I’ve been working as a structural concrete repair contractor in Montreal for over a decade, and concrete beam repair is one of those jobs that looks Montreal concrete beam repair reveals its complexity once you open things up. In my experience, most homeowners and even some property managers don’t notice a beam problem until there’s visible cracking, sagging, or rust staining. By then, the damage has often been developing quietly for years, especially in our freeze-thaw climate.
Montreal’s weather is unforgiving on reinforced concrete. I’ve opened up beams in basements and parking garages where de-icing salts and moisture had penetrated deep into the concrete. The steel rebar inside had expanded from corrosion, causing the concrete to crack and spall. One job that still stands out was in a triplex where the owner thought a few hairline cracks in the basement ceiling were cosmetic. When I chipped back the loose concrete, large sections of rebar were exposed and heavily rusted. The beam had lost a noticeable portion of its structural capacity. That repair turned into a much more involved project than the owner initially expected.
Over the years, I’ve found that the biggest mistake people make is patching the surface without addressing the cause. I’ve been called in to fix beams that were “repaired” just a year earlier. Someone had applied a thin layer of mortar over cracked concrete without removing the damaged material or treating the corroded steel. It looked fine for a season, then the cracks reappeared, sometimes worse than before. Proper beam repair isn’t about covering damage; it’s about restoring structural integrity.
A typical repair, in my practice, starts with a careful assessment. I don’t just look at the crack pattern; I tap the concrete to listen for hollow areas, check for deflection, and look at moisture sources nearby. In parking structures, I pay special attention to drainage. In residential basements, I often trace the issue back to poor exterior waterproofing or clogged weeping tiles. One winter, I worked on a small commercial building where repeated freeze-thaw cycles had widened small cracks along a beam supporting the entrance canopy. Water had been seeping in from above for years. We had to install proper flashing and waterproofing in addition to repairing the beam itself, or the problem would have returned.
The actual repair process requires discipline. All unsound concrete must be removed until we reach solid material. Any corroded rebar is cleaned thoroughly, and in some cases, supplemented with additional steel if the cross-section has been significantly reduced. I prefer using high-performance repair mortars designed for structural applications, especially products that bond well and handle our climate. Rushing this stage or cutting corners almost guarantees failure later.
There’s also a judgment call involved in deciding whether a beam can be repaired or needs partial replacement or reinforcement with carbon fiber or steel plates. I remember a warehouse project where the beams had been overloaded over time. The cracks weren’t just from corrosion; they were structural flexural cracks. In that case, we installed external reinforcement after repairing the damaged concrete. Simply patching would have been irresponsible. As a contractor, I’ve learned that sometimes the right advice isn’t the cheapest option, but it’s the one that prevents far more serious problems down the road.
For property owners in Montreal, early inspection is critical. If you see cracking wider than a few millimeters, rust stains, chunks of concrete on the floor, or noticeable sagging, don’t ignore it. In my experience, smaller repairs handled early can cost several thousand dollars, while neglected beams can lead to major structural interventions that disrupt entire buildings.
Concrete beam repair is not just a cosmetic job. It’s structural work that demands experience, proper materials, and a clear understanding of how buildings behave in our climate. After years in the field, I’ve come to respect how much damage a little water and time can do. I’ve also seen how a well-executed repair can extend the life of a structure for decades.