Building Corrosion Rectification

Corrosion type:

Spalling concrete, deteriorating waterproof membranes to walls, balconies and roofs, fretting flashings and brickwork, seepage into basements, foundation settlement and rising damp are the most common.

Assessment procedures:

1. Initial contact
2. Research
3. Investigations
4. Synthesizing the information
5. Interim report
6. Final report to client
7. Repair documentation
8. Cost estimates

Initially

Interview client, inspection for dilapidation conditions, addressed strata management and Owners Corporation. Discuss the importance of a 10-year maintenance plan.

Research

Obtain previous reports, Australian Standards, Building Code of Australia, products, specialist services and strata records.

Investigations

Inspections and photograph the building evidence of corrosion and faults, carry out tests and sampling, provide electronic mapping for concealed concrete corrosion rate measurement, take core hole sampling, have an NATA accredited laboratory analysis of the samples mainly for chloride level contamination, carbonation levels, cement content level, magnesium chloride levels from magnesite, sulphate and alkali-aggregate reaction testing.

Synthesizing the information

The research, investigations, test analysis results, products and reports.

Interim report

Provide the findings and conclusions with recommendations that may include to determine the extent of the damage, the carrying out of physical invasion destruction exploratory works is necessary. Locations may include concealed within the fabric of the building, particularly with respect to spalling concrete, rising damp, waterproofing membranes and flashings, faulty subsoil stormwater drainage and foundation materials that provide support to the superimpose structure.

Final report to client

Ideally would include the findings of the exploratory works and photographic record and/or evidence that can be relied upon for reasons of the owners having a better understanding of the written report and for others that may include tenderers quoting for the works and a record of previous damage once the corrosion is rectified.

Repair documentation

The consultant will generate an appropriate comprehensive specification that will include where necessary certain Australian Standards requirements, Building Code of Australia and product materials. Further, architectural and or engineering drawings as found necessary or for the purpose of the known rectifications and predicted rectifications “not fully known” until excavations occur.

Cost estimates

Estimated construction and/or rectification costs may be given by the consultant under separate letter to the client that can be used for budgeting purposes that may require staging the works resulting in protracting certain works. It is quite often buildings are found by our consultants to be overdue in repairing damage and is quite difficult to recommend an order of priority of the works as they are all of equal importance.

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