Waterproofing as it Applies to Assembly and Structural Integrity

July 7, 2021
, , , Building Envelope Consulting, The Waterproofing Experts Report

As building envelope professionals, we can’t emphasize enough how critical the waterproofing discipline works alongside a structural team during and beyond construction.

The Champlain Towers South building collapse is a disaster beyond belief. First responders continue to dig out the rubble upon publication of this article.

David Santiago/ Miami Herald via Associated Press

We acknowledge their dedication and professionalism as they work to find those loved ones who are unaccounted for.

It is so important to be able to identify adverse moisture and water-related conditions early. Such specific conditions may end up affecting the building assemblies that may result in degradation of structural capacity.

Depending on the building assembly type, the degradation could be slow (masonry assemblies) or rapid (wood assemblies). However, in both cases, unless the source of the degradation is repaired and the intrusion is mitigated, the degradation can and will lead to an eventual structural compromise that can result in a catastrophic failure.

It is very critical for building professionals to survey their buildings and mitigate/repair any attributes that may be the cause or contributing factors of building assembly degradation.

Allowing the building components to “live” in an environment that is non-standard and lends itself to degradation can place the entire building in unchartered territory that lends itself to an unknown reduction of the building’s expected lifecycles and renders the structural experimental rather than predictable.

Terra-Petra provides all consulting services for sub-slab vapor barriers consulting services for sub-slab vapor barriers, below-grade waterproofing and drainage, podium and balcony waterproofing, planter waterproofing, and drainage, exterior wall cladding and weather-resistive barriers, and roofing assemblies.

For more information or to discuss your next or current project visit: https://terra-petra.com/wp/building-envelope-consulting-los-angeles or contact Barry Taheri.

Terra-Petra Waterproofing – Building Envelope Consulting Los Angeles

June 18, 2021
Building Envelope Consulting, Waterproofing, Waterproofing News, waterproofing testing

Terra-Petra is currently providing building envelope weatherproofing consulting services to a multinational asset management and development firm at their development in Los Angeles CA.

The project will consist of the construction of a new 6-story, 30,274 SF multifamily apartment building consisting of five levels of type III-A over one level of Type I-A. The building footprint is approximately 7,000 SF.

Building Envelope Consulting – Los Angeles, CA

June 18, 2021
Building Envelope Consulting, Waterproofing, Waterproofing News

Terra-Petra is currently providing building envelope weatherproofing consulting services to a multinational asset management and development firm at their development in Los Angeles CA.

The project will consist of the construction of a new 7-story, 60-unit residential building with a common area at the roof. It will include a subterranean parking level with a semi-automated parking system with a parking pit. The building footprint is approximately 11,900 SF.

Terra-Petra will provide all consulting services for sub-slab vapor barriers, below grade
waterproofing and drainage, podium and balcony waterproofing, planter waterproofing and drainage, exterior wall cladding and weather-resistive barriers and roofing assemblies.

The Importance Of Waterproofing and Site Integrity – Keeping Priceless Works Of Art Safe

April 16, 2021
Building Envelope Consulting, Electronic Leak Detection (ELD), Forensic Water Intrusion Testing, Waterproofing, waterproofing site integrity, waterproofing testing

Terra-Petra has been selected to perform Electronic Leak Detection (ELD) testing by BEST Contracting Services for the project improvements at the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa. Testing will take place at the podium planters, with an estimated 4 move-ins where Hot Rubberized Asphalt Waterproofing will be installed as part of the site renovations.

Terra-Petra’s Waterproofing Division provides full scope building envelope consulting, design, testing and inspection services to our clients. Our goal as always is to make our clients’ lives easier by providing expert, unbiased and practical waterproofing consulting services in a highly responsive and cost-efficient manner.

While our current testing at OCMA will take place in the landscaping around the building rather than the interior of the structure, we can’t stress enough the importance of waterproofing and site integrity tests. How important?  Potentially saving priceless art collections, as noted in the 2015 article below.  A cautionary tale about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston where leaks in the building jeopardized multiple rooms in the museum holding priceless art.

The Gardner Museum’s Roofs Are Leaky, Jeopardizing Art

Re-post of original article on artnet.com by Cait Munro

It’s been a tough year for Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Just days after longtime director Anne Hawley announced her resignation (see Hate Your Job? Gardner Museum Seeks Director), a security guard observed water dripping into the third floor Chapel Room.

The Boston Globe reports that the Tapestry Room, which lies one floor below, also had leaks later the same evening. Buckets and rubber mats were brought in, and jeopardized works were either removed from the area or draped in plastic.

Several days later, the Little Salon, which lies adjacent to the Tapestry Room, was also discovered to have leaks. It currently remains closed to the public, in addition to the Chapel Room.

“We are extremely cautious when a leak is detected and will drape and de-install art as a preventative measure,” said Hawley, who acknowledged that the leaks have been an ongoing problem for the past month. “We err on the side of caution and leave the plastic covering up until we are certain that any leak in the area has been stopped since water often travels. This is not always an ideal visitor experience, but protecting the collection is our top priority.”

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE ON ARTNET.COM

This Is A Robbery – Netflix Documentary on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Interestingly enough, there’s also a documentary on the 1990 Heist that took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum currently streaming on Netflix.  It’s a four-part crime series on this amazing $500 million heist at this historic and beautiful building, and worth taking a look!

READ MORE ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY HERE

OR STREAM IT ON NETFLIX HERE

Waterproofing Services, Building Envelope Consulting – Los Alamitos, CA

March 15, 2021
, , Building Envelope Consulting, CQA/CQC, Water Intrusion, Waterproofing, Waterproofing News

Terra-Petra is performing building envelope inspections for a major real estate developer at their luxury apartment development in Los Alamitos, CA. The new construction, a 3 level apartment building, comprises approximately 35,000 SF.

The scope of work includes the waterproofing systems being installed at the windows, doors, building wrap and roofing.

Our services cover all manufacturer required Independent Inspections, Testing and Reporting and Quality Assurance.

Learn more about Terra-Petra’s complete spectrum of building envelope consulting services.