Roof Decks A to Z Part VI: Structural Cement Fiber May 15, 2014 ABSTRACT This is the sixth in a series of articles examining various deck types. Among the numerous considerations when selecting a roof system, the type of decking is one of the most important. With the variety of decks to be encountered (both new and old), it is incumbent upon roofing experts to be the authority […] Read More
Slate Grouting May 15, 2014 In the last hundred years, there have been few advancements in slate technology that have improved the life expectancy of slate roofing. The use of slate hooks as a supplemental method of securement for high-wind slate installations is one notable exception. A relatively new procedure called slate grouting has been developed and has been improving/extending […] Read More
Creative Solutions for Challenging Curtain Wall Conditions May 15, 2014 INTRODUCTION Aluminum-framed curtain walls are highly engineered, popular, attractive wall systems that are often used for feature areas of buildings as well as for entire building façades. While the manufacturer’s standard details and performance tests address typical field-of-wall conditions and performance issues, the desire to improve performance of atypical details often requires forethought and creativity. […] Read More
Entrapped Moisture… But This is a LEED Gold Building May 15, 2014 There has been much written recently about the presence of entrapped moisture within a roof assembly. No less than five informative and cautionary articles/bulletins have been written and published within the last four years about the moisture within newly placed concrete and its effect when a roof assembly is installed.1,2,3,4,5 These articles and bulletins discuss […] Read More
Project Profile: Kimbell Art Museum Expansion May 15, 2014 The Kimbell Art Museum has been the landmark of culture for the Fort Worth community since its opening in 1972. Designed by the distinguished American architect Louis Kahn, the building brought natural light to art and sculpture and overdue respect to “Cowtown,” a city previously known for oil and cattle. As expansion plans were long […] Read More
Designed To Fail: Three Case Studies Illustrating Common Exterior Wall Practices Guaranteed To Leak May 15, 2014 ABSTRACT Moisture is the primary perpetrator in building enclosure failures; we spend an inordinate amount of time in our professional practices designing waterproofing systems, and leaks are the number-one complaint of building occupants. Yet time and again, the same poor design choices are employed to manage water in the exterior wall, resulting in uncontrolled moisture […] Read More
Solar-Driven Waves of Water Vapor Within Exterior-Wall Cavities May 15, 2014 INTRODUCTION Consider an apartment complex constructed circa 2002 in a city near San Francisco, CA, containing about 30 twostory wood-framed buildings clad with traditional three-coat exterior plaster cement (stucco; see Photo 1). Typical for many large-scale residential projects in California, the pump-applied stucco cladding system was applied to oriented strandboard (OSB) sheathing only at structural […] Read More
Examining the Building Envelope Via Rope Access May 15, 2014 Investigating sections of any tall structure can, at times, be very difficult, especially when the areas that need to be investigated are behind a tight corner or are blocked by an obscure object. Many building investigations are still conducted using conventional means of access, such as scaffolding and swing stages; however, this can be quite […] Read More
Risks of Roofing Over Concrete Decks May 15, 2014 Over the years, the construction industry has been aware of moisture issues from freshly placed concrete, as well as the ability of concrete to absorb and hold great amounts of water. Over time, this water may migrate into the roof system, saturating the insulation and cover boards, causing adhered systems to become disbonded, or increasing […] Read More
Building Envelope Science 101 Missing Paint and Escargot May 15, 2014 The property was a large, multibuilding apartment complex in central Florida, only six years old; and the owner wanted a new paint job to freshen up the buildings. It was a typical painting/sealants job to clean, prime, seal, and paint—a minimum one-primer and one-finish coat using a high-build, water-based elastomeric paint system. A consultant was […] Read More
