Unusual Suspects May 15, 2006 Recently, a client contacted Howard R. Green Co. with concerns about his building addition. In a six-month period, employees had noticed a vertical wall crack increasing in width from 1/8-inch to 1-1/8-inches. A meeting was scheduled to have a structural engineer view the damage. The author, a roof and building envelope consultant, attended as an […] Read More
How Safe Are Building Facades? Inspecting For Unsafe Conditions May 15, 2006 The late Clayford T. Grimm, ASTM member and masonry guru, wrote in the March 2000 issue of The Construction Specifier that “Masonry falls off a building façade somewhere in the United States about every three weeks. Over the past few years in the United States, at least 49 such masonry failures have killed 30 persons […] Read More
Review Of Factors Affecting The Durability Of Repointing Mortars For Older Masonry May 15, 2006 Read More
The Underlying Facts: Product Types, standards, And Characteristics Of Underlayments: Part I Of II May 15, 2006 As defined by the International Building Code: un•der•lay•ment n. “One or more layers of felt, sheathing paper, nonbituminous saturated felt, or other approved material over which a steep-slope roofing covering is applied.” Currently, there are a multitude of material types, compositions, and installation techniques that are available for underlayments for steep-slope roof assemblies. The purpose […] Read More
Wet Concrete Decks: Problems And Practical Solutions May 15, 2006 Over the years, the author has experienced a number of roofing projects where concrete decks have contributed to latent defects within newly installed roof assemblies. Our investigations and subsequent remediation of the roofing assemblies prompted this article. Its purpose is to identify both the design and installation challenges and to provide recommendations that will maximize […] Read More
Steep Roofing: Underlayment Upgrades That Sometimes Aren’t May 15, 2006 Self-adhering, modified bitumen membranes are often installed as continuous waterproofing layers below steeproof systems to enhance weather protection. Sometimes these “bullet-proof” roofs develop an unexpected problem – condensation. This article explains why and offers suggestions on how to enhance weather protection and reduce the risk of condensation. This author acknowledges that selfadhering “ice and water” […] Read More
Basic Mycology May 15, 2006 Over the past decade, the general public has become aware of health concerns related to mold and mildew growing in indoor environments of homes, schools, and offices. This awareness has prompted highly publicized litigation and has grabbed the attention of the banking and insurance industries. The construction industry has had to respond to these concerns. […] Read More
Top 10 Questions And Answers On Static Vs. Dynamic Wind Testing For Commercial Roofs May 15, 2006 S E P T E M B E R 2006 I N T E R FA C E • 5 1WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTES OF WIND ON A ROOF? Wind is a random process. When it separates from the roof edges, it creates zones of suction (negative) pressure. This suction effect has two characteristics: (a) […] Read More
Tile Roof Systems: Analysis And Inspection Techniques May 15, 2006 Known throughout the world as one of the most enduring and classic roof systems, tile has a global popularity and history that is unlike any other roofing material. While some basic elements of tile roofing have been a part of the world’s architectural legacy for thousands of years, our more recent past has seen significant […] Read More
