Ovenden Allworks have completed the concrete repair works at Louisa Bay, Broadstairs.

These emergency works were required due to the pre-existing concrete cliff facing falling into disrepair causing danger to the public.

These works involved the undertaking of hammer and carbonation testing of the existing concrete structure to identify the areas that required attention.

The Process

The Process

Once the defective areas had been identified the concrete was cut back until a satisfactory concrete substrate was exposed using a high pressure water jetting system, hand tools and grit blasting the defective steel reinforcement whilst rotating labour to comply with the Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) Regulations.

The exposed surface was primed, new steel reinforcement was fixed where required allowing the concrete repair mortar to be applied.

The high level beams also required repairs as the investigation on site revealed their poor condition, a steel reinforcement cage was constructed and fixed, following the removal of all defective concrete, and the concrete was poured into a suspended soffit shutter.

Futureproofing

Futureproofing

Finally a protective coating was applied to the whole area to help preserve the structure from further carbonation in an exposed marine location.

These works took place on the promenade open to the public, therefore we had to maintain public access throughout the works. This was achieved by cooperating with the client and local residents. 

Site manager Justin Hazelden stated that the main challenges of this project were working height on exposed seafront and maintaining public safety  during the water high pressure water jetting activities.