Abbot Restores Balcony Decks at Framingham Condominium Complex  

Abbot recently restored a series of balcony decks

Hunters Village is comprised of three two-story brick buildings with concrete balconies outside each condominium unit. As the balcony decks had experienced considerable deterioration due to outdoor exposure over the years, the owner hired Building Envelope Consulting, Inc. (Somerville, MA) to investigate the situation, and subsequently contracted Abbot to perform the consulting firm's recommended remedial action.

Abbot repaired those balcony decks that could be salvaged, completely removed those balcony decks that could not be salvaged, and installed new concrete decks in their place. Also, because the balcony railings were out of compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts building code, Abbot replaced all of the railings with new aluminum railings to meet the state code. To complete the project, Abbot waterproofed all of the decks with a pedestrian urethane protective coating and painted the steel fascias to protect their surfaces and enhance their aesthetic appearance. 

• Since concrete masonry is durable and requires little maintenance, the need to manufacture new materials is reduced with every new concrete masonry building.  
• Concrete masonry materials can be recycled for other projects into new masonry materials or aggregates.  
• The ability to reuse existing masonry buildings, including entire structures or the core structure, further enhances its sustainable properties.

If new materials are required, concrete masonry can often be manufactured locally, reducing transportation requirements. Concrete masonry also requires less specialized equipment for construction, further reducing its impact on the environment.

Concrete masonry can significantly reduce the energy usage of a building, because the structure tends to stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This consistent temperature helps lower energy costs by shifting peak loads to non-peak hours, while ensuring the comfort of those who live and work inside the building.

Construction requirements for concrete masonry are minimal. Large equipment is not necessary for delivery or placement, and staging areas need not be large. These factors reduce the impact that concrete masonry construction has on the environment. Indoor air quality is optimized for occupants because integral colored concrete masonry materials require no paints or adhesives, and are mold resistant environments.