huangyhg

filling a gap between two buildings
i was asked to look at a five story building for damage caused by excessive moisture at the ground level interior walls. during the inspection i noticed that when the adjacent five story building was constructed, they left a two inch gap where, despite the flashing at the roof parapet, allows for water, snow and humidity to get in there. since there is very little chance for any air flow and the sun can not reach the area to help dry it, the wetness penetrates the building. furthermore, there have been complaints about rodents.
i am suggesting that they fill the gap to the top with concrete. perhaps with fly ash or a mix that is less permeable. i would like to hear if anybody out there has any experience with a situation like this or any other ideas. thanks.

great idea! that way, the newer building can use the older building's existing lateral force resisting system as a backup!
your efforts should be in keeping the water out. there is a reason that gap was left.
seems like a very bad idea to me.
unless the two building's lateral load resisting systems are tied together (wich would seem like a difficult proposition to do properly) so that the buildings moved laterally together, the buildings will want to 'bang' into each other with all kinds of ramifications.
i would definately be looking for a different solution.
agree with keeping the water out. you may also apply waterproofing using hoses dropped into the cavity and spray as you extract. won't be perfect but will work.
would suggest you do both. concrete fill can create more problems than it will solve.

in addition to being a poor idea in general, concrete filling the cavity between two 5 storey buildings would be almost impossible to achieve. i can just see the walls collapsing due to the pressure of the fluid concrete.
is there any type of material that will fill the gap, is water resistant and yet flexible enough to prevent lateral load transfer?=5
something like uretek foam would fill the gap and is water resistant, but it is not flexible. i don't know of a material which would do all three.
your original comment was right, the wall had never had chance to dry. go to the adjacent older building, i doubt there is same type of problem exist (been exposed and dried for a while). at this moment, whatever you do is no avail.
take to a hvac contractor, dehumanization thru ventilation may be way to get it (the wall) ready to receive further treatment. or the devices can be left there permanently.
dehumanization?
how about constructing weep holes and air vents to allow the water out
oops, dehumidify.

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