Naples
Location:
Naples
SERVICE:
Milestone Inspection
COMPLETED:
2/5/2024
CLIENT:
Cypress Glen III
General Information
When assessing an existing structure for potential damaging effects, two factors must be considered. These are movement of structural components in relation to one another and material deterioration. Material volume changes, mostly from ambient daily and seasonal temperature changes, as well as potential long-term deflections, are likely to be the most significant. Any and all foundation movements can be important such as those caused by settling of the soil beneath the structure. However, upward movement owing to expansive soils may also occur. If built on deep unconsolidated fine grained or cohesive soils, or from subterranean losses or movements from a variety of reasons, buildings on spread footings may demonstrate continuous, even recent settlements.
General Information
Building materials deteriorate solely in the presence of moisture, with the exception of metals and their natural inclination to revert to the oxide form throughout the corrosive process. Extremely hostile circumstances persist all year in this oceanic climate due to the high salinity of the environment. Outside relative humidity can be as high as 90 or 95 percent for much of the year, whereas relative humidity inside air-conditioned buildings is usually about 35 to 60 percent. Moisture vapor pressures of around 1/3 to 1/2 pound per square inch will exist much of the time under these conditions. Moisture vapor will move to locations with lower pressure. Even at relatively low pressures, building materials like stucco, masonry, and even concrete remain permeable. Condensation will occur within the enclosed walls of the structure because most of our local construction does not use vapor barriers. As a result, damage is more likely to be found along outside walls or any locations where moisture or direct leakage has been allowed to enter the building envelope.
Over time, deterioration of building materials will continue to occur and may necessitate repair work to be performed. The type of repair will be determined by the role of the member or component in the structural system as well as the degree of deterioration. In non-sensitive parts of the structure like tie beams and columns, cosmetic repairs may be sufficient if the residual
material is sufficient for the needed function and appears to be satisfactory to good condition. Cosmetic type repairs shall only be allowed on members carrying assigned gravity or other loads if it can be shown that the remaining material, if safeguarded from further deterioration, can still perform its intended function at acceptable stress levels. In the event that this is not possible, repairs or reinforcement of the structure or component will be required.
Sound testing, when conducted as required, is used to help determine the defective areas in the reinforced concrete foundations, slabs, walls, and columns. Sounding is a simple, non destructive test typically accomplished with a metal hammer or steel rod by simply striking the tool head on the surface and listening to the resulting sound. Solid concrete will produce a sharp distinct ringing sound that the area is intact and solid. Spalled, cracked, delaminated, or voided concrete will produce a flat or dull sound. Sound testing is best suited for flat surfaces, vertical or horizontal, where large areas can be tested and evaluated in a reasonable amount of time.
Inspection
Our engineers inspected the building on-site including eleven (11) residential units and three (3) roof attics as per Table 1, in addition to building envelope, mechanical and elevator rooms, elevator pits, and carports. These inspections consisted solely of visual means with no destructive testing and was thoroughly executed throughout the entire living area inside the units, with particular attention to all load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and systems, including components beams, columns, and slabs, along with doors and windows water tightness. The exterior of the building was also thoroughly inspected by visual means with particular attention to the concrete, stucco, and steel components, as well as the waterproofing condition of roof.
When performed in a systematic manner, visual examination will be regarded as adequate in the vast majority of cases. The visual inspection must be carried out in all habitable and non habitable parts of the building, as determined by the inspecting expert, in order to ensure compliance. Surface flaws such as fractures, distortion, sagging, severe deflections, considerable misalignment, leakage evidence, and peeling of stucco, if present, should be taken seriously as indicators of potential damages that may necessitate repair work. The methods of inspections used included line-of-sight damage spotting and light tapping with a hammer, sounding, on concrete surfaces suspected of being presently damaged in some capacity.
Observed Conditions
Overall, the building is structurally sound and in good condition. Significant deterioration in terms of cracking or spalling of the slabs, beams, and columns or movement of such components such as due to settlement was not observed during our inspection. Regarding specific observations documented during our inspection of each component, these conditions are discussed as follows.
Residential Units and Roof Attics
Building Envelope
Service Rooms
Carports
Conclusion
We completed our inspection and investigation of the residential building and its components located at 3235 Cypress Glen Way in Naples, Florida. The overall structure of the building as well as the roof, building envelope, mechanical rooms, and elevator pits, along with the attached carport are all in structurally sound condition with no significant structural deficiencies observed. As a matter of routine maintenance, we recommend every three (3) years painting/sealing the bottom areas of all carport column posts on all sides at the base where they meet the ground. These areas tend to rust and deteriorate over time. We recommend the following minor repairs to the building.
Cronin Engineering recommends that this minor repair work be done by a licensed professional contractor in accordance with local building codes and laws. Attached are pictures from our inspection. If you need additional information or have any further questions, please contact our office.
