Even buildings need the occasional face-lift, but it’s not always about aesthetics. Repurposing older buildings to serve new functions has become a popular trend in construction. Renovating these older buildings with energy efficient products can be more cost effective than new construction. In a recent article in Commercial Building Products, Brock Osborn highlights some aspects ofSto Corp’s new ReStore program.
Osborn lays out a comprehensive plan that explains the different levels of the ReStore program including reclad, repair, recoat, and overclad. Older buildings should not be ignored, especially those that are structurally sound. Bringing new life to these buildings can be rewarding financially, as well as aesthetically. It is important to have a professional help with evaluating the condition of the buildings to determine what level of restoration is needed. To read Osborn’s article Give Tired Buildings New Life click here.
Building with a conscience goes beyond raw materials and sustainable projects, it also extends to relationship building and being aware of the community around you. At Sto Corp. our employees embody this philosophy through their selfless acts of kindness.
Whether it is adding a few more toys on their holiday lists to donate to Toys for Tots or buying extra toiletries for a women’s shelter, the giving does not stop there. Our employees have walked countless miles to raise awareness for breast cancer, packaged thousands of meals for the hungry and taken inventory of pens, pencils and other school supplies so that no child would be without. We have built homes for Habitat, donated generously to United Way, and helped many through very difficult circumstances. We are Sto, we care and we get involved!
With the holiday season upon us, we at Sto Corp. encourage everyone to take the time to involve themselves in their community and identify it’s needs. Happy Holidays!
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness”
Sure, we all know construction has been in the dumps for several years now, and 2011 has not progressed as we all hoped as far as a new construction recovery, but all is not doom and gloom as so many pundits would like us to believe. There are several flickers of life in our industry that seem to be getting brighter by the day, and maybe they will allow us to see a tomorrow that we can get excited about.
First of all, the demographics of the US are incredibly good for our industry. We add about 4.5 million new people each year on average, to the US population, and there are about 3 people per household, so the drumbeat of 1.5 million new households a year is pretty constant. Sure, it goes up and down as immigration issues and the economy goes, but still, despite the difficulties, people still want to live and work in America. Those 1.5 million “families” need a place to live. Right now there is a mini boom going on in getting affordable housing built to supply the demand. They may not be buying McMansion’s , but they need a place to live, and a 1200 square foot apartment will do for now.
Second, we have as many feet of buildings that need sprucing up and renovation, as we have deficit dollars in Washington, DC. That’s a lot of trillions of feet! Many owners are doing their best to improve the appearance and function of their existing buildings, since they can’t finance new construction. Remodeling is hot right now! Sto has some incredible Specialty Coatings, such as Lotusan, that have taken the recoatings market by storm the past few years.
Third, building codes are changing, and it all points to more energy efficient new construction via air and moisture barriers being required by code, and continuous insulation on the outside of the structure. All this bodes well for companies such as Sto, as we have been the leaders in energy efficient construction for the past 50 years all around the world. We are truly excited about the future, as we know the construction market will emerge from it’s funk, and we could not be better positioned for the next era of energy efficient design and building management.
So, why all the gloom? The companies that have survived the past 4-5 years in construction and construction supply, have all learned some great lessons, and are now leaner and better positioned than ever before. They are ready to make this next cycle a more balanced and sustainable one, if the folks in our nations capital will just get their business done and get out of the way.
At Sto, we can’t wait for the glimmer of hope we see today, become a bright shining beacon of growth and prosperity for our industry.
Solutions – it’s what we cladding manufacturers strive for. We have a solution for thermal bridging. We have a solution for drainage. We have a solution for energy efficiency. And this solution also happens to be quite aesthetically pleasing. But at this point there’s more and we’ve discovered it – and it’s not EIFS.
StoEnergy Guard is an all-encompassing solutions-based package. Beginning with continuous waterproof air and vapor barriers, and then moving outward in to a drainage plane with a cavity for drying and sealing the deal with exterior insulation, the StoEnergy Guard system is designed to protect your building, regardless of your choice in cladding.
StoDrainscreen Installation
What does that mean? Simply put, claddings have different capabilities when it comes to protecting against moisture intrusion and energy loss. For that reason alone, you need a wall system to stand behind your cladding and protect it from the inside.
The advanced cavity wall system recognizes the need for an easy application procedure while addressing today’s stringent building codes and standards and of course offers the latest in energy-efficient wall technology which is why we’ve called it simple, safe & sound and sustainable.
Next week, many different constituents will come together in Las Vegas for the EIMA and the AWCI annual conventions. These meeting will bring together the EIFS and Stucco industry suppliers as part of EIMA, with the critical contractors who install those products, as well as key suppliers who provide the base sheathing and ancillary products for the plastering trades at AWCI. There are several critical developments for both conventions to address.
As we start to see an emergence from the long construction downturn, and we see an new emphasis on energy savings and sustainable construction methods, the future for what we as an industry can offer is fantastic! These conventions give us all an opportunity to show the world how far things have come, as we will have presentations from Building Code experts on the changes that are coming fast and furious. We will have the results of the most recent Department of Energy testing as to how current EIFS systems are faring in relation to all other wall cladding systems for energy savings and moisture control in wall assemblies, and we will hear of the proactive approaches we are taking to get the message out to architects and other design professionals.
A new day is beginning for the EIFS industry, and we are excited to show everyone what we can offer, both as Sto Corp, and as an industry.
With all the innovative technologies present in the marketplace today, one can’t help but mention the nature of emulating nature – biomimicry. The science takes into account how material based on natural beings can help sustainably solve human problems. The Biomimicry Institute exists as a non-profit organization to help promote “the study and imitation of nature’s remarkably efficient design” to anyone in the fields of sustainable technologies.
Does biomimicry exist in the building, design and construction industry, you ask? Absolutely. Several products exist in the marketplace, including Lotusan, to help solve those above-mentioned human problems.
The video is a display of how the lotus leaf’s water-repellent properties, as found in nature, are mimicked and turned into a wall application. The use of the coating (or finish) eliminates the need for constant recoating and will leave your wall looking new longer.
If you find yourself stuck indoors and cold this winter, allow the southeast snow storm of January 2011 to serve as the basis of a reminder for why the EIFS cladding suits you.
Snow falls and temperatures drop dramatically, even in warmer climates like Atlanta's. EIFS protects in all conditions. (Photo Courtesy of CNN.com)
The snow outside your walls is no match for EIFS. Aside from its durability and design freedom, EIFS is a proven solution for the reduction of air infiltration and heat loss resulting in increased interior comfort and significant energy savings in your cold (or warm) climates.
Fast Cure – Allows work to proceed quickly without costly delays and interruptions to work schedule
Eliminates mesh, fabric and tapes at rough openings (when used with StoGuard) – Simplifies and speeds application
Cures in wet weather and on damp substrates – Avoids costly wet weather work shut downs or wash-offs; adheres to damp substrates without blistering or increase in drying time.
Installs down to near freezing temperatures (33°F [0.56°C]) – Extends construction period deeper into cold weather season.
Easy to install – Does not require highly skilled applicator work force reduces labor costs
Low VOC and South Coast AQMD Compliant – Compliant with all national, state and local VOC regulatory requirements; can be used throughout the US and Canada. Qualifies for LEED credits.
Everyone is talking about it. It’s required by ASHRAE 90.1-2004. It diminishes the negative effects of thermal bridging. But what is it? The Buildings Energy Code website defines continuous insulation as “insulation that runs continuously over structural members and is free of significant thermal bridging”.
We know, based on previous discussions that it is vital to the life cycle of your building to properly protect it from air and moisture intrusion but if you’re asking why a thermal blanket – continuous insulation – is needed, you’ve come to the right place. Different climate zones in the US, as mandated by ASHRAE 90.1-2004, require specific R-values to meet the minimum prescriptive values for insulation. Climate zones 3 and up all have a minimum requirement for CI in addition to the R-13 requirement for batt insulation.
In one of our trade show demos, we show the positive effects CI has on a structure. A sample was created as a triangle – one side, standard EIFS, the second, a standard siding application, and the third, a placeholder for heat lamps to demonstrate the true effects. Once the lights are turned on and a significant amount of heat fills the interior of the sample, we can clearly see the CI working in real time.
At max temperature of 120 degrees F, the sample clearly outlines how EIFS (bottom right) provides a thermal blanket for your building.
CI is the proven solution for long term energy savings and is the most effective way to insulate the building envelope.
Continuing along in our conversation about air barriers brings us to another series of testing conducted to determine air leakage for air barrier assemblies – such as StoGuard. According to the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA), “air barrier assemblies include the main air barrier components to join the materials together, to connect to a window or door assembly, to connect to a roof, to connect to a foundation and to penetrations.”
The true purpose of an air barrier assembly is to act as a continuous barrier to the movement of air through the wall. In testing, the StoGuard assembly has proven to meet the criteria proposed by the ASTM E 2357 standard of 0.2L/s·m2 (liters/sq meter).
In the testing, each specimen measures 8’x8’ and includes a several features found in a typical wall assembly. The ASTM E 2357 method measures both negative and positive pressure at constant rates. The specimen is then exposed to cycles of rapid loading followed by gust loading (both negative and positive). Air barrier assemblies must meet an allowable air leakage rate of 10 times more than an air barrier.
What we have seen in our discussions on air barriers is that they play a tremendous role in keeping your building dry while adding a significant energy efficient element.
