The equity value and resale potential of many, mainly pre-1950s, houses in Cornwall and Devon have been adversely affected by uncertainties about the nature of the concrete building material used in their original construction.
The concern is whether or not the buildings were made with so-called Mundic concrete and, if so, the extent to which they may have deteriorated or alternatively might be at risk in the future.
Sandberg has extensive experience with construction in south-west England and has assisted both the Department of the Environment and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in preparing their Mundic guidelines.
The RICS document specifies a reliable procedure for identifying Mundic concrete and for classifying the condition of the material. The purpose of this classification is to assist professional advisors, homeowners, prospective purchasers and lending bodies in their risk assessment for individual properties.
The recommended petrographic analyses can be undertaken at Sandberg’s Laboratories, which hold UKAS accreditation for the procedures referred to in the RICS guidelines. An analysis of mundic concrete would typically include:
- Visual inspection of samples
- UKAS accredited concrete petrographic examination
- Identification of secondary reaction products
- Aggregate type and concrete condition assessment
- Classification of concrete to RICS guidelines
- Chemical analysis
- Expansion testing (BRE method)
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