There’s a lot of concrete in New York City. Whether towering above, beneath our feet, bracing the subway walls or anywhere in between, ensuring that concrete is up to the task of supporting everyday life in the city is the responsibility of all building owners.
Concrete’s most predictable and unavoidable characteristic is that it will crack, even in the most modern construction. Therefore, at CANY, our engineers and technicians are not only qualified to analyze concrete, at any level and from any era, and advise the best way to repair or replace it, but we also understand how to design and plan with concrete, rather than for it, so that a crack doesn’t mean a failure.
Throughout history, concrete was designed for strength, and we’ve experienced the full range, including mixes of crushed stone, shells, and cinder. Since the turn of the last century, concrete has been reinforced with steel, giving incredible strength but potential weak spots. If water gets in, no matter how small the opening, it can cause the steel to rust, expand, creating spalls and cracks. Concrete could fail because it wasn’t mixed properly or poured with too much air or water. Slabs can be defeated by nature, penetrated by growing vegetative roots, or heave and crack during freeze and thaw cycles.
Whatever the cause, CANY has the technical ability and experience to understand how the integrity of the concrete has been compromised, and how to resolve it. When properly managed and maintained, concrete is a wonder material, the most widely used substance on the planet, after water. We know how important it is to the safety and infrastructure of New York, how it underpins the very foundations of the city, and can work with you to determine the source of an issue before it becomes a problem.
If you are interested in learning more about this service, please contact Thomas Seminara, Chief Business Officer, at tseminara@cany.com.
