Parking Garages & Condo Decks
Parking garages are vital assets, facing daily attack by moisture, airborne chemicals, and abrasion from vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In many instances, proper maintenance and repairs are overlooked.
When considering restoration, the most important step is to assess and prioritize root causes of damage and defects. Pro Coat’s team of experienced restoration professionals can assist with this stage and if required engage structural engineering services as well.
Due to either budget constraints or the need to keep part of the garage in service, renovations often happen in phases. Pro Coat will help with identifying logical phases to complete restoration work taking into consideration both budget constraints as well as the need to continue operations.
Root causes and critical defects to look for:
Cracking Concrete:
Cracking can occur for a variety of reasons, including Thermal expansion & contraction, major structural movement, settling, and age, as well as “shrinkage cracks” occurring after concrete has cured.
Spalling Concrete:
Rain, melting snow, salt, and chloride from vehicles on upper decks can penetrate concrete, leading to expansion and eventually spalling – chunks of concrete breaking away.
Rebar Exposure and Rusting Metals:
Exposed rebar is a red flag, potentially signaling major damage and needed repairs. Water intrusion into porous concrete will corrode internal steel reinforcements almost anywhere in the garage.
Expansion Joints:
Expansion joints are critical points, often being the first to leak in a structure. They must be correctly installed and maintained. Over time and under excessive vibration and movement, joints are prone to fail.
Walls and Ceilings:
Pro Coat conducts a “sounding test,” which identifies weak and damaged concrete areas needing attention.
Restoring parking garage facilities can be a complex undertaking that requires careful consideration of symptoms, structural types, environmental context, and lead time.
Pro Coat’s team is well-versed in parking garages and condo decks, with many projects in the Maryland and Delaware area. We have the expertise to guide the entire process from assessment to planning and execution of a quality and long-lasting renovation.