Parking Garage Restoration – Repairing And Preventing Structural Damage

By Author: Carl Walker
Total Articles: 4
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While parking garages are solid concrete structures when first constructed, they undergo a lot of physical abuse throughout the years. Parking garage structures can become weakened from acid rain,chemicals, petroleum products, road salt, water drainage and the weight of hundreds of vehicles.When parking garages are exposed to harsh weather and a number of freeze-and-thaw cycles they have the potential to experience even greater internal and structural damage.The deterioration of the concrete generally starts with the assistance of various chemicals and petroleum by-products leaking from vehicles into the structure.These caustic substances facilitate minor damage such as concrete spalling and failing joint sealant, but can quickly lead to more serious issues.

Most commonly used to de-ice roads in the eastern part of the United States,sodium chloride and calcium chloride work wonders on ice, but have some adverse effects on concrete with metal structures. When this mixture penetrates the foundation through hairline cracks and exposed joints, it corrodes the steel components holding the structure together.To prevent damage, ...
... there are a few restoration services that every parking garage manager should have regularly checked for in their garage; concrete restoration and waterproofing. Properly water proofing the parking garage decks with concrete sealers helps prevents erosion of the concrete, steel supports and surface membranes. In colder climates, water trapped in the foundation can freeze and cause structure expansion and damage. Additionally, regularly replacing old, ineffective joint sealant can significantly reduce water infiltration. Similar to most other assets, maintenance can significantly extend the life of asset. Ideally, a parking structure that has regular inspections and repair work, should last substantial longer than structures that neglect the general upkeep. Neglected parking garages can increase liability and decrease the overall safety for everyday users.It’s important to find an experienced parking garage restoration company to perform these restorations.

While airport, university, hospital, casino and plaza parking garages are all different,they must be handled according to: construction regulatory guidelines and what makes sense from a parking garage building and restoration standpoint. Usually most of the important structural issues were handled during the construction process and prior to the restoration phase.A complete restoration evaluation of the parking garage should include a quality analysis of the concrete, tension of the posts, the joint sealants, steel bracing and plating, membranes, etc.A thorough inspection should reveal if the garage needs carbon fiber installation, reapplication of concrete sealers, new surface membranes, traffic coatings or other beneficial addition. The parking garage restoration company should develop a comprehensive plan for each specialty restoration service addressing timeline and budget requirements.

This article is provided by CarlWalkerConstruction.com – An industrial parking garage company that specializes in Mixed Used Parking Structure and Cost of Parking Garage.