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In
the fall of 1988, the St. Nicholas Condominium engaged in a
restoration program to restore four cast-in-place balcony
tiers of drop beams, columns, and flat slabs. Problems
associated with these balconies were primarily related to
corrosion of the embedded rebar. The oxidation process was
activated due to insufficient concrete cover over the rebar
and water infiltration of soluble deicing salts. Flexural
cracking was observed at numerous column lines, due to the
development of negative movement, resulting from
insufficient tensile steel.
In the rehabilitation of concrete structures, a
contractor’s ultimate goal is to perform the repairs
prudently in order to restore the structure to its original
integrity while maintaining architectural aesthetics. Since
the building had been constructed in the early 1900s, the
owners were concerned with the project’s potential repair
cost and resulting rate of return for extended balcony
service life. After all, the performance of time-lasting
restoration can be attributed to the attention to detail.
The unique aspect of this project was the painstaking
research and review of available repair materials when the
only established code in 1988 was titled “Building Code
Requirements for Reinforced Concrete” by American Concrete
Institute Committee 318. The St. Nicholas Condominium
Balcony Repair is an interesting demonstration that
attention to detail delivers extended structural service
life and client satisfaction. This is demonstrated by the
current condition of the St. Nicholas balconies. After ten
years of exposure to the harsh conditions in the
northeastern climate, the four balcony tiers stand firm in
their vigilance resisting the forces of decay.
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