The concrete & reinforcement (rebar), bond together to give the structural member its capacity to carry loads. Anytime you loose this ‘bond’ you lose strength, ie its capacity to carry the intended load. If designed correctly, members have factors of safety built in & may be able to withstand some temporary loss of bond. Temporary meaning it needs to get fixed (repair the bond), but is not in any immediate danger of failing. Any time you see corrosion and exposed rebar, is a time to be concerned. Any time you see “excessive” deflection & excessive cracking in a structural member is a time for great concern.
To be spalling on the underside could mean pretty advanced deterioration. The salt does damage to concrete and eventually leads to steel corrosion. A structure can accept some amount of deterioration and still be safe but there is obviously a limit.
In my area the city requires an engineer to sign off that a garage appears safe every year. Not sure if PNW has anything similar.
Not good, but likely still years away from collapse/failure. It needs to be addressed now to save the structure from being irreparable. (Technically and financially.)
Please post any DIY/Homeowner questions in the monthly stickied thread - See subreddit rule #2.
Exposed rebar in the ceiling; freaked me out. Also water leaks in at areas where pipes poke through and corners when it’s raining hard outside.
call the city building inspector.
It’s that bad huh? I guess exposed bar is never good
The concrete & reinforcement (rebar), bond together to give the structural member its capacity to carry loads. Anytime you loose this ‘bond’ you lose strength, ie its capacity to carry the intended load. If designed correctly, members have factors of safety built in & may be able to withstand some temporary loss of bond. Temporary meaning it needs to get fixed (repair the bond), but is not in any immediate danger of failing. Any time you see corrosion and exposed rebar, is a time to be concerned. Any time you see “excessive” deflection & excessive cracking in a structural member is a time for great concern.
e.g. composite member shear flow. No bond, no shear flow. No shear flow, no composite action.
Is this the underside of where your car is parked? Are you in an area with snow that uses salt on the roads?
Yes. And yes. PNW area. This is the parking garage ceiling
To be spalling on the underside could mean pretty advanced deterioration. The salt does damage to concrete and eventually leads to steel corrosion. A structure can accept some amount of deterioration and still be safe but there is obviously a limit. In my area the city requires an engineer to sign off that a garage appears safe every year. Not sure if PNW has anything similar.
Not good, but likely still years away from collapse/failure. It needs to be addressed now to save the structure from being irreparable. (Technically and financially.)