Making construction attractive to the youth

used. Preferred stone size is 9.5 mm or about a quarter of patch thickness,” Perrie continues.

Where circumstances do not permit a designed concrete mix, trial mix proportions may be used. The correct proportions will permit opening to traffic with pneumatic tyres after three days, and to traffic with solid tyres after four days, provided that the joints can be sawn and sealed within this time.

Perrie says the recommended finishing procedure is to screed from the centre of the patch out to the patch boundaries to promote good bond with vertical concrete faces. Curing should follow immediately by covering the patch with polyethylene sheeting sealed at the edges and maintained in place until the removal of the polystyrene filler.

“When it comes to successfully repairing spalled joints, important aspects include: the need for clean and dry joint interfaces prior to sealing; priming of joint sides for liquid sealants; providing the proper joint shape factor for liquid sealants; using a bond-breaking cord of closed-cell expanded polyethylene foam; and a bond breaker for liquid sealants. The undersealing of joints – usually 3 mm to 5 mm – is also important,” Perrie concludes.

For further details, consult the CCSA leaflet, Repairing spalled joints in concrete floors, phone +27 (0)11 315 0300 or visit www.cemcon-sa.org.za.

Before any repairs are carried out, it should be determined if the spalling is due to a loss of load transfer at the joints.”

Making construction

the youth

attractive to

Avi Bhoora, executive: Construction Materials, AfriSam

Having spent a very busy 40-year career in the construction business, Avi Bhoora, executive: Construction Materials, AfriSam, is concerned by the negative attitude of many young people towards this field of work.

“I do worry about the number of young South Africans who seem to have taken a conscious decision not to enter an industry like ours,” says Bhoora. “There appears to be a strong preference for an ‘office job’ rather than the often-difficult conditions of working on a construction site, for instance.”

Such attitudes make it difficult for companies like AfriSam to compete for the best talent among school-leavers or college graduates, he says. It is therefore vital for the industry to change this view among potential new entrants, and to highlight the potential for meaningful and rewarding careers.

Youth can look forward to meaningful and rewarding careers in the construction industry

A future-proof industry

“I have spent my whole life in construction and, as I approach retirement, I am inclined to reflect on how the sector is going to renew itself – so that it can continue delivering into the future,” he says.

An important starting point is for the public to appreciate more clearly that every city, road, bridge, dam, school, hospital or other engineered structure comes from the work of skilled contractors and their supply chain.

“Materials like aggregate must be extracted from the earth to make the concrete for this infrastructure; it is difficult work, but essential for progress,” says Bhoora.

“If the youth can be inspired by these messages, perhaps we can start changing the value they place on the occupations this field offers,” Bhoora concludes.

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