Causes and Solutions for Honeycomb and Pitted Surfaces on GRC Components After Installation

In the field of architectural decoration, GRC components, with their lightweight high-strength properties and rich variety of shapes, are widely used in critical areas such as exterior wall cladding panels and decorative moldings of high-end projects including grand theaters, commercial complexes, and landmark buildings. However, honeycomb and pitted surface problems appearing after installation not only affect the building's aesthetics but may also create hidden structural safety risks. As a group with 28 years of experience in detailed design, manufacturing, and construction of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group analyzes in this article the causes of honeycomb and pitted surfaces in GRC components from a full-chain perspective and provides industry-leading solutions.

Analysis of the Core Causes of Honeycomb and Pitted Surfaces in GRC Components

The formation of honeycomb and pitted surfaces is often the result of the combined effect of material properties and construction techniques. From the material side, uneven dispersion of glass fibers in the GRC mix, insufficient fluidity of the cement paste, or an unbalanced sand ratio can prevent air bubbles from escaping smoothly during pouring. During production, insufficient mold surface finish and uneven application of release agent can also cause pitting on component surfaces. During the construction and installation phase, inadequate vibration, excessively fast pouring speed, or improper control of temperature and humidity in the curing environment are common triggers of honeycomb and pitted surfaces. During its participation in drafting the Technical Standard for Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) in Buildings (JGJ/T423-2018), Qinglong Group found through data analysis of more than 1,000 project cases nationwide that 80% of honeycomb and pitted surface problems can be traced to management lapses in the interface between material production and construction.

Full-Chain Solutions: From Source Control to Construction Optimization

As a national high-tech enterprise and provincial engineering technology center, Qinglong Group has built a trinity quality control system covering "materials-production-construction" based on 58 patented technologies. In material formulation, the use of self-developed ultrafine silica fume composite admixtures combined with German-imported glass fibers has increased the fluidity of the GRC mix by 20% and reduced air bubble entrapment by 30%. In production, BIM technology and automated pouring equipment have been introduced to keep mold temperature errors within ±2℃ and precisely match vibration frequency to component thickness. During construction, the innovative "3D laser scanning positioning + modular installation" process is adopted, combined with custom curing covers for intelligent temperature and humidity control. Taking the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road as an example, the Qinglong team used this solution to keep the surface defect rate of UHPC light-transmitting concrete components below 0.5%, winning the Silver Award of the AALBORG WHITE Cup UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Award.

Industry Experience Insights: Establishing Full Life-Cycle Quality Awareness

For professional clients such as real estate developers and architectural designers, solving GRC honeycomb and pitted surface problems requires going beyond single-point repair thinking and establishing full life-cycle management awareness. Qinglong Group recommends involving material suppliers in detailed design from the early project stage and optimizing component structures through parametric modeling to avoid pouring blind spots caused by complex shapes; choosing manufacturers with full-chain capabilities in "detailed design-manufacturing-construction and installation," such as Qinglong, an enterprise with an annual production capacity of 600,000 square meters, ensures consistent standards across all stages; in later maintenance, Qinglong's patented nano-silane protection technology can effectively reduce surface pores and prevent secondary damage to honeycomb and pitted areas.

From the GRC shaped curtain walls of the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center to the GRP decorative components of Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers, Qinglong Group has always fulfilled its quality commitment with the philosophy of "meticulousness and the pursuit of excellence." Facing the industry-wide problem of honeycomb and pitted surfaces in GRC components, only by deeply integrating material innovation, technical standards, and construction management can the mission of "creating beautiful architecture" truly be realized, providing clients with architectural decoration solutions that combine safety and artistry.