BUILDING ENVELOPE RESTORATION
When the Envelope Fails, Everything Behind It Pays the Price
Engineered solutions to stop water infiltration, restore deteriorated systems and extend the service life of buildings across British Columbia. Retro diagnoses and repairs building envelope failures across concrete, waterproofing, expansion joint and structural systems.
Building envelope problems do not announce themselves
Water staining on a ceiling may be the first visible sign of moisture that has been moving through the building for months.
Concrete spalling at a balcony edge often means corrosion is already active around the reinforcing steel beneath the surface.
A failed membrane, sealant or expansion joint can allow water into adjacent systems and expand the repair scope with each season.
A previous repair that addressed the visible damage without finding the source fails again, leaving the building with a larger and more expensive problem.
These are not just surface defects.
They are waterproofing, structural performance and lifecycle cost problems. They need a contractor who identifies what is driving the deterioration before recommending a repair.
Concrete spalling at a balcony edge often means corrosion is already active around the reinforcing steel beneath the surface.
A failed membrane, sealant or expansion joint can allow water into adjacent systems and expand the repair scope with each season.
A previous repair that addressed the visible damage without finding the source fails again, leaving the building with a larger and more expensive problem.
These are not just surface defects.
They are waterproofing, structural performance and lifecycle cost problems. They need a contractor who identifies what is driving the deterioration before recommending a repair.
Extend the Life of Your Building With Confidence
Targeted building envelope restoration can stop deterioration, restore performance and extend the service life of an asset without replacing every system.
Whether you are dealing with active water infiltration, aging waterproofing, deteriorated concrete or several connected failures, Retro develops an integrated repair strategy around the actual condition of your building.
Whether you are dealing with active water infiltration, aging waterproofing, deteriorated concrete or several connected failures, Retro develops an integrated repair strategy around the actual condition of your building.
Building Envelope Solutions
Building envelope failures rarely stay isolated. Retro repairs the concrete, waterproofing, joints and structural components needed to restore a durable, integrated system.
Concrete surfaces showing cracks, spalling or corrosion damage
Retro identifies the cause and extent of deterioration before removing damaged concrete, treating affected reinforcing steel and rebuilding the repair area.
Balconies, decks and exterior systems allowing water infiltration
Retro installs and replaces membrane and coating systems that stop moisture at the source and protect the underlying structure.
Failed joints allowing movement and water to damage adjacent systems
Retro replaces and rehabilitates expansion joint assemblies designed to accommodate structural movement while maintaining waterproofing performance.
Envelope deterioration affecting structural capacity or performance
When deterioration has progressed beyond the building surface, Retro installs engineered systems that restore structural performance and support long-term rehabilitation.
CASE STUDY EXAMPLE
Building envelope restoration in an occupied residential building, completed on schedule
An occupied strata building in Metro Vancouver required coordinated concrete repair, waterproofing replacement and expansion joint rehabilitation while residents remained in place.
Retro phased the work around building access and occupancy, completing the restoration without tenant displacement or a full building shutdown.
Retro phased the work around building access and occupancy, completing the restoration without tenant displacement or a full building shutdown.
XStories
Restored
X Units
Occupied throughout
X Week program
Completed on schedule
Industries we serve
Retro delivers building envelope restoration across residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and parking structure projects throughout British Columbia.
Strata and condominium buildings
Aging balconies, deteriorated parkades and failed waterproofing systems are common capital repair challenges for strata corporations. Retro coordinates restoration with property managers, strata councils and residents.
Commercial buildings
Retro phases restoration around tenants, customers and operational schedules to protect building performance without unnecessarily interrupting the activities inside.
Institutional facilities
Schools, healthcare facilities and civic buildings require careful control of access, safety and disruption throughout a restoration project.
Industrial and logistics facilities
Heavy use, equipment loads and operational exposure can accelerate concrete and waterproofing deterioration. Retro sequences repairs around active production and facility requirements.
Parking structures and parkades
Parkades bring together water infiltration, concrete deterioration, failed expansion joints and worn traffic membranes. Retro addresses these conditions as a coordinated restoration scope.
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Why Choose Retro for Building Envelope Restoration
Retro was built for repairs where the visible damage is only one part of the problem.
For more than 35 years, we have worked with engineers, building envelope consultants, property managers and strata councils across British Columbia who needed a contractor that could identify the source, execute the specified repair and keep the building operating.
Our work is diagnostic-first because envelope systems do not fail independently. Concrete, waterproofing, joints, drainage and structural components must be considered together.
When several systems are deteriorating and the building needs to remain occupied, Retro brings the specialist trades and project coordination required to deliver one integrated result.
For more than 35 years, we have worked with engineers, building envelope consultants, property managers and strata councils across British Columbia who needed a contractor that could identify the source, execute the specified repair and keep the building operating.
Our work is diagnostic-first because envelope systems do not fail independently. Concrete, waterproofing, joints, drainage and structural components must be considered together.
When several systems are deteriorating and the building needs to remain occupied, Retro brings the specialist trades and project coordination required to deliver one integrated result.
36+ Years of Local Resillience
Retro has been restoring BC structures since the late 1980s. Decades of experience means faster diagnosis, fewer surprises, and specs built for BC's climate and conditions.
9,455+ Restoration Projects Completed
In specialty contracting, experience is the ultimate risk-mitigator. If it’s a concrete or structural challenge, we’ve seen it, solved it, and warrantied it.
Surgical Accuracy, Zero Disruption
We specialize in high-traffic, live environments (stadiums, transit, occupied residential). We plan meticulously so your operations never stop.
Questions we hear before expansion joint work begins
Common signs include water staining, rust streaks, spalling concrete, ponding water and deteriorated sealants around windows, decks and joints.
These symptoms often appear after moisture has already affected concealed materials, so an assessment is more useful than waiting for the damage to become more visible.
These symptoms often appear after moisture has already affected concealed materials, so an assessment is more useful than waiting for the damage to become more visible.
No. Many failures can be addressed through targeted restoration that extends service life without replacing an entire envelope system. The appropriate scope depends on the cause, location and extent of deterioration.
The assessment may include reviewing staining and deterioration patterns, existing drawings, drainage conditions, membranes, joints, sealants and adjacent assemblies. More detailed investigation or testing may be recommended when the pathway is not immediately visible.
Yes. Most Retro restoration projects are completed in active buildings. Work is phased around occupancy, access and operational requirements, with temporary restrictions planned and communicated in advance.
Usually not. Balcony access may be temporarily restricted while work is underway, but Retro plans the project so residents can generally remain in their homes. Any unavoidable access or safety requirements are communicated before the affected phase begins.
Yes. Retro regularly completes specification-driven work with building envelope consultants, structural engineers and other project stakeholders from assessment through closeout.
The affected area is documented and reviewed with the client and consultant. Necessary substrate and reinforcing steel repairs are incorporated into the scope before the waterproofing system is reinstated.
Duration depends on the number of affected systems, building size, access, weather and occupancy constraints. Retro develops a phased schedule during scoping so the project team understands the anticipated timeline before work begins.
Retro uses controlled access, hoarding, signage, containment and phased work zones appropriate to the building and repair activity. Site planning is coordinated with property or facility management before construction begins.
We document the findings, notify the client and consultant and present any required scope adjustment before additional work proceeds. Changes are not made without the project team’s knowledge.
The first step is a site consultation. Retro reviews available documentation, assesses visible conditions and identifies the investigation needed to understand the problem before recommending a repair scope.