Waterproofing Your Building Envelope: Best Practices and Methods
Florida buildings face a relentless enemy: water intrusion. From heavy seasonal rains, to hurricane winds, to the coastal salty air, water and its impact can be unforgiving. Preventing moisture intrusion can be made easy with a well-thought-out building envelope. A building’s envelope is our like our skin, protecting us from the environment. Sadly, the building’s “skin” can fail without adequate protection.
Hence, why building envelope waterproofing systems are crucial. Waterproofing systems are a protective layer applied to building surfaces to prevent water infiltration therefore protecting the building’s structural integrity.
Waterproofing your building envelope aims to mitigate leaks, mold, mildew and structural deterioration. Moreover, it helps reduce the potential of costly repairs by protecting the building structure and increasing safety for its occupants.
BillerReinhart specializes in keeping Florida’s buildings watertight and resilient regardless of what the climate throws at them. So, how do we help keep your buildings resilient in our aggressive environment?
Why Waterproofing Matters
No Florida building owner wants unwanted water entering their properties and undermining their structural integrity and occupants’ safety.
Moisture seeping past the envelope can set off a chain reaction. It starts with the corrosion and expansion of embedded steel that causes concrete to crack and spall, weakening the concrete’s strength and leaving larger areas open to the elements. Ignoring even the tiniest leaks can eventually spiral into major repairs.
Its financial implications can be harsh, too. Emergency repairs can run in the thousands of dollars, while tenant disruption and insurance claims can complicate matters.
The risks are even higher in Florida, no thanks to the seasonal hurricanes that push rain into every crack. There’s also the salt-filled coastal air that can accelerate corrosion and the high humidity that feeds molds. Groundwater levels can also rise, especially during heavy rainstorms. These create hidden pressure on foundations and below-grade structures.
Waterproofing building envelope elements is the perfect preventive measure to protect your building’s and occupants safety while preserving your property’s value. It is a necessary measure if your building happens to be in a tough environment like Florida’s.
Materials and Methods for Effective Water Intrusion Prevention
The right waterproofing materials and application methods can provide effective results for preventing your building envelope from water intrusion. But what materials and methods should you use?
- Waterproofing Systems – The application of a protective layer or system of layers to building surfaces to protect the underlying structural elements from the effects of water intrusion. There are many different types of systems available to cater to a building’s specific needs (like liquid-applied and sheet membranes).
- Sealants – “Seal” or “close” the line between two adjacent sections, like transitions, joints, and penetrations. Popular locations include the transition between windows/doors and walls, and abandoned utility entry points or fastener openings.
- Drainage systems – Proper drainage systems are key to ensuring that water is channeled away from a building’s foundation.
- Vapor barriers – Prevent moisture from moving through walls and partitions.
There is not a one-system fits all when it comes to waterproofing a building’s envelope. The right solution hinges on various factors, like building type and exposure. Long-term maintenance requirements can also influence one’s decision to choose a waterproofing system over another. BillerReinhart is equipped to analyze your building’s structure and provide a waterproofing system recommendation tailored to your building’s specific needs.
Common Waterproofing Challenges
While waterproofing building envelope systems can prevent water intrusion, they are only effective if they can overcome the following challenges.
- Roof joints and penetrations – Roof vents, skylights, and similar structures leave naturally weak sections. Water and moisture can enter through them.
- Foundation walls and below-grade areas – Florida has an exceptionally high groundwater table, pushing below-grade structures and allowing moisture to seep through concrete.
Window, doors, and cladding transitions – Water can enter through the junctions between systems, especially if there are small gaps and cracked sealants.
Best Practices from Billerreinhart
With decades of field experience, BillerReinhart specializes in helping Florida property owners safeguard their building’s against water intrusion and damage. Our building envelope services across Florida feature best practices that blend our technical expertise with real-world experience and insights.
Project Results
BillerReinhart has used a diverse amount of waterproofing systems to manage moisture and salt intrusion in coastal condominiums. Not only helping restore these condominiums but also protect them from future water damage.
We’ve retrofitted commercial roof systems with proven waterproofing systems, especially around mechanical units and areas where a building element penetrates or joins another. BillerReinhart implemented these actions to address chronic leaks.
Lastly, BillerReinhart’s 21st-century waterproofing techniques helped maintain the architectural integrity of historic buildings while preserving their beauty and safety for future generations.
Lessons Learned
Effective waterproofing of a building’s envelope requires a careful inspection of all building elements (from roofs to foundations). A thoughtfully planned maintenance program is also crucial. Skipping these steps can lead to more serious water damage-related problems, like premature structural failure.
Quality Control
Billerreinhart employs rigorous water penetration testing, infrared scans, field inspections, and other testing procedures. Crucially, the company’s building envelope consultants verify structural performance before giving the green light to complete the project. Clients can never question Billerreinhart’s commitment to precision. They will feel more confident about the ability of their building property’s waterproofing systems to withstand Florida’s harshest weather conditions (from hurricanes to salty air).
Billerreinhart’s best practices have helped countless Florida building owners and managers safeguard their properties and investments. Only top-quality waterproofing materials go into each project, while ensuring precise installation and detailing. Moreover, structural engineers subject their projects to extensive testing and verification to ensure optimal quality.
Unsurprisingly, many clients appreciate this 3-step approach. It guarantees structural protection and a long-lasting building.
Maintenance and Inspection Tips
Even the best waterproofing system needs regular attention, especially in Florida’s harsh climate. Owners and managers can work with experts to conduct building envelope inspections before and after the hurricane season, especially between August and October when hurricanes are at their peak.
Building envelope inspectors can look for the following:
- Cracked sealants
- Standing water on roofs
- Clogged drains
- Moisture signs on structures
Routine maintenance and expert oversight are two of the most effective ways to keep buildings resilient against Florida’s relentless moisture.
Waterproof Your Building Envelope
Most folks look at waterproofing as simply keeping property interiors dry. However, it’s more than that!
Waterproofing (when done right) is one of the best ways to preserve structural integrity. Building owners don’t have to worry about expensive (often preventable) repairs. Buildings will last longer, while occupants will maintain their health and safety.
Experienced (and trustworthy) building envelope consultants make worthy partners. They guarantee precise design and installation. More importantly, they can spot deficiencies and address failures before they happen.
Billerreinhart delivers trusted building envelope services tailored to Florida’s unique water- and moisture-related challenges. Their team provides solutions (from design to inspection) that keep Florida buildings safe and resilient. More importantly, they guarantee your building is watertight and can stand up to Florida’s harshest conditions.
Contact Billerreinhart today and safeguard your building and other properties against water intrusion.
Florida’s Unique Building Challenges
Florida’s challenging environment can put buildings under constant pressure.
We’re talking about hurricanes and storm surges that strain foundations and damage exterior walls. They can also accelerate wear on balconies and roofs.
Buildings along Florida’s scenic coast often face saltwater corrosion that eats away at metal components. Corrosion of your building’s steel reinforcement eventually causes concrete to crack and spall, weakening its overall strength. Underneath the surface, sandy or unstable soils can cause building foundations to shift, which can lead to more serious structural concerns in the long run.
The state of Florida requires buildings to undergo a professional structural assessment called a Milestone Inspection when a building turns 30 years old and every 10 years after. Some municipalities have their own inspection program called Recertifications, with more strict inspections and regulations as well.
A credible partnership with specialists like Billerreinhart will ensure your Florida property will stay resilient and compliant. Moreover, it will be more than ready to withstand the Sunshine State’s unique conditions.
Restoration and Renovation Solutions
A sound structural assessment helps you zero in on the warning signs. So, what can you do next?
Billerreinhart takes great pride in its tailored renovation and restoration services, which it specifically designed for Florida’s unique (and challenging) environment.
We specialize in fixing foundations and exteriors battered and compromised by storms. Whatever hurricane-related damage your building has, we’ll repair it. Our team can reinforce concrete structures (where salty air has weakened steel reinforcements).
We also restore building facades and balconies. You can feel more secure (and confident) about these structures’ long-term use and safety.
In-depth engineering assessments (plus years-long, hands-on experience with coastal construction challenges) guide every project we undertake. We always combine technical expertise with a proactive approach to help you extend the lifespan of your Florida buildings. Moreover, we guarantee building resilience against future conditions.