Generally, for large infrastructures, the lifespan of modern concrete is about 100 years if properly maintained.
Modern concrete usually lasts around 100 years before it starts to crumble and fall apart.
On average, a concrete foundation lasts 100-200 years.
However, an extremely well-built foundation could last 400+ years, and a poorly-built foundation might start to deteriorate after only 25 years.
Exposure to moisture, temperature fluctuations, and chemical agents can all contribute to the deterioration of concrete over time. As the concrete ages, it may become more brittle, develop cracks and spalling, or lose its structural integrity.
Modern concrete—used in everything from roads to buildings to bridges—can break down in as few as 50 years. But more than a thousand years after the western Roman Empire crumbled to dust, its concrete structures are still standing.
What is the maximum life of modern concrete? Generally, for large infrastructures, the lifespan of modern concrete is about 100 years if properly maintained.
A common sign of concrete failure is cracks. A few small hairline cracks that aren't actively growing and spreading are not necessarily a big problem. But larger, growing cracks are an issue that can affect your home's water drainage, affect the aesthetics, and damage your concrete's structural integrity.
The shelf life of cement is 3 months
When cement comes in contact of moisture, it undergoes a process called Hydration. This makes it crucial to protect cement from moisture even within the 3 month period.
Causes: Exposure to acid rain, de-icing salts, in-service chemicals and naturally occurring sulfates in soils and ground water dissolve the cement matrix which results in aggregate loss. Effects: Loss of concrete cover and subsequent corrosion of reinforcing steel.
Another study by Walz [14] showed that the 30-year strength of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete was 2.3 times the 28-day strength while that of Portland blast furnace slag cement concrete was 3.1 times the 28-day strength.
Only after about 100 years and the complete corrosion of the zinc does the carbon rebar itself corrode and then lead to concrete failure. Because failure of the rebar leads to compromised or failing structural capacity, protecting against premature rebar failure is key.
The use of Pozzolana or other volcanic materials, combined with the use of quicklime, allowed ancient concrete to be strong, durable, and long-lasting.
While ready-mix concrete doesn't necessarily “expire” in the historical sense, its properties can deteriorate over time, impacting its strength, workability and overall performance.
Reinforced Concrete has a lifespan of 50-100 years. Regular concrete can last centuries. Why are we still building with reinforced concrete?
The truth is concrete curing is a continuous process, it hardens steadily forever. But practically speaking, concrete curing reaches a point, which is after a couple of weeks, where hardening will become too slow and invisible.
The results of the residual compressive strength tests for concrete with quartz aggregates (M1-QZ) at 120 and 240 days showed a decline with increasing temperature and age. At 120 days, the strength ranged from 74.3% to 16.9%, and at 240 days, it ranged from 83.5% to 23.8%.
When concrete is exposed to temperatures above 212 degrees F, the boiling point of water, the moisture in the concrete turns to steam. If the temperature rises more rapidly than the steam can escape through the concrete matrix, the rising pressures exceed the strength of the concrete and it begins to spall.
We strongly recommend that you do not use any cement that has exceeded its use by date. The use by date on cement is related to health and safety regulations about 'chromium VI' which can cause allergic dermatitis.
Stone. Stone stands out as one of the most durable and longest-lasting building materials. It's a heavy-duty material that gives homes a unique look and lasts for countless years. Stone supports an impressive amount of weight and can be stacked without the need for mortar, unlike bricks.
You can pour concrete on top of an existing slab as long as it's still in reasonably good condition and structurally sound. This means the concrete should be free of cracks, buckling, and breaks. If you notice any small cracks or minor issues, it's in your best interest to repair them before you pour the new concrete.
If the conditions are right, concrete building blocks have a lifespan of 100 years or more. This makes them a very durable building material. Indeed, concrete created during the Roman Empire can still be found today, which demonstrates how long-lasting it can be.
While concrete is much more resilient than other surfaces, it still has an “expiration” date. If your surface is facing 20-25 years of use, it is probably time to replace the concrete. Exterior concrete faces more elements than interior, so adjust your concrete age accordingly.
Some of the most common forms of non-destructive testing of existing concrete are Rebound Hammer Testing (Schmidt Hammer), Windsor Probes Testing and Concrete Core Testing.