Five Years Later: A Balconies That Refused to Corrode

By J Frank Jad

What happens when concrete corrosion is stopped instead of patched?
A coastal condominium balcony provided a powerful real-world answer.

At a beachfront condominium in Cocoa Beach, corrosion had already begun attacking reinforcing steel within balcony slabs. Exposed rebar showed active corrosion, confirmed through half-cell corrosion potential testing, a standard engineering method used to assess corrosion risk in reinforced concrete.

The Challenge

The balconies were located in an aggressive marine environment — high moisture, chlorides, and salt exposure — conditions that typically accelerate corrosion, leading to:

• Concrete cracking
• Rust expansion
• Spalling and costly repairs
• Recurring maintenance cycles

Testing on exposed reinforcing steel initially showed high corrosion potential, confirming active deterioration.

The Intervention

SURTREAT TPS II surface-applied ion-exchange technology was applied to the balconies. Within days, corrosion potential measurements improved significantly, showing an immediate reduction in corrosion activity.

But the real question was:

Would the improvement last?

The Real Test — Five Years Later

Half-cell testing was repeated on the same balcony area five years later. Engineers exposed test zones and again measured corrosion potential across multiple locations.

The results were striking:

• Corrosion potential shifted from strongly negative readings to positive values, indicating substantial corrosion inhibition.
• Even in concrete containing high moisture and chlorides — normally ideal conditions for corrosion — reinforcing steel remained protected.
• No visible corrosion symptoms were observed on treated balconies. …

Meanwhile, nearby balconies repaired using conventional methods but without corrosion inhibitors were already showing renewed deterioration and spalling.

Why This Matters

Conventional repair often treats the symptom — patching damaged concrete — without addressing the electrochemical corrosion process inside the slab. Corrosion then restarts, often at patch boundaries.

Surface-applied ion-exchange densification works differently:

✔ Penetrates concrete to reach reinforcing steel
✔ Alters corrosion conditions at the steel surface
✔ Densifies concrete, reducing future ingress
✔ Extends repair life rather than resetting the damage clock

Engineering Takeaway

For coastal condominiums, parking garages, and marine structures, durability isn't just about repair — it's about changing the corrosion environment inside the concrete.

Five years after treatment, the balcony remained corrosion-free despite conditions that normally accelerate deterioration.

Owner Takeaway

Longer repair life means:

• Fewer repair cycles
• Reduced lifecycle costs
• Less disruption for residents
• Improved structural confidence

Final Thought

Concrete doesn't fail overnight. It fails slowly — unless corrosion is stopped.

And when corrosion is stopped, structures last.