Middle School Exterior Masonry Investigation
Selinsgrove Area School District, Snyder County, PA
Stahl Sheaffer performed a condition assessment of the exterior masonry wall at the Selinsgrove Middle School auditorium, revealing ongoing deterioration that was manifesting in efflorescence, full height vertical cracks, cracked and displaced mortar joints, damaged soft joints, and exposed rusted reinforcement between brick courses. Stahl Sheaffer performed further investigation of wall construction configuration by reviewing original construction documents and by accessing the rooftop to view the conditions of the parapet wall. The investigation led to the determination that deteriorated and missing caulking within the precast concrete parapet was allowing water infiltration that led to much of the façade deterioration. Additionally, insufficient allowance for expansion in the façade resulted in the vertical cracking near the corner of the building. Stahl Sheaffer recommended immediate actions to reduce the infiltration and slow the deterioration, to be followed by full scale façade restoration.
Above: Full height vertical crack due to insufficient
expansion provisions. |
Above: efflorescence (white colored brick staining) present on the surface of the brick.
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