Concrete renovation, restoration and preservation

'Restoration and preservation of concrete structure essential for renovation market'

Kreeft Betonrenovatie en Injectietechnieken was engaged by main contractor Nijhuis Bouw for various work in the large-scale renovation of fourteen apartment buildings in Zutphen's Helbergen neighborhood.

The company is engaged daily in the renovation, restoration and preservation of concrete and the strengthening of concrete structures. Director Roelof Kreeft: "In recent years, sustainability and reuse of concrete structures have become increasingly important. We have been involved in this for years." The company has existed for more than forty years. With about sixty employees, it works on projects for a broad clientele including contractors, water boards, housing corporations and municipalities. 

Crack bridging membrane

In the project in Zutphen, Kreeft reinforced the gallery slabs at two apartment buildings because they were structurally unsatisfactory. Slope layers of some of the buildings were replaced and all the floors were given a new layer of Triflex coating. Kreeft: "We applied a complete crack-bridging membrane to some of the buildings. For this, we incorporated a reinforcement fleece of synthetic fiber into the screed. This makes the floors fully reinforced yet flexible to prevent cracking. On other buildings, a simpler Triflex system was sufficient. In fact, there are also two complexes where a raised system was used, eliminating a threshold. This contributes to improved accessibility and wheelchair-friendliness. The use of Triflex products was a requirement from the specifications. We also replaced rainwater drains in certain places because there was an increased risk of concrete rot in those areas." 

'Pleasant cooperation'

Nijhuis Bouw, one of Kreeft's regular clients for many years, initially approached the company in 2021 for work on two of the fourteen buildings. As the second complex neared completion, Nijhuis Bouw was commissioned to take care of a few more complexes. "They then asked us to work on those complexes as well. If you do the work well, it's also obvious. This project went very smoothly because it was pleasant working with a regular group of subcontractors. The cooperation with Triflex was also pleasant. They gave advice for each building about the products to be applied and we agreed on exactly what work needed to be done."

Part of the renovation market

For Kreeft Concrete Renovation and Injection Techniques, it was a sizable project. "There were two complexes coming in each time. So gradually it became more and more, and if you add everything up, it was a big job. We worked on it with an average of six people for almost three years. We are happy that the client was satisfied." Kreeft expects to be involved in many more renovation and preservation projects in the coming years. "Our work, in particular concrete repair and preservation, is part of the renovation market that is currently being worked on mostly in conjunction with building preservation throughout the Netherlands."