It’s a basic principle of what building science experts call “bulk water management”: rainwater that strikes a building has to be directed down and out. Gravity provides the “down”; it’s up to you to make certain of the “out.” that is where a reverse lapped step flashing comes in.
In the details above you can see the problem; If step flashing isn’t tucked behind the house wrap on the wall above, rainwater can drain into the walls below. Continue reading →
The following is from an internal memo from Sarnafil to inside Sales Staff and Manufacturer Reps. I have removed some of the dryer information but if you are in construction and a “data driven guy” you will want to read the complete report. You can Download Concrete Decks Drying Times
Over the years, the construction industry has been aware of moisture issues due to freshly poured concrete as well as the ability of concrete to hold and absorb great amounts of water. We are referring to light weight concrete roofs and concrete structures that need to be waterproofed. Over time water may migrate into the roof system, saturating the insulation and cover boards or causing adhered systems to become dis-bonded and potentially cause corrosion to metal components. Continue reading →
When cool-roof materials enter a discussion, the tendency is to think of them as a class of products that fit best in
sun-drenched, high-annual-temperature portions of the country. Research, however, tells us that the benefits of Cool Reflective Roofs can be realized in all climate zones.
Cool-roof materials, which have been in use since the 1960s in Europe and the 1970s in North America, reflect a significant portion of incident solar radiation back into the atmosphere (reflectance), and also quickly release to the atmosphere the fraction of energy that the roof absorbs (remittance). Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA, was one of the first to measure the cooling energy savings associated with cool roofs. LBNL’s 2001 study of an Austin, TX, retail store found that switching a black-colored membrane to a white membrane reduced the facility’s average summertime rooftop surface temperature from 168 F on the black to 126 F on the white. Peak-hour cooling- energy savings were at 14% and overall annual energy savings were $0.072/sq. ft. Adjusted for inflation in 2013, this would be the equivalent of $0.095/sq. ft. Continue reading →