Concrete Defects

A practical understanding of common defects in fresh and hardened concrete. It explains their causes, visual symptoms, preventive measures, repair methods, and essential quality-control practices. Written for project managers, site engineers, supervisors, contractors and civil engineering students, it supports accurate field identification, better workmanship, durable construction, and timely corrective action. What's inside • Composition and constituents • Fresh concrete behaviour • Defects in fresh concrete • Factors leading to fresh defects • Common hardened defects • Shrinkage cracking • Crazing of concrete surfaces • Blistering, sand streaking and bug holes • Honeycombing • Efflorescence and dusting • Curling of slabs and delamination • Inadequate cover and exposed reinforcement • Formwork-induced column bulging • Cold joints, surface spalling and discoloration