Determining the Causes of Damage During Building Remediation Within the Warranty Period

The diploma thesis presented defects resulting from rapid construction methods, construction in unsuitable weather conditions, and unprofessionally executed building work. In the latter case, the consequences manifest as defects in the building, both in the interior spaces and on the external building envelope. ** Every building requires time for the materials installed in it to dry.** Otherwise, moisture remains in the wall and later begins to cause problems in the building. ** The proposal for remediation of the façade system was provided by experts from the Irma, d. o. o. institute. The decision was made based on the actual location of the building and the weather conditions characteristic of the given location.**

Solution and Method

The diploma thesis presented defects resulting from rapid construction methods, construction in unsuitable weather conditions, and unprofessionally executed building work. In the latter case, the consequences manifest as defects in the building, both in the interior spaces and on the external building envelope. ** Every building requires time for the materials installed in it to dry.** Otherwise, moisture remains in the wall and later begins to cause problems in the building. ** Moisture appears harmless, but it has a significantly wider range of harmful effects if moisture values are exceeded.** Due to unprofessionally executed waterproofing in the basement level of the building under study, it was consequently exposed to capillary moisture.

Upon entering the common areas, a smell of moisture was detected, and visual inspection revealed that the walls were damp in certain places. This problem had already been addressed by the contractors, and this time the work was carried out in accordance with professional standards. In the form of condensation moisture and thermal bridges, defects manifest in the interior of the flats, where mould began to appear in the corners of the building and at the corners of the building joinery.

The greatest problem appeared on the external building envelope; the existing façade system was executed poorly, particularly unprofessionally. Consequently, over time, cracks appeared on the building at the building joinery; swelling and detachment of the finishing layer also occurred, washing away of the finishing layer, algae and moulds on the northern part of the façade. The causes for the appearance of algae and moulds on the building can be sought in many places; they may be conditioned by the insulation itself, which in the given case is only 10 cm thick (this is too thin according to current regulations).

Throughout the diploma thesis, it was established, among other things, that algae and moulds develop both on buildings with insulation and on buildings where insulation is not present. Thus, the cause of their formation may be exclusively conditioned by rapid construction of the building or construction in unsuitable weather conditions. Perhaps the addition of algaecides would prevent their formation, but we must be aware that these inhibitors have a short shelf life and their effect is nullified over the years.

Their durability depends on the climatic conditions of the building's location and other individual physical factors that affect the building's façade. It is necessary to know that these algaecides are gradually washed out of the plaster into the soil, and although they are biodegradable, they have a harmful effect on people's health and the environment.

Results

The proposal for remediation of the façade system was provided by experts from the Irma, d. o. o. institute. The decision was made based on the actual location of the building and the weather conditions characteristic of the given location. All proposed materials are mutually compatible and should thereby ensure the durability and functionality of the entire construction.

The original problem on the external building envelope was not in the existing façade system, but in the actual execution of the façade system. This led so far that the building is visibly deteriorating. If all works had been executed in accordance with professional standards and in suitable weather conditions, the situation that arose would not have occurred. The contractors would also have saved themselves all the problems that arose, for which they are responsible; the warranty period for material defects is 10 years. Some contractors do not comply with the building manager's requests.

They refer to the fact that the cause of the situation that arose is that the building was unoccupied for a long time and was therefore not constantly heated. They must be aware that the contractor, by signing the construction contract, undertakes the execution of works according to a specific plan or project, in which the basic characteristics of construction, installations, equipment, etc., up to the external appearance of the building, are specified. For any deviation from the construction project, the contractor must obtain written consent from the client – the investor – except in the case of urgent unforeseen works. The stated factors cause the problems mentioned in the diploma thesis. Investigations of the building under consideration were carried out through visual inspection of the building, through the building manager's reports, and complaint records of the flat owners.

Based on the defects, remediation was proposed for each problem separately. The focus was primarily on the external building envelope, which is the cause of most of the problems in the building. Every remediation is demanding and expensive from an economic point of view.

If the contractors had executed the works professionally correctly and conscientiously, they would have saved the investors and current users of the building the problems that have now arisen.