Paul Miller, a representative of Grace Construction Products, came into class today to discuss the Building Envelope from a material producer’s point of view. He discussed various methods of waterproofing, air barriers, vapor barriers, roofs, and all of the products that Grace has designed to solve each unique demand of a building component.
Above all else, Miller’s presentation got me thinking more about the building envelope and the importance of understanding which materials to choose for specific tasks. Miller introduced the class to industry standards (such as Bituthene) and passed out various product samples as he described each one’s use. He stressed the importance of choosing the right material for the right job, and introduced redundancy in a design in order to prevent breaches in a particular barrier.
Miller explained the various methods for waterproofing and provided us with great photos to explain the processes. Below grade, negative side, and blind side waterproofing were all discussed, and I found the latter particularly interesting. Blind Side waterproofing involves laying down your water barrier between the earth and your structure. For example, a contractor could dig out a foundation, lay down the waterproofing product, and then proceed to pour a concrete foundation. In this way, the building is literally built from the ground up within a water impervious membrane.
Blind side waterproofing: placing a water barrier between soil and the concrete wall.
Paul Miller also discussed the importance of choosing materials wisely and thinking long term. In keeping with the themes of sustainability, Miller asserts that it is better to spend more at the outset in order to mitigate a product’s life time failure. He drew the example between Grace’s synthetic waterproofing products and paper based products. While the synthetics will stretch and warp under stress, and thus prevent breaks in the seal, paper will simply rip and cause a breach in the product’s waterproofing. While paper is cheaper, it will need to be replaced far sooner, and over time cost more.
Lastly, Miller wanted the class to understand that different environments call for different barrier systems. Humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors play a roll in choosing the best products to build a strong building envelope, and architects should not rely on their own knowledge alone. Rather, designers should consult hygrothermal analysis experts as they design a building envelope in order to maximize the building’s efficiency in a particular location.
I enjoyed Paul’s visit to the class because I think it is important for designers to understand and collaborate with the experts making the products that designers employ. I particularly enjoyed learning about the various construction methods for waterproofing and will keep my eye out for Grace’s products as I visit job sites.
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