Mandate
FLORCON was mandated to carry out a targeted technical inspection of the upper portions of two opposing walls on a building in Laval.
Objective: Assess the condition of the materials, identify the causes of water infiltration, and recommend the necessary repairs to extend the service life of the structure.
Findings on Site
During the visual inspection, several issues were noted:
- Cracks in the mortar joints of the concrete caps
- Defective sealing at the top of the walls and around certain openings
- Missing or insufficient weep holes (drainage openings)
- Corrosion of steel lintels above openings
- Accelerated deterioration caused by repeated freeze-thaw cycles, promoting the widening of cracks and water penetration
These conditions allow water to infiltrate behind the masonry, trapping moisture and accelerating the deterioration of structural elements.
Repair Recommendations
To correct the observed issues and prevent further deterioration:
- Remove the concrete caps and the top ten rows of bricks from the walls.
- Replace corroded steel lintels with galvanized models.
- Install a waterproofing membrane and create weep holes above the openings.
- Reinstall the bricks with mortar joints matching the rest of the wall.
- Reinstall the concrete caps and protect them with a metal flashing.
- Perform localized repointing and caulking on all necessary areas.
Prevention
It is recommended to carry out regular visual inspections, particularly after freeze-thaw cycles, to quickly detect any cracking, mortar joint deterioration, or sealing defects.
Preventive maintenance (localized repointing, sealant repairs, cleaning of weep holes) helps extend the service life of the structure.
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