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.
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.
Back in 2007, before launching a Windows-based version of Maps, Google spent time conducting real world testing to ensure that unique features like contact integration, GPS support and dragable maps all functioned, as the user should expect. In a blog entry released last week, Google announced that more than 100 million people are using the Maps application monthly. The periodic testing of new features allows Google to be confident in releasing quality, user-friendly applications.
Sto Corp. recently underwent its own real world testing. The first, mentioned in a previous entry, was a design challenge where 10 teams were faced with creating a building envelope mock-up panel according to ASTM E 783 (air leakage) and ASTM E 1105 (moisture leakage) standards.
The latest testing was based on requirements drawn up by the US Army Corp of Engineers for air tightness/leakage in new or retrofit construction of Army projects.
This testing was conducted by Neudorfer Engineers, Inc., and once again proves StoGuard is superior in terms of air and moisture protection for a building. For example, an acceptable score for the assembly, according to the USACE and ASTM requirements, is .25 cfm (cubic feet per minute)/sq.ft. Here StoGuard was proven to show a remarkable difference of 56% less air leakage. Detailed results are outlined in a recently published press release.
Successful project testing like this shows that not only does the product live up to the manufacturer’s claim, but also will give peace of mind to the owner knowing that the structure is protected.
A question often asked by building owners is “How can I increase the energy efficiency of my building?” Most will automatically look to their power companies – who constantly offer tips for reducing energy consumption in both commercial and residential construction – but sometimes it’s just not enough.
The answer is actually quite simple and it begins right at the wall. The use of a continuous air/moisture barrier in construction, according to the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), has potential to prevent up to 40% energy loss. But there’s more. These systems can also minimize the risk of issues related to moisture including decay, corrosion, loss of insulation value and indoor air quality – problems that may occur due to air leakage and condensation in your building’s walls.
These results may astonish some, but Sto has been providing proven solutions and products for the AEC communities for decades. When walls are designed properly and built accordingly, property owners benefit due to energy efficiency. Moreover, the stress on environmental resources diminishes. Building owners don’t need to rely on their utility companies for energy efficiency strategies. They need StoGuard®.
In the last post, I discussed parts one and two of John Edgar’s building envelope video series, covering the air barrier and detailing respectively.
In part three, Mr. Edgar addresses the issue of water vapor within the enclosure. Here he explains how forces such as gas pressure and energy or heat affect water vapor transport. As a point of reference, the concept of relative humidity is discussed and we recall the key difference between dew point and the condensation plane. To best understand the effect of water vapor, we must learn how it moves through a wall section and how to calculate and model the transport of water.
How is relative humidity calculated?
The final part of the series provides an answer to all the above mentioned challenges within the building enclosure. Controlling moisture and preventing mold in wall construction are two bumps in the road many face along the building process journey. A solution provided by Sto is its fluid applied air/moisture barrier. This portion of the series helps us recognize the components and advantages of fluid applied air/moisture barriers vs. building wraps and other moisture barriers. Mr. Edgar ties it all together by outlining the different design considerations one must take when incorporating fluid applied air/moisture barriers into wall assemblies.
Overall, the “Little John Series” should not be utilized as a systematic guide to air/moisture barriers but serve as a set of guiding principles. Shifting gears, Sto recently announced a new set of guiding principles including innovations within the company and sustainability, which we will cover in the next post.
