Diagnosis of building pathologies and technical testing

Treating the symptom is the most expensive way to solve it

A damp stain may be the roof, may be the facade, may be embedded piping, may be condensation — and each of those causes calls for a completely different intervention. Painting over it solves the problem for six months. Redoing the entire render without knowing the cause solves it for two years. Only the correct diagnosis solves it for good.

We provide technical diagnosis and investigation of pathological manifestations (defects) in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, through inspections, testing and specialized analysis. The approach combines technical knowledge, standardized methods and field experience to identify causes, assess risks and support corrective, preventive and maintenance actions.

When a diagnosis is needed

• Visible manifestations — growing cracks, recurring damp stains, hollow sound in the cladding, detaching tiles, efflorescence, visible corrosion.
• Project acceptance — technical verification before accepting handover and releasing the final payment.
• Warranty period — characterization of the construction defect within the statutory period, with technical proof of the causal link.
• Litigation — court-appointed or private expert investigation, party-appointed expert support and arbitration.
• Maintenance planning — periodic building inspection and prioritization of interventions by risk level.
• Before contracting remediation — so that the scope of work addresses the cause and not just the symptom.

Scope

• Diagnosis of building pathologies — identification, mapping and analysis of cracks, fissures, water infiltration, cladding detachment, efflorescence, rebar corrosion, deformations and other construction anomalies.
• Technical inspections of facades and enclosure systems — assessment of the performance, safety, durability and maintenance condition of facades, adhered claddings, masonry and vertical enclosure systems.
• Pull-off (bond strength) tests — verification of the bond strength of mortar renders and adhered systems, in accordance with the applicable technical standards, to assess execution quality and serviceability.
• Non-destructive testing (NDT) — application of methods such as rebound hammer, rebar scanning, ultrasound and thermography to investigate structures and building systems without compromising the integrity of the elements assessed.
• Performance and compliance analysis — verification of compliance with the design, execution and performance requirements set out in technical standards and specifications.
• Root-cause investigation and definition of solutions — identification of the origins of the pathological manifestations, analysis of the degradation mechanisms and recommendation of the most suitable interventions for repair and prevention.
• Monitoring of remediation works — technical support during the execution of repairs, strengthening and rehabilitation, with guidance on procedures, materials and controls.
• Technical reports and opinions — documentation to support project acceptance, warranty service, contractual guarantees, court-appointed and private expert investigations, maintenance programs and decision-making.

Methodology

1. Building history review — history of design, execution, use, renovations and previous interventions; interviews with the building manager, maintenance staff or site team.
2. Systematic visual inspection — sweep by facade and by floor, with photographic records and classification of the anomalies.
3. Damage mapping — plotting of the manifestations on elevation drawings, allowing geometric patterns to be identified — which is often what reveals the cause.
4. Testing — definition of the test plan based on the hypotheses raised: hammer/tap sounding survey, pull-off (bond strength) testing, rebound hammer, rebar scanning, ultrasound, thermography and, when necessary, sample extraction for laboratory analysis.
5. Root-cause analysis — cross-checking field evidence, test results and normative requirements, establishing the causal link.
6. Recommendation and prioritization — definition of the appropriate intervention, prioritized by risk level and urgency, with execution and control guidelines.

Deliverables