Ways to Find Those Mystery Leaks May 15, 2013 Analyzing water and air leakage issues in effective and practical ways is something with which many building envelope professionals have struggled. Searching for the hidden deficiencies in the constructed condition to find the mystery leaks resulting in air and moisture infiltration can sometimes stump even the most experienced. Typically, the call comes to the building […] Read More
The Value of Adding a Meteorologist To The Investigative Team May 15, 2013 3 0 • I n t e r f a c e D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 Doppler radar tower over the Fort Lawton Air Defense Command Operations Building seen from Discovery Park, Seattle, WA. (Photo by Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons.) Many of the losses roof consultants, engineers, […] Read More
Infrared Thermography for Roof Investigations May 15, 2013 ABSTRACT Infrared thermography is an excellent investigative tool used for a multitude of building-specific applications, including roof investigations. Since its introduction in the 1970s, lower prices and technology advances have allowed thermography to expand, becoming an indispensable tool for roof investigators. For roofing applications, thermography is typically used for condition assessment and forensic studies of […] Read More
Wind Uplift and Spray Polyurethane Foam May 15, 2013 We can’t do anything to stop the weather; however, we can find ways to better weather a storm. Closed-cell sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation applied to the underside of the roof can greatly reduce the risk of wind and water damage during significant storm events. Too many homeowners living in hurricane- and tornado-prone regions know […] Read More
Water-Entry Through Attic Vents May 15, 2013 INTRODU CTION Recent testing at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center provided an opportunity to quantify the amount of water entry that occurred through selected attic vents commonly used in residential construction during simulated wind-driven rain exposures. Water penetration can cause extensive damage to interior finishes and can lead to […] Read More
Reroofing to Reduce Noise Is Sound Choice for School Near Chicago Airport January 01, 2013 The rooftop of Ridgewood High School near Chicago is a noisy place. With an extensive reroofing project under way, two dozen workers scramble about the 120,000-sq.-ft. surface— some of them cutting out and removing the decades-old modified bitumen over polyisocyanurate roof, while others install its replacement, a highly specialized roofing system. Soon, the construction noise […] Read More
Low-Slope Metal Roofing: The Other Option January 01, 2013 1 2 • I n t e r f a c e J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3 While previous issues of Interface have dealt very effectively with various aspects of metal roofing, there has been little mention of “bulb seam” metal roofing. These systems have been used in Europe […] Read More
Metal Roofing from Aluminum to Zinc Part VII: Penetrations and Rooftop Equipment Mounting for Low-Slope Standing-Seam Metal Roofs August 28, 2012 Standing-seam metal roofing offers a durable, sustainable alternative to other roof types, with its ability to provide maintenance-free service for three or four decades. Sadly, this long life span is often sabotaged with the mounting of essential rooftop equipment and ancillary mechanicals. Regardless of the roof type involved, consultants (this one included) generally agree that […] Read More
