Pyrite is a naturally-ocurring mineral that is found in almost all rocks. By extension, it is also found in the backfill material that is used during construction. When it is exposed to water and oxygen, it can produce sulphate which can turn into gypsum. As this gypsum crystallizes and expands, it can cause stone to shatter and concrete to crumble. This process is fairly slow, having pyrite in your home's concrete can cause a lot of problems over time. Fortunately, there are services that specialize in removing pyrite from a home's concrete. You do need to know when to make the call for a Montreal pyrite removal contractor for your own home, so here are some signs that will tell you that time has come.

Spiderweb" Cracks in Your Concrete

Perhaps the most telltale sign of pyrite damage in your home is the appearance of spiderweb-like cracks in your concrete floors. Even if you don't actually have concrete floors in your main living areas, you can still check your basement, crawlspace, garage, or anywhere else you still have exposed concrete in your home. Cracks in concrete can be caused by many things, so look for tiny cracks that begin in a central location and spread outward like a spider web. This is usually a sign of gradual cracking in your concrete, which can happen as pyrite is exposed to air and water.

Bulging Floors Even if you don't have exposed concrete floors in your home, you might still notice your floors start to bulge. This is due to the pressure caused by the crystallizing gypsum that is produced by the pyrite just underneath the floors. You might even see some bulging along with cracks in your concrete floors if you look closely enough.

Bulging Walls

If you have any concrete in your home's walls, you might also notice some bulging and other unevenness there as well. As with floors, you might even see some cracks start to show over time.

Sticking Doors and Windows

Since pyrite damage could affect your home's foundation, you will also need to watch out for doors and windows that either stick or don't shut like they should. This is a sign of an uneven foundation, which may be a separate problem in itself, but it could also be caused by too much pyrite in your concrete.

Sloping Kitchen Worktops If you suspect that you have pyrite in your home, take a look at the countertops in your kitchen and bathroom. If they have a noticeable slope to them, there might be some bulging or cracking just underneath them that is caused by pyrite damage.

White Crystals Near Cracks Finally, you might notice some needle-like white crystals near cracks in your concrete that disintegrate when touched. This is the crystallized gypsum that is often produced as pyrite is exposed to oxygen and water. This is one of the clearest signs that you have a pyrite problem in your home that needs to be addressed, so you can safely call a professional to have the offending substance removed if you see this.

What Can Be Done? If you notice these signs in your home and suspect that they are caused by pyrite in your concrete, contact a professional for an inspection. If there is indeed pyrite in your home, the affected concrete can be broken up, removed, and replaced with a new substance that contains little or no pyrite. This is a costly and extensive procedure, so you will want to make sure that it needs to be done before you do anything else. It is an important job, however. Concrete that contains only one to two percent pyrite can cause problems for a home over time, and since the destructive process is gradual, you might not notice that you have an issue until it is too late. As with any home renovation or repair project, it's best to have pyrite in your concrete removed sooner rather than later so that you won't have to deal with additional costly repairs in the future. Contact a professional near you to inspect your home as soon as possible to find out if you have a pyrite problem.