Max Air

Has anyone had experience with new construction (less than 10 years old) precast concrete sills and coping stones crumbling and eroding? I've seen two properties in the last year at which the sills at patio and front doors are eroding along the front edge. I'm thinking it has something to do with salts and freeze/thaw, but it seem pretty fast to have this level of deterioration. The sill in the first photo was installed around 2006 and is at a front door of a 3-story townhouse on an elevated front entry. The second photo is at a rear balcony sliding door which was installed in ~2002. I've also seen some coping stones with the same issue. Click to Enlarge 49.78 KB Click to Enlarge 44.02 KB Also, I know they also install limestone sills as well but I've never been able to really tell the difference visually. Anyone have a tip on telling if a sill is precast concrete or true limestone? Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. mgbinspect I think you've nailed it. I checked some additional photos and there appears to be connections at about 16" centers. (Bricks are 12"x4"). The lintels are also not bearing at the ends so it looks like they are hanging. I appreciate your help. This site is great. Click to Enlarge 61.86 KB Click to Enlarge 62.72 KB

Doing an inspection for a commercial building in Chicago area and have a question regarding warping of the lintels. While doing the inspection I noted the lintels are corroded at areas and have warping along the front edge. There really isn't a lot of brick/mortar damage, but the warping is pretty obvious. There are no weeps above the lintels but I'm pretty sure they flashed the window openings. Building was built around '86-'87 and windows are original. There is flashing at foundation walls and between cmu walls and brick veneer so I would think they flashed above the windows. Material above the lintels is mortar that has been painted (it's not sealant). The openings range from 7.5' to 17.5' in width but the warping was at pretty much every opening. I've never seen consistent warping throughout the length of a lintel quite like this. I usually see deflection that is generally greatest at the center of the span. There is obviously some expansion from corrosion, but is it possible that freeze/thaw on top of the lintel would cause warping like this or is it just from corrosion? Thanks for any input. Click to Enlarge 48.66 KB Download Attachment: DSC00078.JPG 117.54 KB