Case study · Sherway Gardens condominiums
A failed fountain, rebuilt from the slab up.
The condominium fountain over the parking garage had failed waterproofing and broken, concrete-filled pipes. We removed it down to the structural slab and built it again properly.
- Client
- Sherway Gardens condominiums
- Structure
- Split slab over a parking garage
- Waterproofing
- Seven-layer system, 20-year guarantee
- Finish
- Submersible LED lighting
What was wrong, and what we did.
The waterproofing under the fountain could be pulled off by hand. It should have been bonded to the concrete, and it looked to have been applied before the concrete had cured. Many of the pipes were broken and filled with concrete by the original installers. Others were trapped, so they could not be drained for winter, and they cracked.
We removed the whole fountain, close to thirty inches of concrete, with a small excavator and a demolition hammer. We opened the parking garage slab for new pipes and conduits using bronze fountain slab penetrations, sealed them with hot-applied waterproofing and clamps, and tested the seal electronically. Then we formed new sumps and a new floor, poured the fountain as one structure, and installed a seven-layer waterproofing system that carries a twenty-year guarantee. Submersible LED lights finish it at night.
The work
From demolition to light.
01
Find the failure
Unbonded waterproofing and broken, concrete-filled pipes showed the original fountain could not be repaired.
02
Remove it to the slab
A small excavator with a demolition hammer took out nearly thirty inches of concrete.
03
Open and seal the slab
Bronze slab penetrations brought pipes into a new mechanical area, sealed with hot-applied waterproofing, clamps and an electronic leak test.
04
Pour one structure
New sumps and floor were formed, and concrete was poured over structural foam, rebar and piping in one piece.
05
Waterproof for decades
After a 28-day cure, a seven-layer waterproofing system went on, clamped at every drain with bronze fittings.
06
Fill, run and light
The fountain was filled and commissioned, with submersible LEDs lighting it between the buildings at night.
Project photos
The rebuild, step by step.
From the failed waterproofing to the finished fountain at night, with our notes from the job. Select a photo to view it full size.
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