Restoring a Concrete Parking Garage

Concrete parking garages face extensive exposure to wind, water, heat, cold, and heavy loads from parked and moving vehicles. Because they are so utilitarian and ubiquitous, unless there is a serious problem, concrete parking garages are often overlooked in the basic year-to-year maintenance schedule of a property. Over time, as concrete surfaces and joints deteriorate; proper maintenance may require the restoration of a concrete parking garage to head off even more costly repairs in the future.  Re-waterproofing and restoring helps limit corrosion and wear on the concrete, steel decking, and expansion joints of concrete structures.

Small Steps to Long Term Strength

Weather and heavy loads put stress on concrete and can result in minor cracks. Often these minor cracks can be addressed by using a concrete epoxy caulking, and upper levels that are exposed to weather can be treated with a urethane coating. However, poorly graded masonry can result in pooling and other drainage issues that will rapidly shorten the life of the concrete and steel infrastructure, and cannot be simply addressed with sealant.

Resurface and Clean

Resurfacing the floor of a concrete structure is an opportunity to ensure proper grading and drainage. Also, concrete resurfacing often involves an intensive deep cleaning of the existing concrete surface, which will remove grease and dirt and other pollutants that affect the appearance and durability of a concrete structure. Restoring a concrete parking structure by cleaning and re-finishing can aid in making the structure look “good as new.”

Concrete parking garage restoration may not be the most glamorous kind of construction project, but the importance of a safe and usable parking facility cannot be overstated. Keeping a parking facility up to structural standard and extending its life for years to come adds value to the property and serves the functional needs of the property owner and their tenants.