A building lasts 50 to 100 years, but that time depends on how it is made, used and maintained. The structural part, usually made of reinforced concrete, keeps the building standing as long as it stands. But, if it wobbles… “Deformed beams or cracks in the pillars are important criteria for interdicting a building”, says civil engineer at USP Vanderlei John, specialist in the durability of materials. But long before it falls the building can become a dangerous place. See below how this process of “decomposition” takes place.
Durability – 10 years to centuries
The wind can blow it all away in days. But if that doesn’t happen, durability depends on the material: steel tiles resist 20 years; asbestos ones last up to 40 years; and the clay ones stay there for centuries
Metal
Durability – 10 to 50 years
Until the 1980s, the piping was galvanized steel, which rusted in 20 years, causing leaks and that brown color in the water. PVC or copper pipes replaced steel and last more than 50 years
ceramics
Durability – Indefinite
Ceramic pieces, like sinks, can last for centuries. With a few decades, they lose their shine, but remain firm. The same goes for tiles and bricks – the risk is that, if done poorly, they can absorb water and fall apart.
reinforced concrete
Durability – 50 to 100 years
Reinforced concrete is a framework of steel bars filled with concrete (mixture of water, cement, stone and sand). When cement absorbs CO2 from the air, the mix becomes acidic and corrosive.
beams
Durability – 50 to 100 years
When the acidic cement corrodes the beam, the steel becomes hydrated and gains volume, becomes brittle and “swells”. As concrete is not elastic, the swelling of the beams causes it to crack, crumble and fall.
Ink
Durability – 5 to 10 years
Paint is the first layer of building protection. With the moisture in the air, fungi and bacteria grow and feed on it, a petroleum derivative that they love. Sunlight also peels paint
Glass
Durability – Indefinite
Despite the apparent fragility, the glasses are tough to crack. Because they are made of silica, a material that does not react with others, they do not undergo decomposition. Showers, earthquakes and wind are remote threats
Wood
Durability – Varies with weather
In up to five years, the sun dries out the wood and leaves it looking like alligator skin. With moisture, it fills with fungus and rots. On less resistant boards, the service life is only a few years.
Mortar
Durability – 20 to 30 years
Mortar, a mixture of cement and other materials, suffers from changes in temperature and loses its “alloy” after about 20 years. Then things stuck to it, like tiles, fall to the floor and break.
Foundations
Durability – Indefinite
Since there is little oxygen underground, the foundations of a building are protected from corrosion and are the last part to collapse. Unless contaminated groundwater or industrial waste dissolves the foundations
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