Understanding Façade Restoration and How It Impacts Your Business

Façade restoration not only helps restore the aesthetic of your building but also preserves the cultural landscape of your local area. Your building’s façade is the first thing anyone sees when they approach your business. First impressions are everything to a company.

The Importance of Façade Maintenance

A historical façade has functional aspects as well as aesthetics. While there are many charming components of landmark buildings, there are various functional aspects. For instance, shutters can protect you from UV rays and offer privacy to the company when necessary. Older buildings were often built to last for a long time, but that does not mean they cannot lose their structural integrity. When you do not maintain your building’s façade, you have a higher likelihood of developing expensive problems later and losing the structural integrity of the building.

The Ins and Outs of Façade Restoration

Exterior building maintenance includes repairing cracks and broken brick and waterproofing the façade. To determine the type of rehabilitation your building needs, we must analyze the materials and the reason for any deterioration. Restoration services may include masonry repair, caulking replacement, concrete repair and balcony repair. A repair or restoration involves working with existing materials to repair or restore them.

At Adriatic Restorations, we provide various façade restoration and facade maintenance services. Contact us for restoration services on landmark buildings, commercial buildings, office buildings and more in New Jersey and New York.

Concrete Replacement and Resurfacing

Save Your Balcony’s Integrity: What to Know about Concrete Balcony Repair

A concrete balcony is a significant asset to any landmark or commercial building. Unfortunately, concrete damage can create an unsightly and dangerous dilemma. At Adriatic Restoration, we understand the importance of concrete balcony repair to your overall safety.

Common Causes of Balcony Damage

Check your balcony often for damage. Not only can cracks and other damage look unsightly, but they can potentially cause structural damage. Without proper balcony waterproofing, water can seep into the cracks. During a freeze, the water expands and may result in further damage. Joints without sealant also cause problems for balcony owners. The space where the balcony meets the building is prone to damage without sealant.

All balconies should have adequate drainage to avoid water damage and ponding. Many balcony repairs become necessary because of standing water and a lack of waterproofing.

Common Types of Concrete Balcony Repair

To repair your balcony, we have to assess the concrete to find the source of the damage. Sometimes, hairline cracks can be dangerous because of inclement weather in New Jersey. Common repairs include:

  • Removing deteriorated and broken concrete
  • Applying patching materials
  • Exposing corroded steel
  • Repairing balcony railings

We also use waterproofing systems to prevent future damage.

If you require concrete balcony repair, we have the tools necessary to investigate the cause of your problems and to set you up with a resolution. At Adriatic Restoration, we provide services to office buildings, landmark buildings, hi-rises and other New Jersey businesses. Contact us today for a balcony repair consultation.

Parapet Cracks? When to Seek Parapet Brick Repair

Parapet walls are barriers at the edges of roofs, balconies and other structures. If you have a parapet wall, you may eventually require parapet brick repair services.

The Parapet Wall Dilemma

Did you know that parapet walls expand more often than other types of masonry? Parapet does not have a dead load to contain it. Movement can cause cracks, leaks and deterioration.

Any cracks or holes in the brick can weaken the building’s overall structural integrity. Damage compromises the safety of your building and eats away at the property value and hikes the energy costs.

The Parapet Brick Repair Solution

Brick restoration includes stabilizing the building and installing new, structurally sound bricks. Additionally, we can stain the brick to ensure it matches the rest of your structure. We cut out the damaged bricks and replace them.

We may need to replace the coping stones to prevent water leakage in a parapet brick repair situation. When moisture seeps into the brick, the freeze and thaw cycles wreak havoc on it.

At Adriatic Restoration, we provide services to hi-rises, landmark buildings, commercial buildings and offices in the New Jersey and New York areas. We understand how the North East weather can damage brickwork and masonry. Contact us today to find out how to repair your parapet walls.

Eifs Stucco Repair

3 Signs to Consider Wood Deck Repair

If your wood deck has seen better days, it may be time to consider wood deck repair. Over time, the elements wreak havoc on wood decks. To keep your deck structurally sound and to ensure it looks its best, learn to spot signs of damage.

Discolored Wood

Treat any discoloration with urgency. Moisture seeps into the wood if you don’t invest in a waterproofing system. Fungi grow in consistently damp conditions, like your wooden patio. Once you see signs of discoloration, you probably have a rot problem.

Take a nail and push it against the deck to test for rot. If you can push the nail into the wood, it needs to be replaced.

Wobbly Rails

Your railings do more than add a finishing touch to the deck. Depending on how high your patio is, railings may provide safety. If your railing creaks or moves, you could be putting your guests or staff in danger of falling.

Splintering Boards

Your wood deck is exposed to the elements all year round. Without a waterproof coating, moisture becomes trapped in the wood and causes cracking and splintering during freeze and thaw cycles.

At Adriatic Restoration, we understand what you need to increase your wood deck’s lifespan. We provide restoration services for landmark buildings, commercial buildings and offices in New Jersey. Contact us today for an assessment.

Parapet Wall Repair

Keep Your Parapet Brick Healthy: Understanding Parapet Brick Repair

When was the last time you thought about parapet brick repair? Parapet walls are those that extend from above the edge of your roof. The walls are more prone to movement and damage than other walls. Hence, they require a unique maintenance schedule.

What Purpose Does Your Parapet Wall Serve?

Parapet walls serve various purposes. One common purpose is to provide a design element to the building. However, they also reduce the chance of someone falling from your roof. Parapet walls may also block high winds and keep debris from falling off the rooftop.

Unfortunately, parapet walls do not have the same stability as the other walls in your building. The parapet wall contracts and expands quicker than masonry. When it expands, your wall may suffer a displacement of the cap or cracks in the brick.

How Can You Care for Your Parapet Wall?

If you have a damaged parapet wall, water enters through the cracks and can worsen the problem. To repair a brick parapet wall, we try to reuse as much of the original brick and stone as possible but may have to use new brick or fabricate new units due to damage. Parapet brick repair focuses on improving the durability of your wall through the use of tuckpointing and grinding.

At Adriatic Restoration, we are interested in providing our community with restorative services for landmark and commercial buildings in New Jersey and New York area. To ensure that your parapet wall continues to stand without damage, consult with us today.

 

3 Facts About Facade Waterproofing

Does your building need façade waterproofing? Your building’s façade is the first thing guests see, but it is also one of your building’s first defenses against water infiltration.

Here are three facts about waterproofing.

Facade Waterproofing Begins with Maintenance
Façade waterproofing can be a part of your façade maintenance schedule. When you maintain your building, you can detect any defects early to prevent serious repairs or a complete replacement of your façade.

Water Infiltration Can Lead to Serious Damage
Water infiltration is a lot more severe than some building owners realize. When water seeps into a building’s façade, it can lead to cracking, mold and mildew. Not only can you put the health of guests at risk with mold, but you can put the façade at risk and your building’s structural integrity. Façade restoration can help rebuild a damaged façade.

Facade Waterproofing Is a Painless Process
Façade waterproofing and facade restoration do not have to be a painful process. When restoring your building’s façade, the repair company will inspect the building, take the materials into account and determine which techniques best suit the job.

Upgrading a building’s façade should be a part of regular maintenance. Façade waterproofing not only protects your building’s curb appeal but also protects your building’s structural integrity. At Adriatic Restoration, we repair a variety of masonry. Contact us today for help with waterproofing your façade.

How to Handle Concrete Balcony Repair

The state of your balcony is critical to the safety of your building. At Adriatic Restoration, we can help you understand the importance of concrete balcony repair and how to handle it.

When To Call for Balcony Repair
Neglected balconies are a danger to those atop the balcony and those below it. Without a regular inspection, you could put your staff, guests or tenants at risk. When examining your building, first take its age into account. When was the last time you had your balcony examined?

Additionally, you should examine:
• Your building’s exposure to the elements
• Cracks in the concrete or water penetration
• Corrosion on the railing
Falling concrete is a major warning sign that your balcony needs to be repaired.

What To Expect During a Balcony Repair
During a balcony repair, we will remove all of the deteriorated steel and concrete. Next, we re-enforce the remaining steel and apply patching material with similar properties to your original concrete.
In addition to restoring the structural integrity, we can also use concrete deck painting to waterproof your balcony and make it look new again.

When it comes to your balcony’s safety, you need to invest in regular inspections and repairs. To find out how we can assist with your concrete balcony repair, contact us at Adriatic Restoration as soon as possible!

Save Your Landmark Building with Brick Repointing

If your building has mortar damage, brick repointing is a safe way to repair older buildings. Over time, the mortar erodes. For old, landmark buildings, this can be more than an unsightly issue. It can be an issue that welcomes disaster via water damage.

What Is Brick Repointing?
The filling between bricks is called mortar. It holds the brick in place and can last for decades. During the original construction of the building, brick is laid and then contractors point the brick. To point the brick, you groove out the mortar and remove any extra.

To repoint the brick, you chip the old mortar out and replace it. It is called pointing and reporting because you use a pointed trowel tool.

Why Is Brick Repointing Necessary?
Brick and stone repair maintains the safety and structural integrity of your building. If your mortar joints deteriorate, moisture can enter the building and damage the structure. Instead of fighting with mold and mildew, ask us to remove deteriorated mortar carefully.

In some cases, not only do you need to replace the mortar, but you may require a brick replacement. To ensure no dust or masonry pollute your building, we perform the repair with a vacuumed grinder.

At Adriatic Restoration, we will perform a brick joint repair carefully to ensure the surrounding masonry does not become damaged in the process. Contact us today for our services.

Commercial Flat Roof Repair

3 Signs You Require Flat Roof Repair

Many U.S. businesses have flat roofs. Given your roof is one of the most important components of your building, you want it to last as long as possible. To best care for your flat roof, you need to know how to read the signs you may need flat roof repair.

Mold Growth
Mold can grow anywhere. The one substance mold needs to thrive is moisture. If you have a leak in your flat roof, then mold or mildew might be one of your first signs something is wrong. Essentially, spores travel on the air current and then the moisture allows for the spores to grow. If you see any signs of mold inside your business, it could be a problem with your roof.

Water Spots
Another interior sign you have flat roof damage is discoloration on your ceiling. If you see dark spots on your ceiling, then you probably have water damage. When you have these spots on the top floor of your building, the odds are the water is leaking through the roof.

Low Areas
Commercial roof repair should be a priority if you ever see a low area on your flat roof. Sometimes, you won’t see a lot of evidence that you have a leak. However, if you see a low spot and a dirt ring surrounding the spot, this might be an early sign you have roof damage. You may also have tears in your roof’s rubber membrane.

If there is any damage to your roof, then a flat roof repair is a must. Not only can a weakened or damaged roof cause problems with your business’s structural integrity, but it can become a health and safety hazard.

Below Grade Waterproofing

Common Types of Below Grade Waterproofing

Most building owners understand above-grade waterproofing systems. These are the systems that you use on your outdoor deck or floor space. However, if you have a basement or below ground deck, you might want to think about below grade waterproofing. The following information can help you decide what kinds of waterproofing systems your building requires.

Positive Side
Positive side waterproofing may work best with foundation waterproofing. This is because you have to have access to the exterior walls to apply this coating. If you cannot access the exterior walls, then the other options are best.

Blind Side
When working with structural slabs, your contractor would apply blind side waterproofing to the underside of the structural slab. If you have limitations when it comes to coating application, blind side is best.

Negative Side
When it comes to basement waterproofing, negative side is when you apply the waterproofing material to the interior surface. For basements and foundations, there is a chance for the material to crack over time. If you discover cracks later, you can add more waterproofing to repair damage.

Drainage
Even if you have waterproofing systems applied, you should still consider whether you need drainage. When you use a waterproofing team, they can help you decide which options would be best for you. Often, contractors install french drains for under-slab systems. If you have a flat area, you may need a sump pump.

Below grade waterproofing can prevent future water damage to your building. Water damage can threaten the structural integrity of a building and lead to mildew or mold growth. Basements and foundations should always be waterproofed.