Archives

Rehabilitation Planning

• Prioritizing Your Building Enclosure Needs

  2022, Vol 39 N 2

  New! Web-based version available. With roof leaks, drafty windows, and concerning cracks vying for attention, it can be tough to know which building enclosure problem to tackle first. Safety concerns are always top priority, but other considerations demand attention, from meeting new codes to upgrading underperforming components. Balancing urgent demands with long-term goals can guide owners in making the best choices for their building and budget. (Download PDF 4.1 MB)

• Rehabilitation and Restoration at Secure Facilities

  2020, Vol37 N 3

  New! Web-based version available. Schools, airports, prisons, data centers, museums, government buildings: when restricted-access facilities succumb to time and weather, rehabilitation strategies must incorporate not only appropriate design, but also protocols for maintaining security. (Download PDF 1.1 MB)

• Preventing Winter Damage

  2018, Vol 35 N 3

  Managing the impact of winter storms on the building enclosure begins long before the weather turns cold. Problems from ice dams to deicing chemical damage demand consideration of not only symptoms, but also possible causes. (Download PDF 1.8 MB)

• Guide to Campus-Wide Building Envelope Assessment

  2016, Vol 33 N 4

  Tailored to facility management objectives, an effective building envelope study guides rehabilitation planning, with long-range projections for the best use of resources at different points in time. (Download PDF 1.7 MB)

• What Went Wrong? Diagnosing Building Envelope Distress

  2015, Vol 32 N 2

  With so many components contributing to facade, roof, plaza, and parking garage assemblies, it can be challenging to determine the likely cause of a failure. (Download PDF 1.1 MB)

• Energy Codes: Challenges with Existing Buildings

  2014, Vol 31 N 4

  Rather than focus on improving the performance of new buildings as we build them, energy codes and standards have the potential for greater impact if they emphasize the energy efficiency of existing buildings. (Download PDF 1.1 MB)

• Water Testing: A Tool for Owners and Design Professionals

  2013, Vol 30 N 1

  Whether performed in a laboratory or administered in the field, water testing can provide useful information on the integrity and water-tightness of building envelope assemblies. (Download PDF 1.8 MB)

• When Modern Becomes Historic: Preserving the Modernist Building Envelope

  2011, Vol 28 N 3

  Modernist structures challenge standard preservation practices. As these structures cross the half-century mark, anticipating their restoration needs becomes central to maintaining functional relevance. (Download PDF 441.0 kB)

• Waterproofing Challenges

  2010, Vol 27 N 3

  With some thoughtful detective work and creative water management strategies, you can find the right resolution for even the most demanding waterproofing applications. (Download PDF 350.7 kB)

• Separating Fact from Fiction: Insurance Claims and Building Envelope Failure

  2010, Vol 27 N 2

  As a building’s shield against the elements, the exterior envelope is prone to extensive damage in a storm or flood.  For insurance claims, the task is to determine which problems are due to the event—and which are not. (Download PDF 1.0 MB)

• Regular Inspections Are Key to Building Envelope Integrity

  2010, Vol 27 N 1

  Because risks of deferred repairs carry a hefty price tag, it's worth investing a few hours on a regular basis to look for signs of trouble. This guide outlines common problems, in a practical checklist format. (Download PDF 767.3 kB)

• The Building Envelope: Energy Efficiency and Economics

  2009, Vol 26 N 4

  As the building's thermal barrier, the exterior envelope is critical to energy performance. Well-designed upgrades reduce HVAC costs, maximize component longevity, improve comfort, and increase property value. (Download PDF 1.0 MB)

• Deicing Chemicals: Why Not to Just Throw Down Salt

  2009, Vol 26 N 3 [excerpt]

  An excerpt from Vol 26 N 3, Winterizing Your Building, this comparison of common deicing products provides guidance in selecting and stocking chemicals for snow and ice removal. (Download PDF 40.6 kB)

• Winterizing Your Building

  2009, Vol 26 N 3

  With a modest expenditure of energy, you can stay a step ahead of the weather and avoid shelling out for serious repairs. Here's how to plan ahead. (Download PDF 600.0 kB)

• The Greenest Building Is the One that Doesn’t Need Rebuilding

  2009, Vol 26 N 1

  “Good building practice” may not be buzzwords of the green building initiative, but failure to keep proper detailing at the forefront of any construction project can take a substantial toll on the environment. (Download PDF 696.6 kB)

• Forecasting Building Envelope Reliability

  2003, Vol 21 N 1

  How to anticipate the useful life and performance of building envelope systems, then plan maintenance and repairs accordingly. (Download PDF 992.4 kB)

• Troubleshooting the Building Envelope: Addressing CAUSES, Not Symptoms

  2002, Vol 20 N 2

  An overview of early indicators of deterioration, and an action plan for fixing these trouble spots. (Download PDF 482.3 kB)

• Waterproofing Solutions 1 / Coatings: Friend or Foe?

  2000, Vol 18 N 2

  Gut instinct might be to block water entry quickly by coating over a crack.  But using a coating in the wrong situation or on the wrong material can actually make things worse. (Download PDF 393.7 kB)

• Keeping It Together: An Overview of Building Envelope Maintenance and Repair

  2000, Vol 18 N 1

  A look at how to prevent and repair the detrimental effects of forces ranging from weather and aging to poor installation and maintenance. (Download PDF 608.9 kB)

• Wish You Had a Crystal Ball? Projecting Your Building Envelope Maintenance Needs

  1998, Vol 16 N 2

  While no one can predict the full range of maintenance, repair and rehabilitation work a building or complex may need over time, a building envelope maintenance program can come close. (Download PDF 565.1 kB)

• A Primer on Deterioration of Building Envelopes *pdf only

  1995, Vol 13 N 1

  Owners and facility managers can best protect their building investment by understanding the potential of the building envelope and its risk of deterioration. (Download PDF 818.4 kB)

• Waterproofing / A Roundtable Discussion

  1990, Vol 8 N 1

  Any attempt at waterproofing before the underlying cause has been found and the proper solution developed could result in wasted time, money and effort. (Download PDF 813.5 kB)

• Understanding Contract Administration *pdf only

  1987, Vol 5 N 1

  Administration of the Construction Contract is one of the most important and least understood aspects of the construction process. (Download PDF 1.4 MB)

• Coating Problems *pdf only

  1986, Vol 4 N 1

  A compendium of common paint and coating problems, their causes and cures. (Download PDF 1.3 MB)

• Reconstruction Requires Ingenuity *pdf only

  1983, Vol 1 N 2

  The repair of existing structures, whether a day or a millenium old, is a vastly different prospect from planning and building new ones. (Download PDF 323.9 kB)

• Approaching Renovation – With Reasonable Precautions in Mind *pdf only

  1983, Vol 1 N 1

  For an existing building, actual conditions encountered during construction can vary. Unless the inherent risks are discussed, the owner may not realize that hidden conditions can affect the work in unforeseeable ways. (Download PDF 336.4 kB)