Construction joint repair – Sydney multilevel car park

03 Feb Construction joint repair – Sydney multilevel car park

Entry ramp construction joint repair in Sydney multilevel car park

Our Waterstop Solutions NSW team in Sydney has recently been carrying out a fair few joint refurbishment and joint sealing works.

One example is an entry ramp to a multilevel car park where the joint sealant was pulling away from the edges of the construction joint.

Not only did the damaged joint affect the aesthetics of the car park as well as creating a potential trip hazard, but it also allowed water to seep through to the car park level below.

Eventually, if this damaged joint had been left untreated, further water damage would likely accelerate the degradation of the rubber grommets in the construction joint and in turn cause damage to the concrete structure.

Another possible consequence of continued dripping of calcified water is that tenants might end up finding themselves in a position where they cannot use their parking spots without risking damaging stains being deposited on their cars or having other personal belongings damaged by water.

Causes of joint problems in concrete slabs

Joints are subject to many factors which influence their design and service life. In load-bearing conditions such as at the entry/exit ramp of a car park in a commercial or a multilevel apartment building, the service life can be compromised. Joint deterioration, cracks, concrete spalling and water ingress/seepage affect the longevity of the asset.

The placement and the sealing of concrete joints are both very important aspects of construction to ensure that the concrete slabs remain intact and structurally sound.

Improper filling and/or sealing of joints by using incorrect material, inadequate filler depth and incorrect ratio of sealant, are just some of many causes of joint problems in concrete structures.

In this case, there are three (3) main reasons for the joint deterioration:

1. 1. Product failure – The ideal product should be rigid enough to support traffic, have good abrasion resistance, resilience to absorb impact and support the edges of the joint and soft enough to expand and contract as the joint moves due to shrinkage and/or thermal changes.
   2. The concrete on either side of the joint wasn’t prepared properly and had pulled away.
   3. The ratio of sealant was incorrect – It needs to be twice the width to the depth.

This is how Waterstop Solutions refurbished the entry ramp construction joint

• Removed the existing joint mechanically.
• Prepared the surface by grinding and removing all the residue.
• Removed all dust with a vacuum.
• Installed backing rod, closed cell to the correct depth to create the proper ration 2:1 Depth to Width.
• Taped and primed the joint.
• Filled joint with a durable, high-performance, flexible, UV-stable, non-sag polyurethane sealant that forms a strong adhesion to the substrate and offers an excellent performance in moving joints.
• Scraped excess sealant and removed the tape.
• Quality checked the finished joint refurbishment with a further quality check within the next 12 months.

Image:  Joint sealant is pulling away from the edges of the construction joint.

Image: Removal of old sealant. 

Image: During joint repair.

Are you interested in finding out more about the various remedial building services we are providing?

Please click on the image below to download Waterstop Solutions Capability Statement

Waterstop Solutions Capability Statement is now available to download as PDF. (The image is clickable and opens up a link to our Capability Statement). 

Good maintenance begins with a proactive approach to maintain, keep, preserve and protect a building.