Decades of Extreme Weather Conditions Now Taking Toll on Miami Dade Buildings

Only a few days ago and just 3 weeks after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, the roof of an apartment also in Miami Dade, caved-in. Only the exterior of the apartment building located at 7500 NW 68 Avenue was damaged. Yet the collapsed roof of the building is another example of how years of Florida’s extreme weather conditions have resulted in internal damages that were not visible unless thoroughly inspected. Investigators though have also factored in corruption as a contributing factor.

As investigators later found out, the collapsed side of the Champlain Towers South had long been reported as having long-term degradation issues. Among the factors considered was the corrosion of the reinforced steel supporting the concrete structure of the underground parking level. The damages were wrought by persistent water penetration and insufficiency of the reinforced steel materials used, as well as the sinking ground level of the building.

Actually, after the deadly Champlain Towers South incident last June, Miami Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava ordered the audit of all Miami Dade buildings that are at least 5 stories high and nearing 40 years old.
However, according to Mayor Cava, the apartment building at 7500 NW 68 Avenue is only three stories high. She added that while the building is nearly 50 years old, nothing in its recertification indicated that the building had existing problems.

Fortunately, nobody was injured when the roof of the apartment building collapsed but all apartment dwellers have since been evacuated. The Surfside condo collapse had claimed more than a hundred lives, which raised serious concerns over the stability and structural integrity of buildings in the region. The collapsed roof of the apartment at 7500 NW 68 Avenue had all the more made Miami Dade apartment and condominium dwellers fearful for their safety.

Related Views about the Impact of Water Penetration and Leaks on Houses and Buildings

Professional roofers of a Tampa roof repair company opined that there is a common misconception that leaks are manifestations, only of roof damages. While some water seepages seem minor, other roofing elements such as seals, caulking and flashing could fail, which if not discovered early can lead to more water penetration damages that can destroy the integrity of the roof.

The thing about leaks is that many home and building owners tend to think that roof damages as a result of a major weather disturbance are the only areas that need to be inspected for repairs. Years of experience has taught seasoned professional roof repair experts that frequent and heavy rains combined with strong winds can also cause damages to sidings.

During a hurricane or tropical storm, strong winds and heavy rains can blow in water into damaged sidings and cause leaks that could weaken the exterior walls. While the leaks may have been attributed as caused by roof damages, impaired sidings that were left unchecked will continue to allow water to enter. Over time, the water penetration via the damaged sidings would cause wall degradation and potentially compromise the structural support of the house or building.

This explains why it is important to hire a well rounded professional to investigate leaks, as they are the ones who possess, not only the experience but also the right tools for discovering the actual source/s of leaks.

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