Why is My Parking Garage Doing That and What Should I Do?

A parking garage is like many other things in life, it needs repairs. You may be taking pride in the way your garage looks and especially the way the cars are being kept in better condition than they would be outside. The thing is, wear and tear are inevitable. Weather conditions play a role as well as general everyday wear. These are not the only things though and we want to go into more detail.

Below we are going to talk about how to perform maintenance so that you do not have to have costly parking garage repairs regularly. We also want to share what commonly causes parking garage damages, and finally what to do when a repair needs to happen. Keep reading to find out all these answers from your Montreal concrete parking garage repair contractor.

So, how can you regularly maintain your parking garage?

It’s simpler than you think. First, you want to inspect the floors. You want to look for cracks that may be starting. Every few weeks simply walk around and check for them. This can include pitting flooring, cracks in the concrete or chips or large chunks breaking away. If you do notice any of these signs, it’s time to get it repaired right away. You do not want to use the parking garage until these repairs are made so that the damage does not worsen.

Secondly, you want to check for water spots. Water leaking through the parking deck can cause a white and milky substance to form. This is called efflorescence. It will not only create an ugly stain, but it will also etch the paint on cars. When there is a larger stain, it is important to remove it with chemical cleaners or oxygenated bleach.

Next, you want to examine the membrane system. Any signs of damage to the membrane system should be properly repaired as part of your regular parking garage maintenance. Check it frequently for early signs of wear.

These three maintenance steps can save you a lot of time and money in the long run because you found an issue that was about to become a much bigger issue. So, what are the signs that your garage needs repair?

Firstly, if a crack is large enough that water can leak through, it’s time to get it repaired. If you are seeing grease stains not on the top of the slab, but on the bottom then you want to call a trusted parking garage repair company. Visible grease stains on the bottom may be indicating that the protection of the post-tensioning system may be breached. Next, if the loose barrier cables are failing. This is a big safety issue. Lastly, water should be draining properly on top of the slab. Eventually, over time, it may begin to sag which leads to pondering in some areas. This can lead to water damage and will reduce the durability.

Although these issues are only signs of structural damage, they are very common. Make sure to recognize when they are occurring, and the repair can be a lot quicker. If you ever have questions, never be scared to call an expert and ask them for their opinion.

Now that we have talked about maintenance for parking garages and how you spot if a repair needs to take place, let’s talk about how different things impact a property, and what you can do to lessen this impact.

Firstly, gasoline, oil, and antifreeze are common among cars, however, they can also be hard on your parking garage. Cracking and fissures can occur when these chemicals are around. It is important to recoat and repair imperfections prior to them causing actual damage.

Depending on where you live, moisture and rain can greatly impact your parking garage. Rain, snow, and ice can be very dangerous. When moisture hits the foot and it is not properly protected, it will erode and lead to potholes that can end up damaging your vehicle. These conditions can even compromise the metal under the surface of the garage. If you live in an area with more moisture than some, make sure that you keep this in mind.

Salts and acids from the road can track back into your parking structure. These compounds can destroy your foundation. Unfortunately, salts are a regular street maintenance and hard to get around, however you can use chemical resistant coating may be necessary depending on where you live.

Lastly, tire track and rubber marks can cause damages to your parking garage which can result in it needing to be repaired. Markings and blemishes though are easily detectable and can detract both the aesthetics of the property as well as the value. This will simply lead to frequent recoats. This means that it is nothing an expensive fix, however, it is something to keep in mind and to keep an eye on.

It’s important to have downtime for your garage so that you can do any necessary repairs. This way you can patch up or repair any parking garage flooring impacts. Although it’s important to be aware of what causes damage as well as preventing it, it’s also important to have a good working relationship with a reliable parking garage repair company that can help you quickly and efficiently.

One of the reasons why it’s a great idea to perform regular checks of your garage as well as maintenance is so that the repairs do not get too large. If you have a question about maintenance for your parking garage, or you believe you may be experiencing a problem, we will be happy to assist you. Contact us today to learn more.