What parts of a building come to mind when you think about aesthetic design? It’s most commonly the shape of the building, exterior wall treatment, interior decor, lighting, or landscaping. The one thing that never comes to mind…….the roof! For some people it may be time to change that ideology. During a recent trip I observed several roofs that offered very appealing aesthetics from higher elevations. These roofs utilized simple, inexpensive, and commonly used components
Over the past few years we have witnessed a vast growth in inquiries from our clients regarding exterior wall coatings and sealers as part of the building envelope refurbishment/maintenance process. At the core, installing a coating or sealer to an exterior facade is a seemingly simple process. However, as we have become more involved we have observed how the lack of properly addressing pre-existing conditions prior to the installation of a coating or sealer can
RoofTech Consulting is currently one of the few firms performing electronic leak detection (ELD) in the Midwest. We have seen the need for ELD grow exponentially over the past couple of years. With this growth there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the testing itself and when it can and cannot be performed. Peter Brooks recently published an article for RCI that helps to better explain the realities of what ELD can/cannot do. I have inserted an exert from that
Have you heard the term “Building Envelope Consultant”? It is used to describe staff like ours that have expanded beyond roofs and into the exterior building envelope. This expansion of services is the result of an under served market and extensive new building performance & code requirements. In 2017 Carl A. Hargrove, AIA published a great article in Facility Executive Magazine Online that explains in great detail when to utilize and what to expect from a Building Envelope
With the recent colder weather you are likely experiencing an increase in roof leaks. We would like to offer a brief explanation for this recent uptick in roof issues. After a very mild winter we are now receiving extremely low temperatures, ice, and an increase in precipitation. These weather changes result in a more active freeze/thaw cycle. Freezing and thawing results in the expansion and contraction of exposed roof components. The colder the weather, the more potential for extreme contraction. This continued and extreme movement can
The extreme weather conditions that we experience in the Midwest can be taxing on buildings. For more than 4 months out of the year severe thunderstorms, heavy rains, and hot and humid temperatures are the norm. At the opposite end of the spectrum we experience high accumulations of snow and severely cold temperatures in the winter. This combination of extreme conditions can reveal a buildings true vulnerability to water intrusion and air leakage. Correcting these vulnerabilities
Winter if fast approaching those of us that live in the Midwest. With the changing weather comes new seasonal issues for the construction industry. Specifically, exterior components such as waterproofing of building walls and roofs. Colder weather changes how construction materials react, perform, and how they should be installed. These seasonal effects in addition to recent code changes, are resulting in a stronger focus for monitoring the installation of waterproofing components. As a result we are seeing an increase in firms performing quality assurance inspections during the installation
Rooftop solar installations and vegetative roofs are becoming popular with commercial and industrial building owners. These options have gained popularity because they can benefit the facility, tenant, or owner. A few of these benefits include minimizing energy costs, increasing marketability, and adding usable space. Developing a project with this many intricacies requires detailed review of the structure and all associated components. Often the design of one of these systems is the product of a
Cost is almost always a driving factor when replacing commercial/industrial roofs. One option to minimize cost in some instances is installing a new roof system over the existing roof. This option lowers cost by minimizing removal of the existing roof and eliminates purchasing and installing new substrate materials. International Building Code (IBC) and most major roof system manufacturer’s limit scenarios when this option may be utilized. This option is limited to systems where there is