How do you treat exposed rebar in damaged concrete?

Treating exposed rebar is the most critical step in concrete repair. First, we remove the concrete around the bar (often 15-20mm behind it) to ensure no corrosion is hidden. The steel is cleaned to Sa 2.5 standard (near-white metal) using abrasive blasting or needle guns. We then apply a reinforcement protection coating (often cement-based with corrosion inhibitors) or install galvanic anodes. Only then do we reinstate the concrete cover. Covering rusting steel without treatment will result in immediate repair failure.