stains on the surface
Brown streaks mean water has reached the reinforcement.
Bubbling render or paint
Expanding rust can push render off before any cracks are visible.
Leaks through walls and ceilings
Water getting in is often what started the corrosion in the first place.
Pieces of concrete falling
Falling concrete is a safety risk. Cordon off the area below and call us.
Is concrete falling from your building?
Keep people clear of the area below and call 1300 665 325. We will talk you through the next steps.
Repairs that last, because the cause is fixed too
Concrete cancer and spalling repair
Loose concrete is broken out, the steel is cleaned and coated with an anti-corrosion treatment, then the section is primed and rebuilt with high build mortar in layers.
Best for: Balconies, slab edges, car parks, and facades
Crack injection
Epoxy injection restores structural strength. Polyurethane injection stops water getting through.
Best for: Walls, slabs, basements, and road barriers
Structural repairs
Structural grout, stitching, and steel supports where the concrete has lost strength. At Point Lonsdale this saved a WW1 bunker at risk of collapse.
Best for: Bridges, heritage structures, and civil assets
Facade restoration
Concrete and masonry facade repairs, repointing, new sealants, and coatings, worked from platforms where possible.
Best for: Commercial and strata facades
Resurfacing and protective coatings
Coatings and resurfacing over the repaired concrete to keep water and chemicals out.
Best for: Car parks, silos, ramps, and industrial floors
Waterproofing to stop it coming back
On roof slabs and balconies we finish with a waterproofing membrane, so moisture stays away from the steel.
Best for: Roof slabs, balconies, and podiums
A WW1 Bunker Repaired & Rejuvenated
Inspected, scoped, repaired, and protected
Inspect and find the cause
We inspect the structure and find what is letting water reach the steel. That has to be fixed too, or the damage comes back.
Choose the repair system
The repair system is chosen for the extent of damage, the depth of spalling, the condition of the reinforcement, and access.
Repair
Damaged concrete is removed, the reinforcement is treated, and the section is rebuilt to the product specification.
Protect
Coatings or membranes go on where needed to keep water away from the steel.
Bridges, silos, heritage structures, and buildings
Park Road Bridge
Concrete cancer and impact damage repaired on the slabs and bollards, with scaffolding, traffic management, and new asphalt.
Ballarat Road Bridge
Loose concrete removed, exposed reinforcement treated against corrosion, and the section rebuilt with structural grout.
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
A WW1 bunker at risk of collapse stabilised with concrete injection, stitching, patch repairs, and steel supports for Queenscliff Council.
Lennon Mills Silos
Spalling repaired on the concrete silos, then protected with a fade-resistant polyurea coating.
Nufarm Saline Pits
Corroded saline pits sandblasted, reinforcement primed with zinc-rich epoxy, the concrete repaired, and the pits waterproofed.
Hyatt Regency Perth
Damaged concrete on the north ramp repaired, then protected with coatings.
Why owners and managers choose AWS
AWS Services was founded in 2000 by Director Carlos Abreu, who still manages operations. Our crews work on councils’ assets, state infrastructure, commercial buildings, and strata properties across Victoria and Western Australia.
Root cause first
Every repair starts by finding why the concrete failed, so you are not paying for the same repair twice.
Repair systems done properly
Mix ratios, cover depth, layer thickness, and rust inhibitors follow the manufacturer’s specification, including VicRoads approved products where required.
Access sorted
Scaffolding, elevated work platforms, barges, cordons, and traffic management are planned into the job.
What is concrete cancer?
Concrete cancer, or spalling, is when the steel reinforcement inside concrete rusts. Rust takes up several times the space of the original steel, so it cracks and pushes off the concrete around it. The exposed steel then lets in more water and the damage speeds up.
What causes it?
Water and salts reaching the reinforcement, usually through cracks, failed waterproofing, poor drainage, planter boxes, or too little concrete cover over the steel. Coastal and industrial sites are at higher risk.
Is it dangerous?
It can be. Left alone it weakens the structure and causes falling concrete and trip hazards. If pieces are falling, cordon off the area below and call us.
Does building or strata insurance cover it?
Usually not. Insurance generally covers accidents, not wear and tear, maintenance, or concrete cancer. Check your policy.
What materials do you use?
Anti-corrosion coatings for the steel, primers, high build repair mortars, structural grouts, and protective coatings or membranes, all selected and applied to the manufacturer’s specification.
How much does concrete repair cost?
It depends on how much damage there is, how deep it goes, and the access needed. We inspect first and give you a clear scope and price before any work starts.
Where do you work?
Victoria and Western Australia, from our head office in Mitcham, Melbourne.
Stop concrete cancer before it spreads
Call now, or send the details and our team will get back to you.