What Are the Most Common Structural Repairs?
Structural repairs are crucial to maintaining the safety and stability of commercial and industrial buildings. These repairs focus on critical building elements like roofs, foundations, floors, exterior walls, and support columns.
All types of buildings—including concrete tilt-up, masonry, steel, or wood-framed—can require repairs over time. Issues might arise from earthquakes, design flaws, impacts, or just regular wear and tear. Structural repairs keep buildings safe and functional despite these challenges.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common commercial and industrial structural repairs and the methods used to address them.
GLB (Glulam Beam) Repairs
Glue laminated beams
(glulams or GLBs for short) are a popular structural component in buildings due to their strength and visual appeal. However, over time, they can be damaged by heavy loads, exposure to moisture, or even poor installation.
When repairs are needed, the approach usually involves replacing damaged areas or adding support to existing beams. Repair methods include:
Epoxy Injection: High-strength epoxy resin is injected into cracks or damaged areas, filling gaps and restoring the beam’s integrity.
Steel Rods and High-Tension Cables: In cases where a beam is severely compromised, steel rods or tension cables are inserted to add support. This reinforcement prevents further damage and helps restore strength.
Purlin and Sub-Purlin Repairs
Purlins and sub-purlins are horizontal beams that support the roof deck. These components often experience damage from roof overload due to heavy equipment or roof condensation. Repairs typically involve reinforcing or replacing damaged sections.
Like GLB repairs, steel reinforcements or wood replacement can strengthen the structure. In cases where overloading is the cause, redistributing the load or installing additional purlins can prevent future damage.
Truss Repairs
Trusses are vital in evenly distributing the roof’s weight across a building. However, when trusses are subjected to too much weight or impact, the bottom chord—the section carrying the most load—can get damaged.
Common truss repairs include:
Installing High-Tension Cables: Like GLBs, trusses can be reinforced with high-tension cables that help support the bottom chord where most stress occurs.
Replacing Vertical Members: Damaged vertical members may need replacement or extra support to restore stability.
Repairing Top and Bottom Chords: Strengthening or replacing these critical sections ensures the truss can still evenly distribute weight across the building.
Column Repairs (Concrete, Steel, or Wood)
Columns are crucial for vertical support but are susceptible to damage from impacts (e.g., forklift collisions), environmental conditions, and normal deterioration.
We often assess the cause of the damage and suggest upgrades after the repair. In areas with high forklift traffic, for example, we recommend encasing the column in concrete to prevent recurring damage.
Column repairs may involve:
Shoring: Temporary supports are installed to relieve the load on the damaged column before repair begins.
Replacement or Reinforcement: Depending on the extent of the damage, columns can be repaired by adding steel or wood reinforcements or by completely replacing the column.
Roof Condensation Repairs
Roof condensation occurs when moisture gets trapped between the roof and the ceiling, often due to radiant barriers or foil insulation. If not treated, roof condensation can lead to mold, rot, and structural damage to the roof and purlins.
Repairs typically focus on managing moisture and reinforcing or replacing damaged sections and framing. Proper ventilation and insulation improvements are also common solutions to stop condensation from building up again.
Door Opening Repairs with H-Frames
Door openings in industrial buildings can weaken over time due to constant use and structural shifts. Adding H-frame reinforcements around the door openings helps prevent further cracking, keeping the structure secure and functional.
Epoxy Injections for Concrete Repairs
Concrete is durable, but cracks can form due to seismic activity, roof condensation, or overloaded beams. Epoxy injection is commonly used to repair cracked concrete by filling it with high-strength epoxy, restoring the concrete’s integrity.
In some cases, extra support, like tension cables or steel, is added for added strength and to prevent future damage. Regular inspections and tailored repair solutions are essential to maintaining concrete structures, especially in earthquake zones.
Saunders Seismic: Your Trusted Structural Repair Partner
At Saunders Seismic, our goal is to keep commercial and industrial buildings safe and secure.
Our expert team uses extensive industry experience to provide tailored structural repair solutions that meet each structure’s unique needs. We can refer an engineer to provide detailed repair plans for these structural repairs, ensuring your building meets the necessary safety standards.
Whether you need routine maintenance or face complex structural challenges, we have the expertise to deliver lasting results.
Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help protect your building. We proudly serve clients throughout California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah.